Alan Rickman, the actor best known for his portrayal of Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films, has died.
According to a family statement: “The actor and director Alan Rickman has died from cancer at the age of 69. He was surrounded by family and friends.”
The British actor got his start in acting at the age of 26 at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), after a short stint as a graphic designer, according to IMDB. He worked in theater, film and television for more than forty years. His film credits also include working alongside Bruce Willis in Die Hard and he played Colonel Brandon in the 1995 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility.