Image Courtesy: Google Doodle
On 30 April 2023, Google Celebrates Alan Rickman with Doodle. With a deep, magnetic voice and endless charm, he’s known for his magical performances in films like Harry Potter and Die Hard. On 30 April 1987, Rickman performed in ‘Les Liaisons Dangereuses’, a Broadway play that was instrumental in launching his career.
Life and Career
He was born on 21 February 1946, in Hammersmith, London, England. A natural painter, Rickman became interested in different art forms after being encouraged by his teachers and family. He was especially taken with acting. After starring in school plays, he earned a scholarship to continue pursuing this interest at Latymer Upper School in London.
After secondary school, Rickman studied graphic design at Chelsea College of Art and Design and the Royal College of Art. After graduating, he started a design company with close college friends while participating in the amateur Group Court Drama Club. At age 26, Rickman left his company and decided to seriously pursue acting, earning a spot at RADA, one of the most prestigious acting schools in the world.
A few years later, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he appeared in The Tempest and Love’s Labour’s Lost. He struck gold in 1985 when he starred as anti-hero Le Vicomte de Valmont in the play Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Dangerous Liaisons). After earning a Tony nomination for his performance, he began receiving offers to act in films.
In 1988, Rickman starred as criminal mastermind Hans Gruber in the film Die Hard. The character is now considered one of the most iconic villains in cinematic history. The film’s success led to Rickman playing similar antagonist roles in films like Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. His career trajectory continued throughout the 1990s with roles in Sense and Sensibility (1995) and Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny (1996), the latter of which he received an Emmy and Golden Globe Award for.
In 2001, Rickman starred in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone as the scene-stealing Severus Snape. His intimidating, scary, and captivating performance saw him star in the following seven Harry Potter films, becoming an international sensation.
Over the course of his career, Rickman received numerous acting nominations and awards and even directed three plays and two films. He’s remembered for his iconic roles on-screen, his philanthropy, and his kind and sensitive nature off-screen.
Rickman was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August 2015 and passed away on 14 January 2016, at the age of 69.
Award and Legacy
Throughout his career, Rickman received numerous awards and nominations for his performances. He won a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for his role in “Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny.” He also received an Emmy Award nomination for his performance in the TV movie “Something the Lord Made.”
Rickman’s legacy lives on through his impressive body of work in film, television, and theatre. He was known for his distinctive voice and commanding stage presence, which made him a sought-after performer. He also inspired and mentored many actors and directors, including Tom Hiddleston, who worked with him on the stage production of “The Children’s Monologues.” Rickman will always be remembered as one of the most talented and versatile actors of his generation.