He became one of Britain`s best-loved acting stars thanks to roles including Professor Snape in the Harry Potter films and Hans Gruber in Die Hard.
He also won a Bafta for playing the Sheriff of Nottingham in 1991`s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
A family statement said: "The actor and director Alan Rickman has died from cancer at the age of 69. He was surrounded by family and friends."
Other film credits included 1995`s Sense and Sensibility and Michael Collins the following year, both of which earned him Bafta nominations.
