Alan Rickman’s Debut: A Journey to One of His Most Iconic Roles
Few actors have managed to become iconic villains in film history, not once but twice. The late Alan Rickman, who passed away in 2016, achieved this feat. He is best known for playing the complex Professor Severus Snape in the ‘Harry Potter’ series. However, his first film role, which was also highly memorable, came when he was 41. Rickman starred alongside Bruce Willis as the suave terrorist Hans Gruber in 1988’s ‘Die Hard’. The anonymity of Rickman at the time added to the character’s menacing appeal.
Born in London in 1946, Rickman didn’t initially pursue acting. He worked as a graphic artist before transitioning to theatre at 27, a late start in the competitive acting world. When asked why he switched to acting later, he remarked, “It never felt like a sudden switch to me. The curse of our times is that you are supposed to decide your life at 16 and stick to that.”
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Rickman built a strong theatre career in the ’70s and ’80s, starring in Chekhov and Shakespeare plays, and gaining significant recognition for his role in Les Liaisons Dangereuses with the Royal Shakespeare Company. His performance earned him a Tony Award nomination in 1987. The following year, he took a leap into film, drastically changing his career.
The 1980s were dominated by action films starring muscle-bound heroes like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. However, ‘Die Hard’, directed by John McTiernan, stood out from the typical action fare. Based on Roderick Thorp’s novel, it starred Bruce Willis as NYPD detective John McClane. Rickman’s role as Hans Gruber came about after producer Joel Silver saw him in Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Initially, Rickman was hesitant, considering himself a serious theatre actor, but he was impressed by the script’s intelligence and positive portrayal of Black characters.
Rickman redefined the action villain archetype with Gruber, portraying him as a highly intelligent, calm, and composed adversary. He even suggested changes to the character’s appearance and actions, such as wearing a suit instead of terrorist gear and pretending to be a hostage, which added depth to Gruber’s cunning nature.
Die Hard’s unconventional approach and Rickman’s brilliant performance made it a massive success, grossing $83 million in the U.S. and launching a major franchise. Rickman’s theatre experience and unfamiliarity to audiences allowed him to create a believable and terrifying villain, solidifying Hans Gruber as one of the greatest movie villains of all time.
–Farheen Ali
