Earlier this morning, we were heartbroken to learn that Alan Rickman had passed away from cancer at age 69. Rickman was beloved by so many people for so many different movies, and in the coming days, I’m sure we’ll see tributes to him that recognize every one of his iconic roles.
For me, though, and probably for many people of my generation, my first association with him was always “Snape,” so in mourning Rickman today, it’s bittersweet to see the outpouring of love and respect he’s receiving from the people he collaborated with on The Harry Potter movies.
J.K. Rowling took to Twitter to share her admiration for Rickman, who in 2011 wrote a touching letter to Rowling thanking her for he work as a storyteller:
There are no words to express how shocked and devastated I am to hear of Alan Rickman’s death. He was a magnificent actor & a wonderful man.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) January 14, 2016
My thoughts are with Rima and the rest of Alan’s family. We have all lost a great talent. They have lost part of their hearts.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) January 14, 2016
Emma Watson wrote on Facebook that her co-star was “such a special man and actor,” and shared a quote from Rickman about being a male feminist:
#alanrickman pic.twitter.com/4WXwnoUtM7
— Emma Watson (@EmWatson) January 14, 2016
Matt Lewis shared his remembrances of Rickman as well:
Daniel Radcliffe wrote of his co-star,
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.
The world lost a truly great actor and human today, but I personally can take some comfort in knowing that his legacy will live on in the young actors he worked with and inspired, as well as the many fans who were influenced by his performance in The Harry Potter movies.
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