Alan Rickman

Alan Rickman (1946–2016) was an English actor and director noted for his distinctive voice and stage-trained intensity. After early work in theatre, he gained international attention as the villain Hans Gruber in *Die Hard* (1988). He became widely known to new generations for portraying Severus Snape across the *Harry Potter* film series (2001–2011). Rickman also appeared in films including *Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves*, *Sense and Sensibility*, and *Love Actually*, and directed features such as *The Winter Guest*. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2002. His diaries were published posthumously.