showbiz

‘Harry Potter’ star Alan Rickman dies aged 69

British actor Alan Rickman dies at the age of 69. – Reuters file pic, January 14, 2016.British actor Alan Rickman dies at the age of 69. – Reuters file pic, January 14, 2016.Veteran British actor Alan Rickman has died at the age of 69 after suffering from cancer, his family said today.

Rickman, who won a Golden Globe and a Bafta during his career as a film, television and theatre actor, was well-known for his portrayal of menacing villains.

"The actor and director Alan Rickman has died from cancer at the age of 69. He was surrounded by family and friends," a family statement said.

Rickman started out in theatre and shot to international fame in 1988 playing the German terrorist mastermind Hans Gruber, Bruce Willis's adversary, in "Die Hard".

Rickman did a memorable turn as the Sheriff of Nottingham in the 1991 blockbuster "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves".

His performance earned him a Bafta, Britain's film awards, for best supporting actor.

Rickman also won a Golden Globe for best actor in a miniseries or television film for the title role in "Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny" (1996).

He gained legions of younger fans with his portrayal of the malicious teacher Severus Snape in all eight "Harry Potter" films from 2001 to 2011. – AFP, January 14, 2016.

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