On April 30th, 2023, Google paid tribute to the late Alan Rickman with a memorable Google Doodle. The news delighted Harry Potter fans worldwide, who shared their love for the actor on social media. But who was Alan Rickman, and why did he deserve such recognition?
Alan Rickman was a British actor known for his exceptional talent and versatility. He played various roles throughout his career, from the feared and misunderstood Professor Snape in the Harry Potter movies to vengeful villain Hans Gruber in Die Hard, and gentlemanly Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility. He even voiced Marvin the Paranoid Android in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
On this day in 1987, Rickman starred in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, a Broadway play that helped launch his career. He played the anti-hero Le Vicomte de Valmont and received a Tony award for his performance. Throughout his career, Rickman also won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for his outstanding acting skills. Despite his reputation for playing “baddies,” he was also acclaimed for his sensitive roles in films such as Truly Madly Deeply and Love, Actually.
However, it was his exceptional portrayal of Professor Snape that made him famous worldwide. When Rickman passed away in 2016 after battling pancreatic cancer, Harry Potter fans were heartbroken. They shared tributes to the actor on social media, often using his iconic line from the series, “always.”
In a 2011 interview with HitFix, Rickman spoke about his role as Professor Snape and the insight that J.K. Rowling gave him. He said, “It helped me think that he was more complicated and that the story was not going to be as straight down the line as everybody thought. If you remember when I did the first film she’d only written three or four books, so nobody knew where it was really going except her. And it was important for her that I know something, but she only gave me a tiny piece of information which helped me think it was a more ambiguous route.” Rowling revealed that she told Rickman what lay behind the word “always.”
Even years after his passing, fans still celebrate and honor Rickman’s memory. On the day of the Google Doodle, they took to social media to share their love and admiration for the actor. Some even shared movie recommendations for Alan fans, such as Dogma, in which Rickman gave an incredible performance. Others used the opportunity to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer, which took Rickman’s life.
Here are some famous quotes from the late actor Alan Rickman
“I think there should be laughs in everything. Sometimes, it’s a slammed door, a pie in the face or just a recognition of our frailties.”
“Acting touches nerves you have absolutely no control over.”
“I’ve learned that it’s important not to limit yourself. You can do whatever you really love to do, no matter what it is.”
“The audience should feel like voyeurs. Their response should be ‘I’m not supposed to be seeing this’.”
“I’m always aware that when you’re telling a story, you’re telling a story to people who have heard a lot of stories.”
“I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.”
“It would be wonderful to think that the future is unknown and sort of surprising.”
“It would be frightful to think that all one’s love and passion were poured into a file drawer labeled ‘terminated’.”
“Talent is an accident of genes – and a responsibility.”
“The more we’re governed by idiots and have no control over our destinies, the more we need to tell stories to each other about who we are, why we are, where we come from, and what might be possible.”
Alan Rickman‘s life and legacy as an iconic actor and talented performer continue to inspire and delight fans worldwide. Google’s tribute to him is a fitting recognition of his remarkable achievements and enduring impact on popular culture.
