Iconic English movie and Royal Shakespeare Company theatre actor Alan Rickman has passed away in London.
According to a statement released to the press, "the actor and director Alan Rickman has died from cancer at the age of 69. He was surrounded by family and friends."
Alan Rickman as the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor and "half-blood prince" of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
An accomplished actor with a substantial film and stage credit list, he was probably best known as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter movies, Doctor Lazarus in Galaxy Quest, and the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham in the 1991 Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Rickman is survived by his wife and partner of almost 40 years, Rima Holton. The two were secretly married in New York last year.
The news comes only four days after David Bowie died, also 69 and also of cancer.
