British actor Alan Rickman, famous for his roles in Harry Potter, Die Hard and Love Actually, has died at the age of 69 A statement by his family, says that he died of cancer: “The actor and director Alan Rickman has died from cancer at the age of 69. He was surrounded by family and friends.” He became one of Britain’s best-loved acting stars thanks to roles including Professor Snape in the Harry Potter films and Hans Gruber in Die Hard. Alan Rickman as Professor Snape in Harry Potter Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber in Die Hard Harry Potter author JK Rowling led the tributes, describing him as “a magnificent actor and a wonderful man”. Jeremy Corbyn praised Rickman as “one of the greatest actors of his generation”. “My thoughts are with his family and friends,” he said. The Independent reports: Rickman was born in Acton, west London, in 1946. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and began his career on stage after graduating, appearing in productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Known for his gravelly voice and dominating presence of screen, he also had memorable roles in films such as Love Actually and a Bafta award-winning turn [...]