Alan Rickman
I have a deep appreciation for the work and voice of this actor. A partial biography follows:
Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman was born on February 21, 1946 in Acton, UK to Irish/Welsh parents.
He was their second child, with an older brother and a younger sister and brother.
His father died when he was eight. His mother, a strong character, imbued him with a sense of
self-worth, respect for women and fairness.
As a child creativity and intelligence shone in the young man. He had elegant calligraphy and a talent
for creating watercolor paintings. In 1957, Rickman won a scholarship to Latymer Upper, Hammersmith.
Rickman delved into acting, becoming a regular performer in school plays. He was a member of the
'Gild Drama Club,' a radical Latymer concept where pupils and masters could compete as equals.
Rickman's acting credibility and voice bought him acclaim.
After graduating, Rickman was faced with the choice of acting or design. He enrolled in a three-year
art and design course at Chelsea College of Art.He met his lifetime partner, Rima Horton and they
joined an amateur west London acting group called the Brook Green Players.
Although he was recognized for his acting talent, his conservative background cautioned him to
continue with the art career. After graduating in 1968 Rickman worked in graphic design, and
formed his company, Graphiti, with a group of friends.
He kept acting, joining the Court Drama Group with Rima Horton, playing many eclectic roles. At
25 he applied to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, for an audition. This act changed his life.
Raised in middle-class origins, uncomfortable with this background, he moved beyond the class
boundaries imposed by British society.
At 26, Rickman won a place at RADA giving a speech from Richard III. He worked his way
through RADA completing design commissions. He won several awards while there.
He commanded a great deal of authority, due to his maturity.
At 28, he left to begin his career in weekly repertory theater. Rickman's dedication to the craft and
incredible talent won over all those who worked with him.
Rickman traveled the UK, as his acting career slowly began to unfold. In 1978, Rickman joined the
Royal Shakespeare Company. Despite his exquisite 'thespian voice,' the 'repressive'
atmosphere of the RSC was conflicted. He recieved mixed reviews from the critics. A year later, he left.
His first BBC role came in 1979, Emile Zola's Thérèse Raquin. His role as Obadiah Slope, a slimy,
political character in The Barchester Chronicles, followed. He transformed Trollope's character
into a smooth lady killer and formaly introduced himself to British audiences. This began his fight
to avoid being typecast as a villain.
After The Chronicles, Rickman appeared in plays and TV shows. His casting as the aristocrat,
Vicomte de Valmont in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, was the turning point of his career.
The success on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean led to the role of of the intelligent thief, Hand
Gruber, Die Hard, Rickman's big break.
Die Hard opened doors for Alan Rickman, offers flooded in. January Man (1989) should have been
a success with famous actors Kevin Kline, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Harvey Keitel,
but was not. Rickman played a small role as Kline's sidekick.
Quigley Down Under (1990), starring Tom Selleck achieved mediocre popularity. Rickman was the
nasty station owner who hired Quigley to wipe out the local aboriginal population.
In 1991 Rickman appeared in four films. Closet Land, a psychological thriller starring Madelaine
Stowe, was not overtly successful. He won awards for Truly, Madly, Deeply,
billed as Britain's
answer to Ghost.
Rickman played Jamie, a dead lover who returns to his grieving sweetheart,
Juliet Stevenson.
Close My Eyes was written with him in mind as the cuckolded husband, Sinclair Bryant.
His performance gave an enchanting feel to the film.
As The Sheriff of Nottingham, rumors abounded about Kevin Costner being upstaged by Rickman
and ordering many of Rickman's scenes to be slashed from the film.
He was nominated for several awards and won a British Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Rickman was cast as the lead in Mesmer (1993), but the film was never released to a mass audience.
The film was released on video in North America only.
Rickman appeared in Bob Roberts (1992) with Tim Robbins and An Awfully Big Adventure (1995)
with Hugh Grant. In 1995 in Sense and Sensibility, he played the stiff Colonel Brandon.
The critically acclaimed HBO television movie, Rasputin (1996) followed. Rickman's inspired
performance of the peasant-monk who is credited with the bringing down the Russian Empire,
brought him several awards.
He played supporting roles in Michael Collins (1996), Judas Kiss (1998) and directed, The Winter
Guest, which he co-wrote. Unfortunately, Judas Kiss was never properly released and can
be found only on video in North America.
Alan Rickman played the lead role in a film called Dark Harbor (1999) which went straight to video
amongst scathing critic reviews.
He appeared as the seraph, Metatron, in the controversial Kevin Smith film, Dogma (1999). Since
a seraph is quite literally one of the 'Voices of God,' it is hard to imagine anyone more suited to
the role...Interestingly, this movie was made in 1997, and was not released due to its potentially
offensive religious content.
Galaxy Quest (1999) is a must see for anyone - it is hilarious... Alan Rickman plays Alexander Dane,
a classically trained actor who has been typecast for 20 years as the alien Doctor Lazarus.
In 2000, Alan Rickman starred in the contemporary romantic comedy, Blow Dry
Rickman participated in an ambitious project to film all 19 plays by Samuel Beckett. Alan Rickman
was re-united with Truly, Madly, Deeply director, Anthony Minghella and co-star, Juliet Stevenson
in the film adaption of 'Play.'
Alan Rickman is also the voice behind a fish in the animated film, "Help! I'm a Fish", and recently
narrating Eco-Challenge Argentina.
Alan Rickman starred as Snape in the Harry Potter Films and 'The Palace Thief' with Kevin Kline
and Tracey Ullman. He is also rumoured to be reuniting with Emma Thompson in a film about
Beatrice Potter, starring as Sherlock Holmes with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Gabriel Byrne.
Alan Rickman is currently working on his next directorial project, which he describes as "love story
set at the court of Louis XIV"
