Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films The late actor played the strict Potions master across all eight Harry Potter films from 2001 to 2011. Author JK Rowling once described him as “a gift of a character” and last year revealed she told Rickman a secret about Snape’s past before anyone else.

Alan Rickman 1946 - 2016 Thu, January 14, 2016 British actor Alan Rickman has died at the age of 69 following a battle with cancer. Play slideshow Toronto Star via Getty Images 1 of 39 Alan Rickman poses for a portrait taken in 2006

Four days after his death, she tweeted: “I told Alan what lies behind the word ‘always’. Fans will remember the scene Rowling is referencing – arguably Rickman’s best moment in the series – from the final film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. Following Snape’s death, Harry is given access to his memories and comes to see that his most hated teacher had actually always cared for him deeply.

WB/SG Alan Rickman played some of Hollywood's greatest villains

Hans Gruber in Die Hard Rickman’s role in the 1988 classic, which is definitely a Christmas movie, set him up as one of the greatest Hollywood villains ever. A cold criminal, Gruber and his team take hostages at the Nakatomi Plaza for money, while Bruce Willis’ John McClane swoops in to save the day.

Rickman’s best moment? It has to be the shot of him falling to his death – one that was more real than films fans might have first thought. According CineFix: “Rickman agreed to do the fall for real from 25 feet high onto an airbag. “Rickman agreed and then prepared himself mentally for the stunt, but on the first take, instead of releasing him on ‘go’, they released him on ‘one.’”

SG Rickman faced Costner in Robin Hood

George, Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Another memorable villain Rickman played was this evil medieval character. The late star won a Best Actor BAFTA for the role opposite Kevin Costner’s Robin Hood.

Last week the American actor revealed he went looking for magic mushrooms on the set in 1990. Rickman’s best moment has to be the scene where the Sheriff goes through everything he says will be banned until Robin Hood is caught. He rants: “Cancel the kitchen scraps for lepers and orphans, no more merciful beheadings and call off Christmas!”

GETTY Alan played Harry the adulterous husband in Love Actually