Actor Alan Rickman has died in London after losing a cancer battle at the age of 69.

The British actor, known for his role as Professor Snape in the Harry Potter films, died surrounded by friends and relatives.

A statement from his family read: "The actor and director Alan Rickman has died from cancer at the age of 69. He was surrounded by family and friends."

Rickman played iconic roles in films including Die Hard, Robin Hood and Love Actually.

Alan Rickman - in pictures 16 show all Alan Rickman - in pictures 1/16 Alan Rickman as Professor Snape in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire 2/16 Alan Rickman at 14th Marrakech International Film festival, Marrakesh, Morocco in 2014 Rex 3/16 Alan Rickman in Die Hard Rex 4/16 Alan Rickman and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio in Robin Hood : Prince of Thieves 5/16 Alan Rickman and Johnny Depp in 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street' 6/16 Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman in 'Judas Kiss' - 1998 Rex 7/16 Kate Winslet with Alan Rickman at 'A Little Chaos' film premiere, Toronto International Film Festival, Canada Rex 8/16 Juliet Stevenson and Alan Rickman in Truly, Madly, Deeply 9/16 Alan Rickman at 44th Giffoni Film Festival in Italy Rex 10/16 Heike Makatsch and Alan Rickman in Love Actually 11/16 Emma Thompson with Alan Rickman in Sense And Sensibility, 12/16 Alan Rickman and his wife Rima Horton at Goodwood Festival in 2015 Rex 13/16 Alan Rickman in Galaxy Quest 14/16 Alan Rickman at the 1996 EMMY Awards in Pasedena Getty Images 15/16 Alan Rickman at 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2' Film Premiere, New York, America in 2011 Rex 16/16 Alan Rickman pictured in London on 08 Dec 2008 Rex 1/16 Alan Rickman as Professor Snape in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire 2/16 Alan Rickman at 14th Marrakech International Film festival, Marrakesh, Morocco in 2014 Rex 3/16 Alan Rickman in Die Hard Rex 4/16 Alan Rickman and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio in Robin Hood : Prince of Thieves 5/16 Alan Rickman and Johnny Depp in 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street' 6/16 Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman in 'Judas Kiss' - 1998 Rex 7/16 Kate Winslet with Alan Rickman at 'A Little Chaos' film premiere, Toronto International Film Festival, Canada Rex 8/16 Juliet Stevenson and Alan Rickman in Truly, Madly, Deeply 9/16 Alan Rickman at 44th Giffoni Film Festival in Italy Rex 10/16 Heike Makatsch and Alan Rickman in Love Actually 11/16 Emma Thompson with Alan Rickman in Sense And Sensibility, 12/16 Alan Rickman and his wife Rima Horton at Goodwood Festival in 2015 Rex 13/16 Alan Rickman in Galaxy Quest 14/16 Alan Rickman at the 1996 EMMY Awards in Pasedena Getty Images 15/16 Alan Rickman at 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2' Film Premiere, New York, America in 2011 Rex 16/16 Alan Rickman pictured in London on 08 Dec 2008 Rex

The star was a long-standing member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and has won a number of awards including a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, an Emmy and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Rickman wed long-term partner of 50 years Rima Horton in a secret ceremony in New York in 2012, confirming the news last year.

"We are married. Just recently. It was great, because no one was there. After the wedding in New York we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and ate lunch," he said.

'I think every relationship should be allowed to have its own rules. She's tolerant. She's incredibly tolerant. Unbelievably tolerant. Possibly a candidate for sainthood," he told Hello Magazine.

Rickman's death comes just months ahead of the release of a new film called Eye In The Sky in which he stars alongside Helen Mirren and Aaron Paul.

What desperately sad news about Alan Rickman. A man of such talent, wicked charm & stunning screen & stage presence. He'll be sorely missed — Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) January 14, 2016

I do not want my heroes to die! Alan Rickman is dead & he was another hero. Alan - thank you for being with us. We are sorry you had to go — Eddie Izzard (@eddieizzard) January 14, 2016

The thriller is set to open in UK cinemas on April 8, according to IMDb.

He has also just completed Alice Through The Looking Glass, which is slated for release later this year.

Rickman's critically acclaimed roles include Col Brandon in Sense and Sensibility and the spectre of a widow's lost love in Anthony Minghella's Truly, Madly Deeply.

He may be best known to older fans as terrorist Hans Gruber in Die Hard from 1988, or the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves from 1991.

But he gained a younger fanbase for his turn as Snape in the hugely successful Harry Potter franchise.

Rickman is also a filmmaker and his most recent project was last year's A Little Chaos, which he directed and starred in opposite Kate Winslet.

Speaking on the red carpet at the premiere last year, he said:

"I wasn't free until now because I started doing Harry Potter, and when I started there were only three books written so I didn't know I was going to be unable (to direct).

"Because if you're going to direct a film it's over a year of your life and I didn't have that.

''So once I had finished with that series of films I was free, and then along came this wonderful scrip."

A Little Chaos was Rickman's second turn behind the camera after directing Emma Thompson in drama The Winter Guest 18 years previously.

Rickman was born in Acton, west London in 1946 and later won a scholarship to Latymer Upper School where he first became involved in drama.

After graduating from the Royal College of Art, he opened a graphic design studio alongside some friends but later decided he wanted to pursue acting professionally.

He was awarded a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before going on to work with numerous theatre groups.