Alan Rickman, an English actor and director known for his deep voice, honed his craft at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), performing in various productions. His portrayal of the Vicomte de Valmont in the RSC's Les Liaisons Dangereuses earned him a Tony Award nomination after the play transferred to the West End and Broadway.
February 1946: Birth of Alan Rickman
Alan Rickman was born in February 1946 in Acton, London.
February 1946: Birth of Alan Rickman
Alan Rickman was born in February 1946 to Margaret Doreen Rose and Bernard William Rickman.
1960: Mother's Remarriage
Rickman's mother remarried in 1960, but divorced after three years.
1965: Meeting Rima Horton
Alan Rickman met Rima Horton in 1965 when he was 19 and she was 18.
1965: Attends Chelsea College of Art and Design
Rickman attended Chelsea College of Art and Design from 1965 to 1968.
1968: Attends the Royal College of Art
Rickman attended the Royal College of Art from 1968 to 1970.
1970: Graduates from the Royal College of Art
Rickman graduated from the Royal College of Art in 1970.
1972: Attends RADA
Rickman attended RADA from 1972 to 1974.
1974: Graduates from RADA
Rickman graduated from RADA in 1974.
1978: Television Debut in "Romeo and Juliet"
Rickman made his television debut as Tybalt in "Romeo and Juliet" in 1978.
1978: Performs with the Court Drama Group
Rickman performed with the Court Drama Group in 1978, in plays like "Romeo and Juliet" and "A View from the Bridge".
1981: BBC Adaptation of "Thérèse Raquin"
Rickman appeared in the BBC adaptation of "Thérèse Raquin" in 1981.
1982: Appearance in "Smiley's People" and "The Barchester Chronicles"
In 1982, Rickman appeared in an episode of "Smiley's People" and had his breakthrough role in "The Barchester Chronicles".
1982: Breakthrough Role in "The Barchester Chronicles"
Rickman's breakthrough role was in "The Barchester Chronicles" in 1982.
1985: Stage Debut in "Les Liaisons Dangereuses"
In 1985, Rickman played the Vicomte de Valmont in the Royal Shakespeare Company's stage production of "Les Liaisons Dangereuses".
1985: Lead Role in "Les Liaisons Dangereuses"
Rickman played the Vicomte de Valmont in the RSC production of "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" in 1985.
1986: West End Transfer of "Les Liaisons Dangereuses"
"Les Liaisons Dangereuses" transferred to the West End in 1986.
1986: Rima Horton's Political Career
In 1986, Rima Horton began her career as a Labour Party councillor on Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council, a position she held until 2006.
1986: West End Transfer of "Les Liaisons Dangereuses"
The RSC's production of "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" transferred to the West End in 1986.
1987: Broadway Debut and Award Nominations
"Les Liaisons Dangereuses" opened on Broadway in 1987, earning Rickman a Tony and Drama Desk Award nomination.
1987: Broadway Debut and Tony Award Nomination
In 1987, "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" opened on Broadway, earning Rickman a Tony Award nomination.
1987: Tony Award Nomination for Les Liaisons Dangereuses
In 1987, Alan Rickman received his first Tony Award nomination for Best Actor (Play) for his role in Les Liaisons Dangereuses.
1988: Film Debut in "Die Hard"
Rickman made his film debut as Hans Gruber in "Die Hard" in 1988.
1988: Film Debut in "Die Hard"
Rickman made his film debut as Hans Gruber in "Die Hard" in 1988.
1990: Role in "Quigley Down Under"
Rickman starred in "Quigley Down Under" in 1990.
1990: Role in "Quigley Down Under"
Rickman played Elliott Marston in "Quigley Down Under" in 1990.
1991: A Year of Diverse Roles
In 1991, Alan Rickman showcased his versatility by taking on diverse roles. He played leading roles in films like "Closet Land" and "Truly, Madly, Deeply," the latter earning him a BAFTA nomination. His performance in "Truly, Madly, Deeply" helped him break away from villainous typecasting. He also starred in "Close My Eyes," receiving critical acclaim for his performance. His performances in these films and "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" from the previous year earned him the Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Actor and the London Film Critics' Circle Award for Actor of the Year.
1991: BAFTA Award for "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves"
Rickman won a BAFTA Award for his portrayal of the Sheriff of Nottingham in "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" in 1991.
1991: BAFTA Award for "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves"
Rickman won a BAFTA Award for his role as the Sheriff of Nottingham in "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" in 1991.
1992: Tubular Bells II
In 1992, Alan Rickman played the "Master of Ceremonies" on the track "The Bell" from Mike Oldfield's album Tubular Bells II.
1993: Elected to RADA Council
Alan Rickman was elected to the council of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in 1993.
1995: One of the 100 Sexiest Stars
In 1995, Alan Rickman was chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (No. 34).
1995: Critical Acclaim for "Sense and Sensibility" and "An Awfully Big Adventure"
In 1995, Rickman earned critical acclaim for his roles in "Sense and Sensibility" and "An Awfully Big Adventure".
1995: From Austen to Irish History
In 1995, Alan Rickman portrayed Colonel Brandon in the film adaptation of Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility," earning his third BAFTA nomination and his first Screen Actors Guild Award nomination.
1995: Directorial Debut on Stage
In 1995, Alan Rickman made his directorial debut with the play "The Winter Guest" at London's Almeida Theatre.
1996: Triumph as Rasputin
1996 saw Rickman win an Emmy, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Rasputin in the HBO biopic "Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny."
1996: Critical Acclaim for "Michael Collins"
Rickman received critical acclaim for his performance in "Michael Collins" in 1996.
1996: Emmy Award for "Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny"
Rickman won an Emmy Award for his portrayal of Grigori Rasputin in "Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny" in 1996.
October 1997: Empire's Top 100 Movie Stars
In October 1997, Alan Rickman was ranked No. 59 in Empire magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list.
1997: Directorial Debut with "The Winter Guest"
Rickman directed "The Winter Guest" in 1997.
1997: From Stage to Screen
Rickman directed the film version of "The Winter Guest," starring Emma Thompson and Phyllida Law, in 1997.
December 1998: Shakespearean Stage Presence
In December 1998, Rickman played Mark Antony alongside Helen Mirren's Cleopatra in a Royal National Theatre production of "Antony and Cleopatra."
1999: A Year of Cult Classics
1999 marked Rickman's appearances in two cult classic films: the sci-fi parody "Galaxy Quest" and Kevin Smith's "Dogma," showcasing his range in comedic and dramatic roles.
1999: Roles in "Dogma" and "Galaxy Quest"
In 1999, Rickman appeared in "Dogma" and "Galaxy Quest".
August 2000: In Demand Music Video
In August 2000, Alan Rickman featured prominently in the music video "In Demand" by the Scottish rock band Texas, which premiered on MTV Europe.
2001: First Appearance as Severus Snape
Rickman first appeared as Severus Snape in "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" in 2001.
2001: The Beginning of a Magical Journey
In 2001, Alan Rickman began his iconic portrayal of Severus Snape in "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone."
September 2002: Return to the Stage
In September 2002, Rickman concluded a successful run on Broadway in the revival of Noël Coward's "Private Lives," after a successful run in London's West End. The production won both Olivier and Tony Awards.
2002: Tony Award Nomination for Private Lives
Alan Rickman received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor (Play) in 2002 for his performance in the revival of Noël Coward's Private Lives.
2002: When Love Speaks Album
In 2002, Alan Rickman was one of the artists who recited Shakespearean sonnets on the album When Love Speaks.
2003: Holiday Romance
In 2003, Rickman starred in the ensemble Christmas-themed romantic comedy "Love Actually."
2003: My Name Is Rachel Corrie
In 2003, after reading Rachel Corrie's published emails, Alan Rickman produced the play My Name Is Rachel Corrie.
2003: Role in "Love Actually"
Rickman appeared in "Love Actually" in 2003.
2004: Emmy Nomination for "Something the Lord Made"
In 2004, Rickman was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for his performance as Dr. Alfred Blalock in HBO's "Something the Lord Made."
2004: Role in "Something the Lord Made"
Rickman played Alfred Blalock in "Something the Lord Made" in 2004.
October 2005: "My Name is Rachel Corrie" Premieres
In October 2005, "My Name is Rachel Corrie," a play compiled and directed by Rickman, premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in London. Rickman's direction earned him a Theatregoers' Choice Award.
2005: Role in "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"
Rickman played a role in "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" in 2005.
2005: Cancer Treatment
Throughout 2005, Alan Rickman underwent treatment for an aggressive form of prostate cancer.
2005: Voice Acting in "Hitchhiker's Guide"
Rickman lent his voice to Marvin the Paranoid Android in the 2005 science fiction comedy film "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."
January 2006: Prostatectomy
In January 2006, Alan Rickman underwent a prostatectomy for prostate cancer.
October 2006: "My Name is Rachel Corrie" Opens Off-Broadway
In October 2006, "My Name is Rachel Corrie" opened off-Broadway after facing controversy and postponement due to its political subject matter. Despite the controversy, the play was generally well-received and generated post-performance discussions.
2006: Independent Films and Period Drama
In 2006, Rickman starred in the independent film "Snow Cake" and the period drama "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer."
2006: End of Rima Horton's Council Role
Rima Horton ended her role as a Labour Party councillor on Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council in 2006.
2007: Sweeney Todd and Nobel Son
2007 saw Rickman appear as Judge Turpin in Tim Burton's "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" and as the egotistical father in the black comedy "Nobel Son."
2007: Role in "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Rickman appeared in "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" in 2007.
2008: Declined CBE
According to his diaries, Alan Rickman declined a CBE in 2008.
2008: Wine Connoisseur on Screen
Rickman portrayed a Paris-based wine expert in the 2008 film "Bottle Shock."
2009: Recognition by The Guardian
In 2009, The Guardian named Rickman one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination.
2009: James Joyce Award
In 2009, Rickman received the James Joyce Award from University College Dublin.
2009: One of the 100 Sexiest Stars
In 2009, Alan Rickman was ranked No. 8 out of 50 actors in Empire magazine's list of the 100 Sexiest Stars.
November 2010: Ibsen on Stage
In November 2010, Rickman starred in Henrik Ibsen's "John Gabriel Borkman" at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin and later at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
2010: The Song of Lunch and Alice in Wonderland
In 2010, Alan Rickman starred in the BBC television production The Song of Lunch with Emma Thompson and voiced Absolem the Caterpillar in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland.
2010: One of the 100 Sexiest Stars
In 2010, Alan Rickman was once again ranked No. 8 out of 50 actors by Empire magazine in their 100 Sexiest Stars list.
2010: Role in "Alice in Wonderland"
Rickman appeared in "Alice in Wonderland" in 2010.
November 2011: Seminar on Broadway
In November 2011, Alan Rickman opened in Theresa Rebeck's new play, Seminar, at the John Golden Theatre on Broadway.
2011: The End of an Era
In 2011, Alan Rickman concluded his portrayal of Severus Snape in the final Harry Potter film, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2."
2011: Final Appearance as Severus Snape
Rickman's final appearance as Severus Snape was in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2" in 2011.
2012: Marriage to Rima Horton
Alan Rickman and Rima Horton married in a private ceremony in New York City in 2012.
2012: Gambit
Alan Rickman starred alongside Colin Firth and Cameron Diaz in the 2012 remake of Gambit, directed by Michael Hoffman.
2013: CBGB
In 2013, Rickman portrayed Hilly Kristal, the founder of the punk-rock club CBGB, in the film CBGB, co-starring Rupert Grint.
2014: A Little Chaos
In 2014, Alan Rickman directed and starred as King Louis XIV in the costume drama A Little Chaos, featuring Kate Winslet, Matthias Schoenaerts, Jennifer Ehle, and Stanley Tucci.
2014: Directs "A Little Chaos"
Rickman directed "A Little Chaos" in 2014.
April 2015: Rickman Discusses his Celtic Heritage
In April 2015, Rickman discussed his Celtic heritage, mentioning his Welsh mother's family.
August 2015: Stroke and Cancer Diagnosis
In August 2015, Alan Rickman suffered a minor stroke, which led to a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
2015: Marriage Confirmation
In 2015, Alan Rickman publicly confirmed his marriage to Rima Horton.
2015: Eye in the Sky
In 2015, Alan Rickman starred in Gavin Hood's Eye in the Sky, alongside Helen Mirren, Aaron Paul, and Barkhad Abdi. This was his final on-screen performance.
2015: Role in "Eye in the Sky"
Rickman appeared in "Eye in the Sky" in 2015.
January 2016: Death
Alan Rickman died in London on January 14, 2016, at the age of 69.
January 2016: Death of Alan Rickman
Alan Rickman died of pancreatic cancer in January 2016.
January 2016: Death of Alan Rickman
Alan Rickman passed away in January 2016.
February 2016: Cremation
Alan Rickman's remains were cremated on February 3, 2016, at the West London Crematorium in Kensal Green.
2022: Publication of Diaries
An edited collection of Alan Rickman's diaries, titled "Madly, Deeply: The Alan Rickman Diaries," was published in 2022.
April 2023: Google Doodle
On April 30, 2023, Google commemorated Alan Rickman with a Google Doodle.