Actor Alan Rickman dead aged 69

British actor Alan Rickman has died in London at the age of 69, his family has confirmed.

He had been suffering with cancer, The Guardian reports.

Rickman was beloved for his role as Professor Snape in the Harry Potter films, as well as other arch-villain characters in Die Hard and Robin Hood.

He also played a straying husband in hit Christmas romanace Love, Actually.

But it wasn’t always bad-guy roles: He’s also beloved as the shy yet romantic Col. Brandon in Emma Thompson’s charming version of Sense And Sensibility.