Celebrating five of our favourite Alan Rickman characters

Today, we all woke up to the devastating news that esteemed British actor Alan Rickman had passed away. This comes just days after the news of music icon David Bowie’s passing, who was also aged 69. Rickman was known for being one of the most iconic bad guy actors ever and for that voice. His roles were as memorable as they were powerful, and for someone whose film career didn’t even start until age 46, they’re roles that will go down in history.

Alexander Dane, Galaxy Quest (1999)

Now that Alan Rickman has passed, fans of Galaxy Quest may have to come to the grim realisation that a sequel to the successful cult classic may never come about, and nor should it with Rickman’s absence. Dane’s story is near perfect, documenting an arc from cold to conqueror as he learns what it truly means to embody Lazarus. (Coincidentally the name of the character Dane played in fictional TV program Galaxy Quest, and also the name of David Bowie’s last single ~creepy~.)

This parody film was made by Rickman’s ability to portray a scorned actor haunted by that one fateful role, and his ability to overcome it. Thankfully, that same one-hit wonder syndrome didn’t affect Rickman himself. Galaxy Quest is such a gem that it should remain sequel-less to honour both the series and the late Rickman.

Colonel Brandon, Sense and Sensibility (1995)

As we all know, Alan Rickman had a sensational ability to fit very easily into the bad guy role, but also subvert our expectations and shock audiences by flawlessly switching it up mid-film. One of the best examples of this is his performance as Colonel Brandon in the beautiful rendition of the Jane Austen classic, Sense and Sensibility. At the beginning, Brandon exudes nothing but coldness, but then exposes tenderness and sensitivity unbeknownst to characters and audiences when he tends to the ill Marianne Dashwood, played by Kate Winslet. Like one of his other famous roles, Rickman managed to make audiences fall in love with a character who they were really supposed to hate.

Jamie, Truly, Madly, Deeply (1990)

It would now seem haunting, and almost ironic and unfair, that one of Alan Rickman’s most iconic and powerful roles would in fact be playing a ghost, but that’s the case in Truly, Madly, Deeply. He plays Jamie, the ghost of a mourning Nina’s deceased boyfriend, who is initially ecstatic to have Jamie back in her life. However, as has once again been documented in another of Rickman’s famous roles, sometimes the dead need to stay dead. Rickman’s portrayal of this really difficult and heart-wrenching concept gave this film its universal appeal.

Hans Gruber, Die Hard (1988)

It’s incredibly difficult to believe that Rickman’s first ever film role came to him at age 46, and it’s even harder to believe that that very film role would go down as one of his most iconic. It was the world outside of Britain’s introduction to the glorious Alan Rickman, and regardless of his death, he will never really leave. Rickman’s portrayal of Die Hard villain Hans Gruber was as cool as anything: his incredibly calming, and therefore eerie, approach to evil is an archetype that’s been replicated so many times in action films in the 30 years since the original premiere. This sparked Rickman’s undeniable legacy, but there’s one role that will make sure it lives on forever…

Professor Severus Snape, the Harry Potter series (2001–2011)

When the world learned of Alan Rickman’s loss, many people were putting their metaphorical wands to the sky, and I’m sure a lot of us will pop on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for Friday night viewing. Alan Rickman’s portrayal of Snape is easily his most recognisable, simply because of how well he played J.K. Rowling’s most complex character. No other character in the series had the same air of danger combined with a hint of compassion, and no other actor could bring that all out on the silver screen without ruining the performance like Alan Rickman did. Years from now, people will talk about Harry Potter and Alan Rickman’s portrayal because, frankly, fans and muggles alike will always remember the magic that Rickman brought to one of the world’s greatest stories. 

Jackson Langford

Jackson is studying a Bachelor of Communication degree at the University of Newcastle and is the rightful heir to the throne.

Image: Harry Potter official Facebook page