Trivia

Despite being author J.K. Rowling's first choice to play Snape in the Harry Potter films (she actually envisioned him when writing the character), he was only given the role in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) after Tim Roth (the studio's preferred choice) backed out to star in Planet of the Apes (2001).

Not long after he started to play Severus Snape in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001), J.K. Rowling told Rickman some character secrets about Snape that would not be otherwise revealed until the last book. Most significantly, for over seven years, Rickman was one of the very few people other than Rowling to know that Snape had been in love with Lily Evans (later Potter) when they were students at Hogwarts, and both Snape's protection of and antagonism toward Harry came from that. Rowling said that she shared this information with Rickman because "he needed to understand, I think, and does completely understand and did completely understand where this bitterness towards this boy, who's living proof of [Lily's] preference for another man, came from." When the directors of the films would ask him why he was playing a scene a certain way, or delivering a line in a particular manner, Rickman would simply reply that he knew something they did not.

Although a highly successful film actor, he had frequently passed up film offers to return to the theater. The theater was a place and activity which he called "magical" and his "first love".

For his death plunge down the side of the skyscraper in Die Hard (1988), he actually dropped 20 feet onto an airbag against a green screen. Director John McTiernan had to jump first to convince Rickman to do the jump.

For Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), he turned down the role of the Sheriff of Nottingham twice before he was told he could more or less have carte-blanche with his interpretation of the character.

His portrayal of Hans Gruber in Die Hard (1988) earned him a spot on the American Film Institute's list of the "100 Best Heroes/Villains" as the 46th best villain in film history.

For the shot where Hans Gruber falls from the top of the building in Die Hard (1988), he was actually dropped by a stuntman from a 20-foot high model onto an air bag. To get a genuine surprised look, the stuntman dropped him on the count of two instead of three.

Kevin Smith cast him in Dogma (1999) after he stated in an interview that Smith's Chasing Amy (1997) was one of his favourite movies of the year. Rickman's presence onset caused Jason Mewes, who was going through a drug problem at the time, to be on his best behaviour. He memorised not only his lines, but the entire screenplay. In his own words, "I didn't want to piss off that Rickman dude".

Trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, England. Became Vice-Chairman of the Academy and a member of its Artistic Advisory and Training committees and Development Board.

Featured twice in Times Online's "The 50 Best Movie Villains" chart: had the 41st position for his role as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) and the 10th as Hans Gruber in Die Hard (1988).

He was considered for the role of Bennett in Last Action Hero (1993), but he was deemed too expensive. The role went to Charles Dance. When he found out about this, he wore a T-shirt saying "I'm cheaper than Alan Rickman".

Read the screenplay of Snow Cake (2006) and suggested Sigourney Weaver for the role of Linda Freeman, having worked with her on Galaxy Quest (1999). He even telephoned Weaver, and told her she had to read the screenplay, as there was a role he felt she could play perfectly in the role.

Two researchers, a linguist and a sound engineer, found "the perfect [male] voice" to be a combination of Rickman's and Jeremy Irons' voices based on a sample of 50 voices. Interesting enough, Rickman and Irons played villain brothers in the Die Hard franchise in the two films directed by John McTiernan: Rickman played Hans Gruber in Die Hard (1988) and Irons played his brother Simon in Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995).

The first film he ever saw was Swiss Family Robinson (1960) and the film that changed his life was Robert Altman's Nashville (1975).

He turned down the role of Alec Treveylan in GoldenEye (1995), because he was bored with playing villains. The role went to Sean Bean.

During his time at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he worked as a dresser for actors. He was told by his acting coach at RADA that his voice sounded like this was coming out of the back end of a drainpipe.

The sequel Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016) was dedicated to his memory.

The screenplay of Galaxy Quest (1999) originally contained a mention of Alexander Dane having been knighted by Queen Elizabeth. He asked that this be changed because he believed this was inconsistent with the character, and all mentions of the knighting were removed. However, the character is still listed in the credits as Sir Alexander Dane.

Had cello lessons for his role in Truly Madly Deeply (1990), and while he handles the right (bowing) hand, the left hand is provided by a real cellist standing behind him with his arm through Alan Rickman's armpit.

He was Richard Curtis' choice to play Charles in Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994). Curtis was very hesitant in casting Hugh Grant as he had so wanted Rickman.

He was 11 years older than Timothy Spall, 12 years older than Adrian Rawlins and Gary Oldman, 17 years older than David Thewlis, and 21 years older than Geraldine Somerville. Nevertheless, the character that the six of them play in the Harry Potter films are meant to be contemporaries and former classmates.

Angela Pell stated at the Berlinale Press Conference, that she wrote the role of Alex Hughes in Snow Cake (2006) with him in mind. The character's name in the screenplay was "Alan", and it was Rickman who suggested the change to Alex.

The eight Harry Potter films also feature Warwick Davis as Professor Flitwick. In The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005), Rickman and Warwick Davis play the same role. Warwick Davis wore the robotic suit for Marvin, while Rickman provides the voice.

Before turning to acting, he studied graphic design at Chelsea College of Art and Design and at the Royal College of Art, forming a successful graphic design company, Graphiti, with several friends. He also worked for the Notting Hill Herald, a small London newspaper, which he considered a stable occupation compared to acting.

Had been in a relationship with Rima Horton since 1965. The couple married in a private ceremony in New York City (2012). She retired from her lecturing position and later lost her council seat in the May 2006 local elections.

In Die Hard (1988), he is seen firing a gun three times (in the scene where Gruber shoots Joseph Takagi in the head; in the atrium when Gruber realizes Holly is John's wife and the "shoot the glass" scene), on account of his uncontrollable habit of flinching when the gun recoiled. In that scene, he blinks just before the camera cuts.

He disliked science fiction and almost always declined to participate in any films of the genre, but he agreed to ultimately appear in Galaxy Quest (1999) because he loved the script and thought it was very funny.

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#34) (1995).

While filming Die Hard (1988), he was found proficient at mimicking American accents; a scene in which Hans Gruber and John McClane finally meet was then added to the screenplay. However, he had a generic accent, not specific to any region of the USA, as commonly used in TV and movies. This explains the in-joke, when McClane says to him "With an accent like that, you should be on television.".

In summer 2015, he had a stroke which lead to him being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He did not let it be disclosed/revealed to the public until after he died.

Rickman died on January 14, 2016, one day before the second anniversary of the death of another well-known English actor, Roger Lloyd Pack, who, like Rickman, also died from pancreatic cancer less than a month before his 70th birthday. Pack appeared alongside Rickman in the Potter films as Minister for Magic Barty Crouch. Rickman passed away four days after the English music legend and actor David Bowie succumbed to liver cancer, also at the age of 69.

Was voted #19 in Empire magazine's Greatest Living Movie Stars over the age of 50.

Voted #8 on Empire Online's list of 50 Sexiest Movie Men. 52% of the readers voted that he should have been higher on the list. (October 2009)

He was considered to play Captain Hook in Peter Pan (2003), which went to Jason Isaacs. Rickman co-stared with Isaacs in the Harry Potter movies.

Was an active patron of the research foundation Saving Faces; and honorary chairman of the International Performers' Aid Trust, a charity that works to fight poverty amongst performers all over the world. Was also active in raising funds for the Labour Party.

Although he played the Vicomte de Valmont on the West End and Broadway in the West End and Broadway productions of "Dangerous Liaisons", he was unable to reprise his role in Dangerous Liaisons (1988), as he chose Die Hard (1988) instead. John Malkovich replaced him.

Named Best Stage Actor for his role in the acclaimed revival of Noël Coward's "Private Lives" at the Variety Club Show Business Awards (2002).

He was nominated for the 2002 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award (2001 season) for Best Actor for his performance in "Private Lives" at the Albery Theatre, London.

His marriage to Rima Horton in 2012 was so secret that no one knew about it until he admitted it in 2015.

Was a close friend of Ruby Wax since the 1970s and they shared a house in London in the early 1980s.

Had worked with director Alfonso Cuarón twice: first in Murder, Obliquely (1993) and second in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004).

He appeared in the music video of the song "In Demand" by the rock band Texas (2000).

He was offered the role of Leonardo Leonardo in the 2000 cartoon based on Kevin Smith's film Clerks (1994). Originally, the character was modeled after Hans Gruber, but the design was changed upon Rickman's request. The studio decided not to go with Rickman, and the role went to Alec Baldwin.

In a documentary on his personal diaries, it was revealed that Rickman had privately battled prostate cancer in 2005, which resulted in a removal of his prostate. It's believed to be related to him being diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer a decade later.

He was nominated for a 2001 London Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor for his performance in "Private Lives" at the Albery Theatre.

He was twice nominated for Broadway's Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play: for "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" (1987), and for a revival of Noël Coward's "Private Lives" (2002).

Ranked #59 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. (October 1997)

Auditioned for the role of Moff Jerjerrod in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983), which went to Michael Pennington.

Attended the funeral of Natasha Richardson at St. Peter's Episcopal Church near Millbrook, New York on April 22, 2009.

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#83) (2007).