He Wasn’t So Mean After All
Alan Rickman was the British actor who became famous for playing villains in iconic films like Die Hard and the Harry Potter series. But when he wasn’t taunting action heroes as Hans Gruber or menacing young wizards as Professor Snape, he was one of the most virtuous actors in Hollywood—to a fault.
1. He Had Humble Beginnings
Long before Alan Rickman became cinema's most beloved villain, he began life in London’s gritty Acton district in February of 1946. With his father juggling factory shifts and painting jobs and his mother managing the home front, young Rickman’s start was about as modest as they come.
And even though he was British by birth, he was a “mudblood”.
2. He Had Celtic Pride
Rickman wasn’t shy about his heritage. Proudly touting his Welsh and Irish ancestry, he joked that he and fellow Celts could “smell each other out”. His English blood may have been in short supply, but his Celtic charm—and perhaps that famously sharp tongue—clearly weren’t.
3. His Famous Voice Was The Result Of A Defect
In the years to come, Rickman's signature voice—rich, slow, and deliciously sinister—would help him create unforgettable villains. But it wasn’t entirely natural. According to Rickman himself, a vocal coach once diagnosed him with a “spastic soft palate”. Another odd birth “defect” contributed to his later success.
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4. He Was Born To Be Villainous
Rickman’s villainous drawl wasn’t just shaped by his palate—it was also a product of biology. Born with a naturally tight jaw, he developed the languorous, effortlessly intimidating voice that sent shivers down audiences' spines. It was as though fate had cast him as a villain before he even took the stage.
He even had a villain’s origin story.
5. He Endured A Heartbreaking Loss
When Rickman was only eight years old, tragedy struck hard. In an ominous instance of foreshadowing, his father suddenly succumbed to cancer. The unforeseen tragedy left Rickman’s mother alone to manage Rickman and his three siblings. The following years would reveal if Rickman would become a hero or a villain.
Marie-Lan Nguyen, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
6. He Had A Difficult Childhood
After Alan Rickman lost his father, life took a dark turn. He relocated near to a tough neighborhood where his mother struggled to raise four kids alone, working tirelessly at the Post Office. She remarried briefly, but it didn’t last. These early struggles, however, shaped Rickman’s quiet determination—one that revealed surprising talents.
Marie-Lan Nguyen, Wikimedia Commons
7. He Almost Became An Artist
Long before he terrified audiences, Rickman dazzled teachers with his calligraphy and watercolors. Art seemed like a logical path, and he pursued a career in graphic design, thinking acting wasn’t “the sensible thing to do at 18”. But even as he made a living as a graphic designer, he knew his calling was elsewhere.
Marie-Lan Nguyen, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
8. He Quit A Perfectly Good Job
Despite his passion for drama and acting, Alan Rickman opened a design studio, Graphiti, along with some friends. For three years, he toiled away, dreaming of a life on stage. While most people would have stuck with such a solid career, Rickman wasn’t most people. A radical decision soon changed his life entirely.
Dublin International Film Festival, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
9. He Took Huge Risk
Without a backup plan, Rickman abruptly abandoned graphic design to chase his acting dream. He boldly requested an audition at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), where his first “role” was as a dresser for legends like Nigel Hawthorne. It was a humble start—but Rickman had big dreams. And an even bigger heart.
Chemical Engineer, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
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10. He Was A Romantic At Heart
Even though Alan Rickman would become famous for playing villains, he was always a lover, not a fighter. In an interview years later, he recalled his first crush: “Amanda,” he said wistfully, “We were ten. At sports day, blonde hair flying, she won the 100 yards by a mile”. But Amanda wouldn't be his happily ever after.
Marie-Lan Nguyen, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
11. He Secretly Got Married
From his late teens, Rickman had been devoted to the love of his life, Rima Horton. However, despite their long relationship, he made a controversial decision. Though they spent decades together, they didn’t get married until 2012. By then, he was a major star, but he still opted for a secret ceremony, keeping his marital status private until 2015.
In other ways, however, he was very public.
12. He Had A Dramatic Breakthrough
After graduating from RADA, Alan Rickman immersed himself in British theatre, refining his dramatic chops in experimental productions. His big break arrived with a BBC production of The Barchester Chronicles, portraying the sly Reverend Obadiah Slope. Yet, as good as he was on stage, Hollywood was itching to get him on camera.
Philafrenzy, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
13. He Got Hollywood’s Attention
When Rickman played “the evil Vicomte de Valmont” in a 1987 stage production of Dangerous Liaisons, he had no idea who was sitting in the audience: Hollywood producer Joel Silver and director John McTiernan. Rickman’s performance as pure evil was so convincing that the powerful Hollywood pair knew they had found just the actor they were looking for.
Their offer would alter the course of his career forever.
Lindsay Duncan and Alan Rickman in Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1987 Tony Awards, Tony Nagatani
14. He Got The Offer A Lifetime
While Alan Rickman had been menacing audiences on British stages, Silver and McTiernan had been working on a script that would change his life forever. After seeing Rickman in Dangerous Liaisons, they offered him the role of Hans Gruber opposite A-lister, Bruce Willis, in their upcoming action flick Die Hard. It was Rickman’s lottery ticket to fame.
There was just one problem.
15. He Nearly Turned Down Fame
Despite the rare opportunity to break into Hollywood alongside an A-list actor, Rickman initially scoffed at the idea of playing Hans Gruber. He bluntly declared to his agent, “I'm not doing an action movie”. Having arrived in Hollywood just two days earlier, he was horrified at making his American debut as the “English baddie” in a popcorn movie.
Thankfully, his agent managed to change his mind—but the role nearly cost him his life.
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16. He Took A Real-Life Leap
In Die Hard's climactic scene, Rickman’s character, Hans Gruber, famously plummets from a skyscraper. That iconic scene was, however, a harrowing experience for Rickman as he actually fell 40 feet onto an airbag. While the film’s editors may have added the CGI background later, there was nothing fake about the terror in Rickman’s face.
In fact, capturing Rickman’s iconic reaction required a sneaky trick from the stunt crew.
Twentieth Century, Die Hard (1988)
17. He Was Tricked On Set
In preparing for the scene, the stunt crew told Alan Rickman that they would drop him on the count of “3”, cued to his character’s lines. Instead, the stuntman released the rope one count early, ensuring Rickman's genuine look of shock as he plummeted to his (fake) doom. Later, Rickman humorously recalled they'd wisely scheduled the stunt for his last day.
Hollywood was just full of surprises.
Twentieth Century, Die Hard (1988)
18. He Picked Roles So He Could Travel
With an action film classic under his belt, Alan Rickman had his pick of Hollywood roles. But he had an unusual strategy for picking them. He signed onto Quigley Down Under, for example, because filming occurred in Australia—a place he'd always dreamed of visiting. His Hollywood career challenged him in unexpected ways.
Pathé Entertainment, Quigley Down Under (1990)
19. He Pretended To Play The Cello
For Truly, Madly, Deeply, one of Rickman’s most memorable films, he pushed his acting talents to the limits. The role required him to learn to play the cello, so he took lessons to appear authentic. But in filming, a professional cellist hid behind Rickman, secretly controlling the left hand through Rickman’s armpit. His little ruse fooled everyone—and landed him another rare opportunity.
The Samuel Goldwyn Company, Truly, Madly, Deeply (1990)
20. He Nearly Missed Out On An Iconic Role—Again
By the early 1990s, Alan Rickman had made himself into one of the most sought-after character actors in Hollywood. So, when the producers of 1991’s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves approached him to take on the villainous role of the Sheriff of Nottingham, the decision was all his. And he almost made the wrong one. Rickman rejected their offer twice, believing the script was awful and only agreed to the role when the producers gave him total creative freedom.
With carte blanche in hand, Rickman was about to transform Nottingham into one of cinema's greatest villains.
Warner Bros., Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
21. He Rewrote His Own Script At Pizza Hut
Once he had creative freedom over the script for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Rickman got to work—eating pizza. In a move befitting a true mastermind villain, he invited his comedian friends to a Pizza Hut, where they sat down and rewrote the lines for his character while scarfing down pizza.
Turns out pepperoni can be very inspiring.
Warner Bros., Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
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22. He Threatened Robin Hood...With A Spoon
Armed with creative freedom, Alan Rickman improvised lines on the set of 1991’s Robin Hood. In fact, he improvised an equally terrifying and hilarious line that would become an unforgettable one for filmgoers. “Locksley,” he sneered, “I’m going to cut your heart out…with a spoon”. With lines like that, his castmates couldn’t keep a straight face on set.
Warner Bros., Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
23. He Couldn't Help Making Kids Laugh
Even when he was at his most menacing on camera, Rickman was a softie when the filming stopped. While filming a particularly tense scene in Robin Hood, Rickman gently comforted a young actress by pulling silly faces and smiling warmly, aiming to reassure her. But the tactic worked a little too well. When the cameras started rolling again, the girl couldn’t stop giggling, requiring several extra takes.
He was considerably less considerate about his props.
Warner Bros., Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
24. He Broke Swords
Even though he had originally scoffed at the idea of action movies, by the time Rickman arrived on set for Robin Hood, he had fully embraced them. In fact, he was so committed to his epic sword-fight with Kevin Costner that he reportedly broke “about ten swords” during filming. Actually, the tension between the two might have been real.
Warner Bros., Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
25. He Was Badder Than Costner Was Good
Even before Robin Hood hit theaters, it was clear to everyone on set: Alan Rickman was a better villain than Costner was a hero. Pretty soon, dark rumors began to swirl. People whispered that Costner, not wanting to be upstaged, ordered several of Rickman’s scenes cut from the film. In fact, if it had been up to Costner, Rickman wouldn’t have been in the film at all.
Warner Bros., Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
26. He Wasn't The First Choice
Rickman’s iconic Sheriff of Nottingham almost never happened. Costner initially wanted Richard E Grant for the role, but Grant had to bow out due to scheduling conflicts. Fate intervened, giving Rickman another career-defining role. Even though the film itself divided critics, Rickman’s performance became the highlight of Hollywood gossip.
27. He Outshined The Entire Film
Much to Costner’s chagrin, Entertainment Weekly described Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves as generally leaving viewers unimpressed. Except, that is, for Rickman’s brilliantly nasty Sheriff. His “gleefully wicked villain” didn’t just steal scenes; it dominated summer conversations. Rickman was only too happy to be the most beloved bad guy.
Warner Bros., Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
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28. He Embraced Over-The-Top Acting
As a British stage actor, Alan Rickman had been trained to be subtle. But his deliciously exaggerated Sheriff earned him the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor. Accepting the award with characteristic humor, he remarked, “This will be a healthy reminder to me that subtlety isn’t everything”. Despite the acclaim, however, Rickman began to worry that he was too good at being bad.
Warner Bros., Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
29. He Was Concerned About Typecasting
Even though Rickman thrilled audiences as Hollywood’s go-to villain, he grew frustrated with the villainous roles that kept landing on his desk. He bristled at the idea of becoming predictable, and soon sought roles that challenged perceptions—though one unexpected casting surprise left him feeling genuinely deceived.
Warner Bros., Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
30. His Co-Star Lied To Him
In An Awfully Big Adventure—a film that required delicately intimate scenes—Rickman was deeply disturbed when he learned his co-star’s secret. Georgina Cates, with whom he would share deeply intimate moments, had lied about her age, claiming she was only 16 rather than her true 19 to win her role. Rickman had meticulously ensured gentleness in their intimate scenes due to her perceived youth.
His other co-stars were a lot less eager to get next to him.
BBC Film, An Awfully Big Adventure (1995)
31. He Initially Terrified Kate Winslet
On the set of Sense and Sensibility, Kate Winslet admitted she was petrified of Rickman, fearing he was every bit the villain that he portrayed on screen. Fortunately, after a couple of weeks, Winslet discovered his kindness and warmth, later collaborating again with Rickman as both director and co-star. But Rickman's commitment to roles sometimes took him to uncomfortable extremes.
Columbia, Sense and Sensibility (1995)
32. He Got Sick From Overeating
While portraying the titular role in the 1996 TV movie Rasputin, Alan Rickman pushed himself to uncomfortable limits. Thanks to some malfunctioning props that caused multiple retakes, he ended up eating 18 small cakes and drinking 18 glasses of sugary grape juice. Feeling horribly nauseous afterward, Rickman even required medication to recover.
Nausea, however, was the least of his on-set concerns.
33. He Had Tensions With Tim Allen
By 1999, Alan Rickman had established himself as one of the easiest people to work with in Hollywood. But that didn’t mean he liked all of his co-stars. During the filming of Galaxy Quest, Rickman vented his frustrations about working with Tim Allen. Writing in his diary, he bemoaned Allen’s “perverse need to needle, antagonize, provoke, demoralize,” and noted that Allen seized “every opportunity to belittle” others.
Thankfully, his next high-profile role paired him with someone far more amiable.
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34. He Was Handpicked By JK Rowling
When it came time to cast Professor Snape for the Harry Potter films, author JK Rowling had only one person in mind: Alan Rickman. And the role came with some perks. In an effort to help Rickman understand his character, Rowling provided him with secret details about Snape’s backstory—information that almost no one knew until the final novel.
His portrayal was so precise it even fooled his own director.
35. He Surprised His Director With Contact Lenses
On the set of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, director Mike Newell admired Rickman's strikingly dark eyes. Until Rickman gave him the fright of his life. Casually, Rickman leaned forward and popped out one of his black contact lenses. This unexpected revelation stunned Newell, but Rickman always had a talent for keeping directors—and audiences—on their toes.
Warner Bros., Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
36. He Protected His Car From Mischievous Co-Stars
For Alan Rickman, filming Harry Potter was full of magic—and mischief. His young co-stars, Rupert Grint and Matthew Lewis, spilled a milkshake inside his BMW during filming on Goblet of Fire. Rickman, embracing Severus Snape’s strictness, banned the two troublemakers from coming within five meters of his new car.
Still, filming the iconic series filled Rickman with nostalgia.
37. He Enjoyed A Nostalgic Moment
While filming Dumbledore’s dramatic fall from Hogwarts tower in Half-Blood Prince, Rickman delightedly recalled his own iconic plunge in Die Hard. Gleefully noting that this time he wasn’t the one falling, Rickman appreciated the poetic symmetry. But the moment was hard to enjoy with his co-stars riding his coattails—literally.
Warner Bros., Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
38. He Had A Mishap In Hogwarts’ Great Hall
During a tense sequence following Dumbledore’s fall, Rickman warned fellow actors sternly—and perhaps jokingly—“Don’t step on my cloak”. Director David Yates, however, had instructed the cast to stay close to Rickman without looking down, a risky proposition given the cloak’s dramatic length. As the cameras rolled, trouble quickly followed.
Warner Bros., Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
39. He Was Not Always So Nice
Seconds into filming, Tom Felton—closest behind Rickman—accidentally stepped on Snape’s long cloak. The inadvertent step caused Rickman’s neck to jerk backward. An awkward silence filled the set, signaling clearly that Rickman had not been joking about his precious coattails. Felton recalled the incident nervously, illustrating just how intimidating Rickman could be—intentionally or not.
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40. He Forgave Felton
After the cloak incident, Felton feared he had roused Rickman’s inner villain and couldn’t stop apologizing. Yet Rickman surprised again, graciously accepting the apology. He even turned the accident into a joke, easing Felton’s embarrassment. In fact, as good as he was at playing a villain, Severus Snape pushed Rickman to his limits.
Warner Bros., Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
41. He Got To Work With His Idol
In an interview after filming Deathly Hallows Part 2, Alan Rickman shared a rare tidbit about his personal life. In a touching moment, he confessed that he was overwhelmed at having the opportunity to work with Dame Maggie Smith who “grew up worshipping from the cheap seats at the National Theater”. That made what happened next kind of awkward.
42. He Felt Awkward Fighting His Idol
During Snape’s dramatic duel with Professor McGonagall in Deathly Hallows Part 2, Alan Rickman confessed to feeling incredibly awkward. Pointing a wand at Dame Maggie Smith was not exactly his idea of intimidating. “Thank God for computer graphics,” he joked. “She can arch an eyebrow like nobody”.
Warner Bros., Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
43. He Personally Thanked His Entire Crew
Even after his Harry Potter fame, Rickman remained the kind soul he had always been. Director Gavin Hood, who worked with Rickman on one of his final films, Eye in the Sky, recalled how the megastar connected with the crew. According to Hood, Rickman lingered days after shooting wrapped, attending the wrap party specifically to thank each crew member personally for their dedication.
It was a heartfelt gesture fitting for a man known for quiet heroism—even when battling private troubles.
Raindog Films, Eye in the Sky (2015)
44. He Secretly Battled Cancer
Throughout 2005, Alan Rickman kept a terrible secret to himself, even as the Harry Potter films brought him unparalleled fame. Secretly, he was fighting an aggressive prostate cancer, ultimately undergoing surgery in early 2006. The ordeal coincided with casting decisions for Order of the Phoenix, leaving him deeply conflicted about returning.
Yet amidst uncertainty, one compelling thought urged him forward.
Warner Bros., Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
45. He Stayed True To His Story
Despite his illness, Alan Rickman kept his struggles to himself. But he debated walking away from the wizarding world of Harry Potter. In the end, he decided to continue with the Harry Potter films, declaring resolutely: “The argument that wins is the one that says: ‘See it through. It’s your story’”. And his story had more twists and turns ahead.
Warner Bros., Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
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46. He Privately Faced Terminal Illness
In August 2015, Alan Rickman encountered an illness that he couldn’t keep secret when he suffered a minor stroke. The terrifying experience led doctors to diagnose him with terminal pancreatic cancer. Keeping his condition hidden from nearly everyone except his closest confidants, Rickman maintained his trademark dignity to the very end—but sadly, his private battle couldn’t stay hidden forever.
Marie-Lan Nguyen, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
47. He Left Hollywood Too Soon
On January 14, 2016, Rickman passed away in London at age 69. His ashes were given to his beloved wife, Rima Horton, after a quiet cremation. His final films, Eye in the Sky and Alice Through the Looking Glass, lovingly dedicated their credits to his memory—an iconic actor gone before his talent received Hollywood’s ultimate honor.
Walt Disney, Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)
48. He Was Overlooked by the Oscars
Even if the characters that Alan Rickman portrayed on screen weren’t always lovable, his portrayal of them was. Sadly, he never got the love back. Notably, Rickman never received an Oscar nomination. The Guardian even named him one of the greatest actors unjustly overlooked by the Academy. However, he had the only kind of recognition that truly mattered.
49. He Was Lovingly Remembered
After his tragic passing, Rickman’s former co-stars came out by the dozens to heap praise on the fallen star. Kate Winslet tearfully remembered Rickman’s warmth and generosity at the London Film Critics' Circle Awards, exclaiming, “And that voice! Oh, that voice”. Dame Helen Mirren echoed Winslet, describing Rickman’s voice beautifully as capable of suggesting “honey or a hidden stiletto blade”.
Such tributes reflected the profound mark Rickman left behind.
50. His Memory Lives At “Platform 9 ¾”
Shortly after his passing, devoted fans to Rickman’s most iconic role as Professor Severus Snape created a touching memorial. Fans of the wizarding world created an impromptu ode to the legendary actor beneath the iconic “Platform 9 3⁄4” sign at London’s King’s Cross station. There, Rickman’s legacy remains as a reminder that even a villain can have a heart of gold.
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Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
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