Harry Potter's Snape, Alan Rickman is dead

The family of the prolific actor confirmed the man who brought Snape to life died of cancer at the age of 69.

Rickman hit it big playing cold-blooded terrorist Hans Gruber in the Bruce Willis hit Die Hard. But Rickman showed wide diversity by playing the sheriff of Nottingham in 1991’s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Alexander Dane in Galaxy Quest, and Emma Thompson's husband in 2003’s Love, Actually.

IMDB lists 68 films to Rickman's credit.

The Guardian reports Rickman remained politically active throughout his career believing, "actors are agents of change. A film, a piece of theatre, a piece of music, or a book can make a difference. It can change the world."

Rickman married his teenage sweetheart, Rima Horton, in 2012. The couple had been together since their school days in 1965.

fans will have one more chance to see Rickman when Eye in the Sky, and Alice Through the Looking Glass are releaed later this year.

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