Alan Rickman, Beloved British Actor of Stage and Screen, Dies at 69 in London

One of Britain's, and perhaps the world's, most beloved acting stars, Alan Rickman, has died in London. Family and loved ones of the actor confirmed the cause of death was cancer. Known most recently for his role as Professor Snape in the Harry Potter series, he was 69 years old.

Rickman's family posted a statement saying, "The actor and director Alan Rickman has died from cancer at the age of 69. He was surrounded by family and friends."

Friends and fellow actors took to social media to pay tribute to the late BAFTA Award-winner. Harry Potter co-star James Phelps, who played Fred Weasley said on Twitter, "Shocked & sad to hear Alan Rickman has passed away. One of the nicest actors I've ever met. Thoughts and prayers with his family at this time"

Known in the U.K. and beyond for his role as the sardonic villain Hans Gruber in Die Hard and the not-so deceptive Severus Snape in Harry Potter, Rickman has had a longstanding career both on and off the silver screen. Before his film acting debut Mr. Rickman was a player at the Royal Shakespeare Company and the West End as well as a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Some of his performances on the stage include a portrayal of Valmont in Les Liaisons Dangereuses on Broadway in 1986, which yielded two Tony Award nominations. He also played a role opposite Lindsay Duncan in Private Lives in 2002.

He also was Mark Antony opposite Helen Mirren's Cleopatra at the Olivier Theatre in London and the title roles in Ibsen's John Gabriel Borkman at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin in 2010.

In 2005, Rickman directed the play My Name is Rachel Corrie, a production based on the life of the student who was killed by a bulldozer amid protesting the Israel Defense Forces in the Gaza Strip.

Other accolades include BAFTA nominations for his roles in Truly Madly Deeply and Michael Collins, in which he portrayed Eamon de Valera, along with a Golden Globe win for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film for the title role in Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny.

The actor is survived by his wife, Rima Horton.

Our condolences to Rickman's family and loved ones in this tragic time.

Remember the actor fondly with his Charlie Rose interview below.