Famous British actor and director Alan Rickman poses for a photograph for The Trust Performing Arts Center on July 24, 2015. Freshman Andrew Caldwell has always viewed Rickman, who died of cancer on Jan. 14, 2016, as one of the most beloved and best British actors of all time. Caldwell now reflects on Rickman’s role in his life, and how Rickman’s voice, personality and character influenced Caldwell throughout his childhood. Photo fair use of The Trust Performing Arts Center.
By ANDREW CALDWELL – Print Staff Writer
World renowned British actor and director Alan Rickman died of cancer Jan. 14 at the age of 69. His fans now grieve and show gratitude for his characters and roles in their lives.
“I do take my work seriously and the way to do that is not to take yourself too seriously.” – Alan Rickman
Most commonly known for his role as the villainous, yet heart-broken hero Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series, British actor and director Alan Rickman died at age 69 of pancreatic cancer on Jan. 14 in London. While he touched the lives of many through playing Snape, I knew and loved him for other reasons.
Rickman was the first actor I was drawn to. Sure, Disney Channel and Nickelodeon were great to watch as a kid, but when I saw him in Die Hard, Sense and Sensibility, Love Actually, Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland, I was mesmerized by not only his performances, but his ability to make an unlikely, twisted character enjoyable.
He was always the character who was never supposed to be liked, yet in the end was.
What I admired most about his life is he lived on the threshold of letting others around him know how he felt and that is an unbelievably rare gift to share with an audience.
He was my first role model who wasn’t related to me. I saw pieces of myself in him such as his kindness and honesty. That alone encouraged me to not alter my personality to the likings of others. I valued him and his roles like no other.
The night following the morning of his death, I walked over to my bookshelf and pulled out Snape’s wand, which I’ve had for seven years. As dusty as it was, the memories of me playing with it and watching him as Snape were almost engraved in the paint of the wand. I sat in my room pondering over how on earth I would ever move on.
And I still do not know the answer.
I don’t know how to say goodbye to a piece of my childhood. I don’t know if I will ever be able to say goodbye to the most incredible actor, man and friend. I don’t know how to get over the fact that I never got the chance to really thank him for all he’s done for me and the world.
He taught me to not judge characters by their outer shells and to be brave and to take risks in ways I couldn’t have learned in a classroom.
One can’t replace someone like him.
He gave me something to root for and that was to not let my dreams stay dreams.
Whether we see him as Professor Snape, Jamie, Dr. Lazarus, Hans Gruber, Absolem and countless others, the world is poorer because of his loss. Rickman knew how to perform, and that is something his death will never take away.
So to that I say so long Alan Rickman.
He was truly an amazing actor and man who will be forever missed.
Always.
