Mourning Alan Rickman: Actors of Stage and Screen Remember the Star

Robert Kessler
·Editor

Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman (Photo: REX/Shutterstock)

The news of Alan Rickman’s sudden passing Thursday at the age of 69 leaves a massive hole in the British theater community. Rickman, most famous for his roles in the Harry Potter films, Die Hard, and Love Actually, was also a classical Shakespearean actor, a director, and, to many in the industry, a friend.

In a statement, his frequent co-star Emma Thompson recalled what she loved most about Rickman:

Alan was my friend and so this is hard to write because I have just kissed him goodbye.
What I remember most in this moment of painful leave-taking is his humour, intelligence, wisdom, and kindness. His capacity to fell you with a look or lift you with a word. The intransigence which made him the great artist he was — his ineffable and cynical wit, the clarity with which he saw most things, including me, and the fact that he never spared me the view. I learned a lot from him.
He was the finest of actors and directors. I couldn’t wait to see what he was going to do with his face next. I consider myself hugely privileged to have worked with him so many times and to have been directed by him.
He was the ultimate ally. In life, art, and politics. I trusted him absolutely.
He was, above all things, a rare and unique human being and we shall not see his like again.

Harry Potter auther J.K. Rowling tweeted that she was “shocked and devastated” by the loss.

Daniel Radcliffe, who spent 10 years facing off against Rickman in Harry Potter, recalled how supportive Rickman was of his career:

Alan Rickman is undoubtedly one of the greatest actors I will ever work with. He is also, one of the loyalest and most supportive people I’ve ever met in the film industry. He was so encouraging of me both on set and in the years post-Potter. I’m pretty sure he came and saw everything I ever did on stage both in London and New York. He didn’t have to do that. I know other people who’ve been friends with him for much much longer than I have and they all say “if you call Alan, it doesn’t matter where in the world he is or how busy he is with what he’s doing, he’ll get back to you within a day”.

People create perceptions of actors based on the parts they played so it might surprise some people to learn that contrary to some of the sterner (or downright scary) characters he played, Alan was extremely kind, generous, self-deprecating and funny. And certain things obviously became even funnier when delivered in his unmistakable double-bass.

As an actor he was one of the first of the adults on Potter to treat me like a peer rather than a child. Working with him at such a formative age was incredibly important and I will carry the lessons he taught me for the rest of my life and career. Film sets and theatre stages are all far poorer for the loss of this great actor and man.

Emma Watson also shared a short statement on Facebook, writing: “I’m very sad to hear about Alan today. I feel so lucky to have worked and spent time with such a special man and actor. I’ll really miss our conversations. RIP Alan. We love you.”

Oliver and James Phelps, who played George and Fred Weasley in the Harry Potter films also tweeted about the loss.

Sir Michael Gambon, who played Albus Dumbledore, friend/foe of Rickman’s Severus Snape, told BBC Radio 4: “Everybody loved Alan. He was always happy and fun and creative and very, very funny. He had a great voice, he spoke wonderfully well.”

“He was intelligent, he wrote plays, he directed a play. So he was a real man of the theatre and the stage and that’s how I think of Alan.”

Longtime friend Stephen Fry tweeted about the actor’s death, calling it “desperately sad news.”

Tributes have come in from plenty of other stars who both worked with and were inspired by Rickman:

Confirming Rickman’s death, his family wrote that “[h]e was surrounded by family and friends.”