Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Alan Rickman
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Alan Rickman made an impact.
Alan Rickman was a highly respected English actor and director recognized for his unique voice. He honed his craft at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and gained prominence as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, starring in both contemporary and classic plays. His performance as the Vicomte de Valmont in 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses' was pivotal, earning him a Tony Award nomination after successful runs in the West End and on Broadway.
1978: Television Debut in Romeo and Juliet
In 1978, Alan Rickman made his television debut playing Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet as part of the BBC's Shakespeare series.
1978: Performance with the Court Drama Group
In 1978, Alan Rickman performed with the Court Drama Group, gaining roles in Romeo and Juliet and A View from the Bridge.
1981: BBC Adaptation of Thérèse Raquin
In 1981, Alan Rickman appeared in the BBC adaptation of Émile Zola's novel Thérèse Raquin.
1982: Breakthrough Role in The Barchester Chronicles
In 1982, Alan Rickman had his breakthrough role as Obadiah Slope in the BBC adaptation of The Barchester Chronicles.
1982: Smiley's People and The Barchester Chronicles
In 1982, Alan Rickman made a brief appearance in Smiley's People and had his breakthrough role in The Barchester Chronicles.
1985: Les Liaisons Dangereuses
In 1985, Alan Rickman played the Vicomte de Valmont in the Royal Shakespeare Company's stage production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses.
1985: Royal Shakespeare Company Production
In 1985, Alan Rickman was given the male lead, the Vicomte de Valmont, in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses.
1986: Transfer to the West End
In 1986, the RSC production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses transferred to the West End.
1986: West End Transfer of Les Liaisons Dangereuses
In 1986, the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses, starring Alan Rickman as the Vicomte de Valmont, transferred to the West End.
1987: Broadway Debut in Les Liaisons Dangereuses
In 1987, Alan Rickman made his Broadway debut in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, reprising his role as the Vicomte de Valmont, earning him a Tony Award nomination.
1987: Broadway Performance and Nominations
In 1987, after the RSC production transferred to Broadway, Rickman received a Tony Award nomination and a Drama Desk Award nomination for his performance.
1988: Film Debut in Die Hard
In 1988, Alan Rickman made his film debut as the German criminal mastermind Hans Gruber in Die Hard.
1990: Quigley Down Under
In 1990, Alan Rickman played Elliott Marston in Quigley Down Under.
1991: Roles in Robin Hood and Truly, Madly, Deeply
In 1991, Alan Rickman appeared in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and Truly, Madly, Deeply.
1991: Leading Roles in Closet Land and Truly, Madly, Deeply
In 1991, Alan Rickman played leading roles in Closet Land and Truly, Madly, Deeply, earning another BAFTA Award nomination for the latter.
1991: Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and BAFTA Award
In 1991, Alan Rickman played the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, receiving the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance.
1991: BAFTA Award for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
In 1991, Alan Rickman won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his role as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. He also earned critical acclaim for Truly, Madly, Deeply in the same year.
1992: Participation in Tubular Bells II
In 1992, Alan Rickman participated in Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells II, announcing instruments on the track "The Bell".
1993: Elected to RADA council
In 1993, Alan Rickman was elected to the council of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).
1995: Roles in An Awfully Big Adventure and Sense and Sensibility
In 1995, Alan Rickman appeared in An Awfully Big Adventure and Sense and Sensibility.
1995: Directing The Winter Guest at Almeida Theatre
In 1995, Alan Rickman directed The Winter Guest at London's Almeida Theatre.
1995: Sense and Sensibility and An Awfully Big Adventure
In 1995, Alan Rickman starred in both Sense and Sensibility and An Awfully Big Adventure, earning critical acclaim for both roles.
1995: Cast in Sense and Sensibility
In 1995, Alan Rickman was cast as Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility, earning his third BAFTA Award nomination.
1996: Role in Michael Collins
In 1996, Alan Rickman appeared in Michael Collins.
1996: Starred in Michael Collins and Rasputin
In 1996, Alan Rickman portrayed Éamon de Valera in Michael Collins and starred as Rasputin in Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny, winning a Primetime Emmy Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Golden Globe Award for his performance as Rasputin.
1996: Critical Acclaim for Michael Collins
In 1996, Alan Rickman received critical acclaim for his role in Michael Collins.
1996: Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny
In 1996, Alan Rickman starred as Grigori Rasputin in the HBO film Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny, winning several awards including a Primetime Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award.
1997: Directing The Winter Guest
In 1997, Alan Rickman directed The Winter Guest.
1997: Release of The Winter Guest Film
In 1997, the film version of The Winter Guest, directed by Alan Rickman and starring Emma Thompson, was released.
December 1998: Antony and Cleopatra
From October to December 1998, Alan Rickman starred as Mark Antony in Antony and Cleopatra at the Royal National Theatre's production at the Olivier Theatre in London.
1999: Comedic Roles in Galaxy Quest and Dogma
In 1999, Alan Rickman played comedic roles as Sir Alexander Dane/Dr. Lazarus in Galaxy Quest and as the angel Metatron in Dogma.
August 2000: Appearance in Texas' In Demand music video
In August 2000, Alan Rickman featured prominently in a music video by Scottish rock band Texas entitled "In Demand", which premiered on MTV Europe.
2001: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
In 2001, Alan Rickman began his portrayal of Severus Snape in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the first film in the Harry Potter series.
2001: First Appearance as Severus Snape
In 2001, Alan Rickman first appeared as Severus Snape in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
2001: First Harry Potter Film
In 2001, Rickman appeared in the first installment of the Harry Potter series.
September 2002: Private Lives on Broadway
In September 2002, Alan Rickman's performance in Noël Coward's Private Lives ended on Broadway.
2002: Shakespearean sonnet on When Love Speaks album
In 2002, Alan Rickman recited Shakespearian sonnets on the album When Love Speaks.
2003: Appearing in Love Actually
In 2003, Alan Rickman played Harry in the Christmas-themed romantic comedy Love Actually.
2003: Love Actually
In 2003, Alan Rickman starred as Harry in the Christmas-themed romantic comedy Love Actually.
2003: Motivation to produce 'My Name Is Rachel Corrie'
In 2003, after reading published emails by Rachel Corrie, Alan Rickman was motivated to produce the play 'My Name Is Rachel Corrie'.
2004: Something the Lord Made
In 2004, Alan Rickman played Alfred Blalock in the HBO film Something the Lord Made.
October 2005: Revival of My Name is Rachel Corrie
In October 2005, My Name is Rachel Corrie, a play compiled by Rickman and Katharine Viner, was revived at the Royal Court Theatre in London.
2005: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
In 2005, Alan Rickman lent his voice to Marvin the Paranoid Android in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
January 2006: Prostatectomy and Harry Potter decision
In January 2006, Alan Rickman underwent a prostatectomy and decided to return to the Harry Potter series.
October 2006: Off-Broadway opening of My Name is Rachel Corrie
On 15 October 2006, the one-woman play My Name is Rachel Corrie finally opened off-Broadway for an initial run of 48 performances, despite earlier postponement due to controversy.
2006: Starring in Snow Cake and Perfume
In 2006, Alan Rickman starred in the independent film Snow Cake with Sigourney Weaver and Carrie-Anne Moss, and Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, directed by Tom Tykwer.
2007: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
In 2007, Alan Rickman appeared in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
2007: Acting in Sweeney Todd and Nobel Son
In 2007, Rickman appeared as Judge Turpin in the Tim Burton film Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street alongside Johnny Depp, and also played the father in the black comedy Nobel Son.
2007: Appearance in Sweeney Todd
In 2007, Rickman appeared in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
2008: Starring in Bottle Shock
In 2008, Alan Rickman starred in the movie Bottle Shock, playing Steven Spurrier, a wine expert searching for wines in Napa Valley, California.
November 2010: Starring in John Gabriel Borkman
In October and November 2010, Rickman starred in Henrik Ibsen's John Gabriel Borkman at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin.
2010: Alice in Wonderland
In 2010, Alan Rickman appeared in Alice in Wonderland.
2010: Roles in The Song of Lunch and Alice in Wonderland
In 2010, Alan Rickman starred in the BBC television production The Song of Lunch alongside Emma Thompson and provided the voice of Absolem the Caterpillar in Tim Burton's film Alice in Wonderland.
November 2011: Opening in Seminar on Broadway
In November 2011, Rickman opened in Seminar, a new play by Theresa Rebeck, at the John Golden Theatre on Broadway.
2011: Final Harry Potter Film
In 2011, Alan Rickman concluded his role as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter film series.
2011: Concluding the Harry Potter Series
In 2011, Alan Rickman concluded his role as Severus Snape with the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.
2012: Starring in Gambit
In 2012, Alan Rickman starred with Colin Firth and Cameron Diaz in Gambit by Michael Hoffman, a remake of the 1966 film.
2013: Playing Hilly Kristal in CBGB
In 2013, Alan Rickman played Hilly Kristal, the founder of the East Village punk-rock club CBGB, in the CBGB film with Rupert Grint.
2014: Directing A Little Chaos
In 2014, Alan Rickman directed A Little Chaos.
2014: Directing and starring in A Little Chaos
In 2014, Alan Rickman directed and starred as King Louis XIV in the costume drama film A Little Chaos, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
2015: Appearance in Eye in the Sky
In 2015, Rickman appeared in Eye in the Sky.
2015: Final onscreen performance in Eye in the Sky
In 2015, Rickman starred in Gavin Hood's Eye in the Sky, which became his final onscreen performance. The film debuted at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.
2016: Alice in Wonderland Sequel
In 2016, Alan Rickman appeared in the sequel to Alice in Wonderland.
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