Alan Rickman
Great BritainBiography of Alan Rickman
Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman was born on February 21, 1946, in a family of an Irish worker and a simple Welsh girl. He was the second oldest among three sons and one daughter. At the age of eight, Alan became an orphan when his father passed away from lung cancer. His mother did her best to raise the children. Alan received a scholarship to study at the elite school "Latymer", where he not only mastered impeccable English, but also gained his first stage skills by participating in school theater. However, like his older brother, he initially decided to become an artist and continued his education at the Chelsea College of Art and the Royal College of Art. By the age of 18, Alan was already working as a graphic designer for a newspaper and later, together with his friends, he opened an art studio which was quite successful for three years. However, at this time, he remembered his theatrical experiences and thought that he had one last chance to become an actor. In 1972, he successfully auditioned for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. For two years, Alan Rickman diligently learned the craft of theater and even received a scholarship, while also working as a costume designer in a theater. After completing his studies, Rickman performed in the British Experimental Theatre and the Royal Court Theatre and participated in theater festivals. In 1978, he played Tybalt in the television production of "Romeo and Juliet", followed by other TV films and series such as "Teresa Raquin", "Shelley", and "The Barchester Chronicles". In 1985, the Royal Shakespeare Company staged the play "Les Liaisons Dangereuses", in which Rickman played de Valmont. After the success of this production, it was transferred to Broadway and brought the actor the Tony Award and the Drama Desk Award. In 1988, Rickman starred in the cult film "Die Hard" as the antagonist to Bruce Willis - the leader of the terrorists who took over a skyscraper. The film was nominated for an Oscar, and Alan Rickman's character was included in the American Film Institute's list of "Greatest Movie Villains", ranking forty-sixth. The actor started receiving numerous invitations for roles. His next success came as the Sheriff of Nottingham in the film "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" (1990). According to critics, this negative character stole the lion's share of attention, which rightfully belonged to the lead actor, Kevin Costner. Despite the fact that the film itself was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award, Alan Rickman was honored with a BAFTA Award. He also received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Colonel Brandon in "Sense and Sensibility" (1995). In the same year, the miniseries "Rasputin" was released, telling the story of the last period of the Romanov dynasty, narrated from the perspective of the deceased heir Alexei. Rickman played the mystical figure of Rasputin and both the series and his performance were highly praised by audiences and critics. The series received numerous nominations and won awards such as the Emmy and the Golden Globe, while the actor was honored with awards from the Screen Actors Guild, Satellite Awards, Golden Globe, and Emmy. In 1997, Alan Rickman directed and wrote the film "The Winter Guest". Another notable role came in the comedy film "Dogma" (1999), where he portrayed the character Metatron. However, these successes could not compare to the success that the Harry Potter film series brought to the actor. Although Rickman was offered the role of Professor Snape only after Tim Roth turned it down due to his involvement in "Planet of the Apes". The first film of the Harry Potter series, released in 2001, generated enormous interest, comparable to the popularity of J.K. Rowling's novels. It became a box office record-breaker, was nominated for several awards, and won a BAFTA. The second installment of the Harry Potter series also achieved great success and won a BAFTA. In between the Harry Potter films, Alan Rickman appeared in movies such as "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer" (2006), "Snow Cake" (2006), and voiced the Caterpillar in "Alice in Wonderland" (2010). In 2009, Rickman, along with other actors, was awarded the Scream Award for Best Ensemble Cast in the film "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince". The final installment of the Harry Potter saga, released in 2011, brought Rickman numerous nominations and awards, including the MTV Movie Award, People's Choice Award, and awards from the Screen Actors Guild. In 2013, Rickman won another Screen Actors Guild Award for the film "The Butler", and in 2014, he starred in "A Little Chaos", where he also played the role of King Louis XIV. The last film appearance of the renowned actor was in the thriller "Eye in the Sky" (2015), which is scheduled for release in the spring of 2016. In 2015, Rickman surprised friends and fans with the announcement of his marriage. He had met Rima Horton, his first girlfriend, in 1965. Over time, their paths diverged as Rima studied economics, taught at the university, and later became a member of the Kingston and Chelsea City Council for the Labour Party. Their relationship was rekindled in 1977, and in 2012, during a trip to New York, the couple officially got married, announcing it three years later. However, in 2015, Rickman suffered a minor stroke, which led to the development of pancreatic cancer, and on January 14, 2016, Alan Rickman passed away.
