ACTOR · BORN 1946 · DIED 2016

Alan Rickman

Born

21 February 1946

Died

14 January 2016

64 archived facts · 5 topics · 1 source · Last reviewed Sep 2026

Alan Rickman: 11 Facts About Characters and Roles

1. #001

   J.K. Rowling imagined Alan Rickman as Severus Snape while writing the Harry Potter series, and Rickman was the author's first choice for the role. He was only able to take it on in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone after the studio's suggestion, Tim Roth, withdrew to appear in the 2001 film Planet of the Apes. Rowling's trust in Rickman was matched by the depth he brought to the character, and Snape became one of the most unforgettable characters in cinema history.

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   1. IMDb — IMDb

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2. #004

   Alan Rickman's performance as Hans Gruber in Die Hard placed 46th among the greatest villains of all time on the American Film Institute's "100 Years... 100 Heroes and Villains" list. The list honors cinema's most unforgettable characters, and Rickman's intelligent, cold-blooded terrorist set a new standard for action-movie villains. Gruber became not just an action-film villain but a cultural phenomenon.

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3. #011

   After reading the Snow Cake script, Alan Rickman suggested Sigourney Weaver for the role of Linda Freeman; the two had previously worked together on Galaxy Quest. Rickman personally called Weaver to tell her she should read the script and that the role suited her very well. The gesture shows the importance Rickman placed not only on his own performance but on the project as a whole.

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4. #016

   Richard Curtis's first choice for the character of Charles in Four Weddings and a Funeral was Alan Rickman, and he was quite reluctant to cast Hugh Grant. Curtis's admiration for Rickman is an indication of the confidence placed in his acting. In the end, however, Grant's performance made the film unforgettable and proved how right the decision was.

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5. #029

   At the Berlinale press conference, screenwriter Angela Pell stated that she wrote the role of Alex Hughes in Snow Cake with Alan Rickman in mind. In the script the character's name was 'Alan', and it was changed to 'Alex' at Rickman's suggestion. This detail shows how involved Rickman was in the project and that he played an active role in shaping the character.

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6. #033

   Alan Rickman was considered for the role of Captain Hook in the film Peter Pan, but the role was given to Jason Isaacs. Rickman later appeared alongside Isaacs in the Harry Potter films. This stands out as one of the points where the two actors' careers intersected.

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7. #041

   Alan Rickman auditioned for the role of Moff Jerjerrod in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, but the part went to Michael Pennington. The audition shows Rickman's early ambition to appear in major productions, though missing out on the role did not stop him from later bringing far more iconic characters to life.

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8. #052

   Alan Rickman auditioned for the character Arnold Rimmer, played by Chris Barrie, in the cult science-fiction comedy Red Dwarf. The role ultimately went to Barrie. The audition shows Rickman's desire to appear in television series as well, though his career focused more on film and theatre.

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9. #053

   Despite the villainous characters he played in films such as Die Hard and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Alan Rickman was known in real life as a very gentle and courteous person. His Die Hard co-star Bonnie Bedelia said she greatly enjoyed spending time with him when the cameras were not rolling and described him as very sweet and loving. Her words reveal Rickman's positive energy on set and the warm relationships he built with his colleagues.

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10. #059

    Alan Rickman was the first choice for the role of Sidney in the 1996 film Crimetime, but the film's budget was too low to afford him. The role went to Pete Postlethwaite. The situation shows Rickman's value in the industry and that producers had to give him up because of budget constraints.

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11. #063

    Alan Rickman was considered for the role of Arnold Rimmer in the space-themed TV sitcom Red Dwarf, but the part ultimately went to Chris Barrie. Barrie himself had initially auditioned for the role of Dave Lister. The case shows how variable casting decisions can be during a production.

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