Harry Potter, Die Hard Star Alan Rickman Dies

British film and stage actor Alan Rickman, known for his roles in Die Hard and the Harry Potter series, has died. He passed away from cancer on Thursday. He was 69.

"The actor and director Alan Rickman has died from cancer at the age of 69," his family said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. "He was surrounded by family and friends."

One of Rickman's earliest prominent film roles was Hans Gruber, the bad guy in the first Die Hard movie in 1988. He also played the Sheriff of Nottingham in 1991's Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, winning a BAFTA for his performance. He of course also played Severus Snape in the blockbuster Harry Potter franchise.

He is also known for his roles in Dogma, Galaxy Quest, and Sense and Sensibility. Rickman directed two films, including 2014's A Little Chaos starring Kate Winslet and his 1997 directorial debut with The Winter Guest.

"On stage, however, he was arguably more celebrated than on screen, breaking through in 1986 in Les Liaisons Dangereuses. The role would earn him a Tony nomination," The Hollywood Reporter wrote.

Rickman is survived by his wife Rima Horton.

Harry Potter creator JK Rowling paid tribute to Rickman with a heartfelt message on Twitter.