Alan Rickman first attained significant professional recognition in 1987 for his portrayal of the Vicomte de Valmont in the Broadway production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses. This performance secured a Tony Award nomination and established his versatility as a stage actor, eventually leading to a diverse career spanning British repertory theatre, major Hollywood features, and television drama productions.
Formative Years and Early Career
Born in 1946 in Acton, London, Rickman attended Latymer Upper School before studying graphic design at the Chelsea College of Art and Design and the Royal College of Art. He worked professionally as a graphic designer before transitioning to drama. In 1972, he enrolled at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, supporting his studies by working as a dresser for established actors. Following his 1974 graduation, he performed with various British repertory groups, including the Library Theatre in Manchester and the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
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Rickman gained widespread notice for his role as the Reverend Obadiah Slope in the 1982 BBC series The Barchester Chronicles. His feature film debut arrived in 1988 as the antagonist Hans Gruber in Die Hard. He subsequently earned a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, released in 1991. Throughout the 1990s, he achieved critical acclaim for roles in Sense and Sensibility, Truly, Madly, Deeply, and Michael Collins.
Television and Directing
His television work included the 1996 HBO film Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny, where he played the lead role of Grigori Rasputin. This performance earned him both a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. In 2004, he starred as Alfred Blalock in the HBO film Something the Lord Made. Beyond acting, Rickman moved into directing with the feature films The Winter Guest, released in 1997, and A Little Chaos, which premiered in 2014.
Later Roles and Legacy
From 2001 to 2011, he portrayed Severus Snape in all eight films of the Harry Potter series. His additional film credits include Galaxy Quest, Love Actually, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. He remained active on stage, performing in the 2011 play Seminar. Rickman passed away in London in 2016 at the age of 69.
Fast facts
- Born: 1946, Acton
- Died: 2016, London
- Education: Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (1972-1974)
- BAFTA Award: 1992
- Primetime Emmy Award: 1996
- Golden Globe Award: 1997
- Screen Actors Guild Award: 1997
- James Joyce Award: 2009
Questions readers ask
Which award-winning roles did Alan Rickman perform on television?
He won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Grigori Rasputin in the 1996 film Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny.
What was Rickman's profession before he became a full-time actor?
He was a trained graphic designer who worked for the Royal College of Art's magazine and the Notting Hill Herald.
Achievements
- BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role — 1992
- Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie — 1997
- Golden Globe Awards — 1997
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie — 1996
- Worked as television actor, film actor and voice actor
