Oh no. Professor Snape is gone. Alan Rickman was a great actor and a very private person. As with David Bowie, few even knew he was suffering from cancer.
Bowie’s death made me feel old. Ziggy Stardust dead? How can it be? Rickman’s death feels only as if the world’s supply of great acting talent is that much lower, so suddenly.
UPDATE: His best roles according to People. I’ve been trying to get my hands on Truly, Madly, Deeply with no luck. And I’ve never seen Die Hard though I will now that I know he was in it. Galaxy Quest and the eight Harry Potters of course. Could watch those all day.
A very private man as you say.
I’d venture that most folks didn’t know his real name let alone that he was suffering with cancer. Maybe that’s just me.
I credit his acting skills with the emotional effect that I really didn’t like his characters. Which makes me admire him all the more as an actor.
RIP Mr Rickman.
Rickman played marvelous villains. My favorites are Hans from Die Hard and the Sheriff of Nottingham from the otherwise execrable Costner Robin Hood movie.
I’ve never seen the Costner Robin Hood. I wonder if I dare, given all the bad things I’ve heard about it.
Rickman also played one very darned good hero, too, albeit a deeply flawed and unlikeable one.
BTW, I hate you, Rusty Gunner. Every since your Christmas music posts, I’ve had “It’s beginning to look a lot like fishmen” and “Scary, scary, scary, scary solstice” stuck in my brain.
Robin Hood Prince of Thieves was a wretched bit of film making. The only bright spot in the entire movie was Rickman’s rendition of the Sheriff of Nottingham. Here is an example…
He’s the only actor I’ve seen who could overplay a part, and make it look real at the same time. I’m planning to get rid of some movies now, and Costner’s Robin Hood, as schmaltzy as it is, is one I still plan to hang onto.
Rickman’s portrayal as the Sheriff of Nottingham is the best part of Robin Hood. I also like watching him in Love Actually & will fondly watch the goofy rom-com every year. But, I most loved him as Metatron, the voice of god, in Dogma.
I actually saw “Galaxy Quest” a few years ago with my sister. I don’t remember anything in particular about it, let alone individual actors, but I do remember laughing a lot.
Galaxy Quest, Alan Rickman as Sir Alexander Dane: I played Richard III.
Fred Kwan: Five curtain calls…
Sir Alexander Dane: There were five curtain calls. I was an actor once, damn it. Now look at me. Look at me! I won’t go out there and say that stupid line one more time.
Jason Nesmith: You WILL go out there.
Sir Alexander Dane: I won’t and nothing you say will make me.
Jason Nesmith: The show must go on.
Sir Alexander Dane: …Damn you.
“Jason Nesmith: You WILL go out there.
Sir Alexander Dane: I won’t and nothing you say will make me.
Jason Nesmith: The show must go on.
Sir Alexander Dane: …Damn you.”
I love that exchange. It may be my favorite in a movie that’s full of wonderful exchanges, wonderful characters, terrific imagination and writing, and great ensemble acting. To me, Galaxy Quest is the ultimate movie for rainy Sunday afternoons. I never get tired of it.
The thing I like above all is that every character grows and changes and learns; none are just foils or sidekicks, even though the Jason Nesmith character is clearly central (and has the most to learn). I just loooooove that movie, and I’m so happy Alan Rickman was a part of it.
“Why a spoon, cousin?”
It’s worth the horrid to see the Sheriff.
And, regarding the Christmas music, at last you understand why I have been married three times.
Oh, oh, oh, they’re all about Snape and Hans Gruber. Pfft.
I’m with dsc: The Metatron
And, let’s not forget Marvin.
OMG, I’d forgotten he did the voice of Marvin the Paranoid Android. That was a terrible movie, but even in the books, I always heard Marvin speaking in Rickman’s voice. Thanks for the reminders about Marvin and the Metatron, jed and dsc.
I just put Dogma in my Netflix saved queue. Availability’s unknown, though, so I’m glad I saw it when it was new. Hilarious movie. Sorta weird.
How funny and sad. I just this minute finished watching Galaxy Quest, logged on and saw that Rickman had died. Gad, what a loss.
I first saw him in some Dracula movie, made in about the 80’s, I think. Wonderful costuming, took place in London…. but I can’t recall the name just now.
Dogma is past weird, particularly for those versed in the subject. But hilarious, and a bit spiritual. I’d love to teach from it in a Sunday School class. If I could keep heads from exploding…
I have never heard of Dogma, but that Rickman clip is great. Any movie with George Carlin as a Cardinal has to be funny! I will definitely seek it out.
Rickman was a great actor. I don’t pretend to have seen all of his movies, but I’ve liked his work in every one I’ve seen. He will be missed.
MamaLiberty, Galaxy Quest is a parody of the Star Trek TV series. If you aren’t a Trekker you’ll miss much of the fun.
He had a bit part in January Man, starring Kevin Kline. Rickman played a gay artist who was a friend of Kline’s and gets involved with him in stopping a serial killer. A fun role in an interesting film. Rod Steiger, Harvey Keitel, Danny Aiello, Susan Sarandon along with Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, the Mayor’s daughter and Kline’s love-interest.
The movie was played “broad”, a little over the top, similar to Moonstruck. Comedy and drama together, and well worht a look.