Alan Rickman: An acting icon's career in pictures
One of film and theatre's most-loved stars, Alan Rickman had a knack for playing charming villains and charismatic anti-heroes. Here, we remember and celebrate some of the highlights from his distinguished career.
The Barchester Chronicles (1984)
After graduating from RADA, Alan Rickman performed at the Royal Court Theatre and Edinburgh International Festival before moving on to television roles. He appeared in BBC adaptation The Barchester Chronicles as the Reverend Obadiah Slope.
Die Hard (1988)
Graduating from small time TV actor to Hollywood movie star, Rickman played German terrorist Hans Gruber in the first Die Hard film, providing the perfect foil for Bruce Willis's John McClane.
Truly, Madly, Deeply (1990)
But it wasn't just the bad guys. Rickman also played numerous romantic leads, including a BAFTA nomination for his role as Jamie in Truly, Madly, Deeply.
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
Having developed a taste for villainous roles, Rickman won a BAFTA when he starred alongside Kevin Costner and Christian Slater as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
He brought a classic literary gent to the screen as Colonel Brandon in the period drama Sense and Sensibility, adapted from Jane Austen's 1811 novel.
An Awfully Big Adventure (1995)
In between some of his roles in big Hollywood franchises, Rickman appeared in the 1995 British coming-of-age film An Awfully Big Adventure. It was the first movie he starred in with Hugh Grant (the second being Love Actually).
Rasputin (1996)
Biographical TV film Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny followed in 1996. Rickman played Grigori Rasputin in a Golden Globe-winning performance.
Galaxy Quest (1999)
Rickman also appeared in a number of comedic roles during his career, including Alexander Dane/Dr Lazarus in the science fiction spoof Galaxy Quest.
Love Actually (2003)
Perhaps one of his most famous roles, Rickman starred in Love Actually as unfaithful husband Harry, opposite his close friend Emma Thompson as Harry's heartbroken wife Karen.
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)
German fantasy thriller Perfume: The Story of a Murderer followed in 2006, with Rickman starring opposite Ben Whishaw as wealthy aristocrat Antoine Richis.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Rickman appeared in Tim Burton's critically-acclaimed musical horror film Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in 2007, playing the merciless Judge Turpin.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
One of Rickman's most beloved roles was as the Harry Potter series' complex anti-hero Professor Severus Snape. He starred in all eight movies, and author JK Rowling described him as "a magnificent actor and a wonderful man".
Alice in Wonderland (2010)
Rickman lent his distinctive vocal talents to Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland in 2010 as Absolem the caterpillar – and a few months after his death, he was featured again in its sequel Alice Through the Looking Glass.
Gambit (2012)
Acting alongside Colin Firth (another Love Actually cast member), Rickman starred in the Coen brothers' remake of the 1966 Michael Caine classic Gambit.
CBGB (2013)
Rickman played Hilly Kristal, the founder of the East Village punk-rock club, in CBGB. He reunited with his Harry Potter co-star Rupert Grint on the movie.
A Little Chaos (2014)
In 2014, Rickman starred as King Louis XIV in A Little Chaos, which he also directed. It would be one of his final movie roles.
Eye in the Sky (2016)
Alan's performance as Lieutenant General Frank Benson in military thriller Eye in the Sky – which opened in cinemas just weeks after his death in January 2016 – was widely praised by the critics.
Kate (they/she) is a freelance writer, editor, digital editorial trainer and data technician who first joined Digital Spy as an overnight freelance sub-editor in January 2011, after studying a postgraduate diploma in journalism at Salford University while working part-time as a social researcher.
In July 2013, Kate joined the DS staff team as chief sub-editor and following six years as the site's managing editor, their role expanded to incorporate Hearst UK's entertainment portfolio (including Digital Spy and its sibling titles Best and Inside Soap) between late 2024 and early 2026.
Kate has worked as a writer and editor since 2006, with bylines syndicated across the Hearst network and at organisations including Metro. They started their career as a TV production runner for the BBC and contributed to various music websites, blogs and zines while based in Manchester.
During her time at DS, Kate has previously been a freelance sub-editor and chief sub-editor.
Kate's team at Digital Spy were proudly nominated in the Best Subbing/Production Team category at the BSME Talent Awards 2022. Over the years, she has contributed to coverage of many, many Prime Days and Black Friday/Cyber Monday, and was part of the team that launched the DS weekly TV newsletter in November 2019 – followed by the Top of the Shops e-commerce newsletter in May 2024.
Kate's screen passions include Taskmaster (their biggest career regret remains turning down the opportunity to visit the house), nature documentaries, and live sport (up there with the greatest of all soap operas although if asked to choose, it's Corrie… every time).
Her highlights while working at DS have included interviewing Stevie Nicks on the red carpet for her documentary In Your Dreams, sitting at a press roundtable with Formula 1 commentary icon Murray Walker, watching a life-sized LEGO car being driven around Silverstone, writing an album-by-album retrospective of Lady Gaga's genre-defying career for Living Legends, and raising awareness of receiving and understanding a late-in-life ADHD diagnosis through the lens of Bianca and Freddie's EastEnders storyline.
Upon remembering to log off the internet, Kate enjoys live theatre, dance and comedy, appreciating nature, baking (badly), tending a recently-rented allotment (equally badly) and pampering one very spoiled rescue cat named Jolene.
LinkedIn
Cillian Murphy's Irish drama climbs Netflix chart
Steven Spielberg's sci-fi confirms earlier UK release
Shop the Devil Wears Prada 2 shoes
How to shop best Devil Wears Prada 2 looks for less
