Having still not yet gotten over the passing of music great David Bowie, we’re hit with the second punch that is the loss of great British actor Alan Rickman. Both icons of their respective fields where 69 years too young when they left this Earth. But since we’ve already published a retrospective of sorts on the Thin White Duke, here’s some of our favorite Alan Rickman performances.
Hans Gruber – “Die Hard” (1988)
To some Rickman is best known for his take on Severus Snape, the mysterious potions master of the “Harry Potter” film series. For others, this is the role that put him in the public eye and remains associated with him to this day. It was Hans Gruber who threw the proverbial ball at Bruce Willis’ John McClane, prompting his now famous response “Yippie ki yay….” You know the rest.
Severus Snape – The “Harry Potter” Series (2001 – 2011)
One of the more ambiguous characters in popular literature, the dark and shifty Severus Snape played a prominent role in Harry Potter’s character arc throughout the film franchise. Next to Hans Gruber, it might be Rickman’s most popular role.
Jamie – “Truly, Madly Deeply” (1991)
BBC Films/Samuel Goldwyn Company
After making a splash in Hollywood, Rickman returned to England to play the rare leading romantic role in a film that could sort of be described as a thinking person’s “Ghost.” Rickman plays Jamie, the dead boyfriend of a grieving woman who returns from beyond the grave to spend more time with his love.
Alexander Dane/Dr. Lazarus – “Galaxy Quest” (1999)
Voted by Trekkies as one of the ten best Star Trek movies ever made, this parody of the series (and the actors who starred in them) features a hilarious performance by Rickman as the Leonard Nimoy-like Alexander Dane.
P.L. O’Hara – “An Awfully Big Adventure” (1995)
FIne Line Features
Rickman played a dashing, roguish actor in this strange comedic drama. Focusing on the group of actors and stagehands working in a post WWII era repertory company in Liverpool, Rickman’s P.L. O’Hara holds a dark secret that comes back to haunt him by the end of the film.
Colonel Brandon – “Sense and Sensibility” (1995)
Columbia Pictures
Colonel Brandon – the archetype of the romantic option that everyone thinks should get the girl – is another one of our favorite Alan Rickman performances. Aided by Emma Thompson’s Oscar winning screenplay, “Sense and Sensibility” is probably the most recognized Jane Austin adaption to have come out of Hollywood.
The Metatron – “Dogma” (1999)
Lionsgate Films
Say what you will about controversial filmmaker Kevin Smith, you gotta’ admire the guy for targeting religion in his satire “Dogma.” Rickman played the very amusing (and surprisingly misanthropic) Metatron, God’s herald and mission tasker.
Judge Turpin – “Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” (2007)
DreamWorks Pictures
Okay so he can’t sing worth a damn, but Rickman’s Judge Turpin was the vilest of villains in Tim Burton’s adaption of Stephen Sondheim’s masterpiece.
Ronald Reagan – “The Butler” (2013)
The Weinstein Company
During what must be one of the strangest casting decisions of all time, Alan Rickman took on the role of our 40th president in Lee Daniel’s “The Butler.” Who woulda’ thunk? Maybe casting someone like Jane Fonda as the first lady had something to do with it.
Harry – “Love Actually” (2003)
Rickman stood out as Emma Thompson’s cheating husband in this ensemble comedy.
