Alan Rickman
Biography
Alan Rickman was an English actor and director. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Rickman was known for his deep, languid voice and performed in modern and classical theatre productions. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his role as the Vicomte de Valmont in the RSC stage production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses, which transferred to the West End in 1986 and Broadway in 1987. Rickman's first cinema role was as Hans Gruber in Die Hard, and he also appeared as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood.
Career overview
Alan Rickman trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), performing in modern and classical theatre productions. He played the Vicomte de Valmont in the RSC stage production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses, which transferred to the West End in 1986 and Broadway in 1987, earning him a Tony Award nomination.
Rickman's first cinema role came when he was cast as a character in the 1988 film Die Hard. He also appeared as the Sheriff of Nottingham in a film adaptation of the Robin Hood story.
Rickman's extensive career spanned multiple mediums, with a focus on acting. He performed in numerous stage productions, including a notable role in the RSC's production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses, and made his mark in film with his early role in Die Hard.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
103 titles- Here We Are Kings: The Making of 'Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves' (2022) as Self (archive footage)
- The Movies That Made Us (2019) as Hans Gruber (archive footage)
- Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016) as Absolem / Caterpillar (voice)
- Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016) In Memory Of
- The Limehouse Golem (2016) In Memory Of
- National Theatre Live: Les Liaisons Dangereuses (2016) In Memory Of
- Eye in the Sky (2015) as Lieutenant General Frank Benson
- Eye in the Sky (2015) In Memory Of
- A Little Chaos (2015) as King Louis XIV
- A Little Chaos (2015) Director
- A Little Chaos (2015) Writer
- Richard Attenborough: A Life in Film (2014) as Self
- The Butler (2013) as Ronald Reagan
- A Promise (2013) as Karl Hoffmeister
- CBGB (2013) as Hilly Kristal
- Muse of Fire (2013) as Self
- Dust (2013) as Todd
- Gambit (2012) as Lionel Shahbandar
- BAM150 (2012) as Self
- Falls the Shadow: The Life and Times of Athol Fugard (2012) as Self
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) as Severus Snape
- The Boy in the Bubble (2011) as The Storyteller (voice)
- Portraits in Dramatic Time (2011)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010) as Severus Snape
- Alice in Wonderland (2010) as Absolem / Caterpillar (voice)
- The Song of Lunch (2010) as He
- The Wildest Dream (2010) as Noel Odell (voice)
- Harold Pinter: A Celebration (2010) as Self
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) as Severus Snape
- Creating the Wizarding World - Behind the Scenes of Harry Potter (2009) as Severus Snape
- Sonnet Number 12 (2009) as (voice)
- Bottle Shock (2008) as Steven Spurrier
- Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - Burton + Carter + Depp = Todd (2008) as Self
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) as Severus Snape
- Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) as Judge Turpin
- Nobel Son (2007) as Eli Michaelson
- Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006) as Richis
- Snow Cake (2006) as Alex Hughes
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) as Severus Snape
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) as Marvin (voice)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) as Severus Snape
- Something the Lord Made (2004) as Dr. Alfred Blalock
- The Magic Touch of Harry Potter (2004) as Self
- Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson (2004) as Other Voices (voice)
- Love Actually (2003) as Harry
- Check the Gate: Putting Beckett on Film (2003) as Self - M
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) as Severus Snape
- Judge Not: In Defense of Dogma (2002) as Self
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) as Severus Snape
- Blow Dry (2001) as Phil Allen
- Play (2001) as Man
- The Search for John Gissing (2001) as John Gissing
- Babitsky's War (2000) as Narrator
- Victoria Wood with All the Trimmings (2000) as Captain George Fallon
- Galaxy Quest (1999) as Alexander Dane
- Dogma (1999) as Metatron
- The Directors (1999) as Self
- Dark Harbor (1999) as David Weinberg
- Judas Kiss (1998) as Detective David Friedman
- King of the Hill (1997) as King Philip (voice)
- The Winter Guest (1997) as Man in street
- The Winter Guest (1997) Director
- The Winter Guest (1997) Writer
- Michael Collins (1996) as Eamon de Valera
- Rasputin (1996) as Grigori Rasputin
- Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995) as Hans Gruber (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Sense and Sensibility (1995) as Colonel Christopher Brandon
- Lumière & Company (1995) as (segment "John Boorman")
- An Awfully Big Adventure (1995) as P.L. O'Hara
- Mesmer (1994) as Franz Anton Mesmer
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
- Fallen Angels (1993) as Dwight Billings
- Bob Roberts (1992) as Lukas Hart III
- Victoria Wood's All Day Breakfast (1992)
- Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) as Sheriff of Nottingham
- Close My Eyes (1991) as Sinclair
- Truly Madly Deeply (1991) as Jamie
- Closet Land (1991) as Interrogator
- Robin Hood: The Myth, the Man, the Movie (1991) as Self
- Quigley Down Under (1990) as Elliott Marston
- The January Man (1989) as Ed
- Benefactors (1989)
- 7 Deadly Sins: Stage Acting (1989) as Narrator (voice)
- 7 Deadly Sins: Stage Acting (1989) Writer
- Revolutionary Witness (1989) as Jacques Roux
- The Spirit of Man (1989) as Israel Yates
- Die Hard (1988) as Hans Gruber
- ScreenPlay (1986) as Israel Yates
- Girls On Top (1985) as Dimitri / Voice of RADA(voice)
- Wetherby (1985) as TV Commentator (archival footage)
- Pity in History (1985) as Croop
- Busted (1983) as Simon
- Smiley's People (1982) as Mr Brownlow
- The Barchester Chronicles (1982) as Obadiah Slope
- Therese Raquin (1980) as Vidal
- Shelley (1979)
- The BBC Television Shakespeare (1978) as Tybalt
- Romeo and Juliet (1978) as Tybalt
- The Hollywood Greats (1977)
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Nominee / Performer
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - In Memoriam (archive footage)
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Presenter
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Winner
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Alan Rickman best known for?
Alan Rickman is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Baby Reindeer (2024), Baby Reindeer (2024), The Limehouse Golem (2016), Eye in the Sky (2015).
When and where was Alan Rickman born?
Alan Rickman was born on February 21, 1946 in Acton, London, England, UK. They passed away on January 14, 2016.
How many credits does Alan Rickman have?
Alan Rickman has accumulated over 103 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1944 to 2022.
What is Alan Rickman's background in cinema and television?
Alan Rickman was an English actor and director. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Rickman was known for his deep, languid voice and performed in modern and classical theatre productions. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his role as the V...