Alan Rickman was born in London in 1946, and was the second of four children.
He was trained as a graphic designer, but later went on to pursue a career in acting.
He gained international recognition for his role as Hans Gruber in the 1988 film "Die Hard."
Despite being a highly respected actor, Rickman never won an Academy Award.
He was known for his deep, distinctive voice, which he once described as "a microphone dipped in chocolate."
Rickman was also an accomplished stage actor, having performed in numerous productions in London's West End and on Broadway.
In addition to his acting career, Rickman was also a successful director. He directed two feature films, "The Winter Guest" and "A Little Chaos."
He was a vocal advocate for numerous causes, including access to clean water and the protection of the environment.
Rickman was a private person and rarely spoke about his personal life. He was married to his longtime partner, Rima Horton, for over 50 years before his death in 2016.
Rickman was a talented musician and played the cello. He even performed in a charity concert with other actors, including Emma Thompson and Hugh Laurie.