British actor Alan Rickman dies at 69

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.

Read Daniel Radcliffe's tribute, posted on his Google Plus page, below: 

Alan Rickman is undoubtedly one of the greatest actors I will ever work with. He is also, one of the loyalest and most supportive people I've ever met in the film industry. He was so encouraging of me both on set and in the years post-Potter. I'm pretty sure he came and saw everything I ever did on stage both in London and New York. He didn't have to do that. I know other people who've been friends with him for much much longer than I have and they all say "if you call Alan, it doesn't matter where in the world he is or how busy he is with what he's doing, he'll get back to you within a day".

People create perceptions of actors based on the parts they played so it might surprise some people to learn that contrary to some of the sterner(or downright scary) characters he played, Alan was extremely kind, generous, self-deprecating and funny. And certain things obviously became even funnier when delivered in his unmistakable double-bass.

As an actor he was one of the first of the adults on Potter to treat me like a peer rather than a child. Working with him at such a formative age was incredibly important and I will carry the lessons he taught me for the rest of my life and career. Film sets and theatre stages are all far poorer for the loss of this great actor and man.

(File photo: AFP)