Last week Alan Rickman passed away at the age of 69, and the world lost an incredible actor and man. He played many roles in his life, and he reached out to audiences in every way. From my introduction to Rickman's work as Severus Snape, I was captivated by him. So, with great sadness, I would like to reflect on 15 quotes from Rickman, in and out-of-character, that have stayed with me throughout my life.
1. "If only life could be a little more tender and art a little more robust."
2. "Invite him out for a drink and then, after about twenty minutes, casually drop into the conversation the fact that you'd like to marry him and have lots of sex and babies" - as Harry in "Love Actually"
3. "I've never been able to plan my life. I just lurch from indecision to indecision."
4. "A lot of time I hate the theater. You think, 'I have to climb Mount Everest, again, tonight.' Oh, the theater is a scary place to be."
5. "I am going to count to three. There will not be a four." - as Hans Gruber in "Die Hard"
6. "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."
7. "I am the character you are not supposed to like."
8. "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."
9. "Well, it may have escaped your notice, but life isn't fair." - as Severus Snape in "Harry Potter"
10. "Acting touches nerves you have absolutely no control over."
11. "Every so often you read a play and a character just speaks to you - almost seems to speak through you."
12. "I can't help you if you don't know who you are." - as the Blue Caterpillar in "Alice in Wonderland"
13. "It would be wonderful to think that the future is unknown and sort of surprising."
14. "I want to swim in both directions at once. Desire success, court failure."
15. "When I am 80 years old and sitting in my rocking chair, I'll be reading Harry Potter. And my family will say to me, 'After all this time?' And I will say, 'Always.'"
Rest in peace, and you're always in our memories and hearts Alan Rickman.
