Alan Rickman was a known talent in Hollywood for many years, even before the iconic Severus Snape from the Harry Potter series. When Alan Rickman passed in 2016, there was a void of talent left unfilled in cinema. Left with audiences, were some great roles from the actor, and many couldn’t be further from Snape.
Snape was a Professor in Hogwarts, the half-blood wizard that served as a Potions Master, and the Head of Slytherin House. Rickman plays him as calculated, cold, and bitter, with a strong dislike for Harry Potter, and a subtle sarcastic charm. Rickman’s other roles can be better, or worse than Snape’s personality.
10 Metatron – Dogma
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Whether it be tragedy, comedy, or drama, Alan Rickman knows how to steal a scene with his talent. Kevin Smith’s 1999 religious fantasy film, Dogma, featured Rickman as The Metatron, an angelic being who manifested on Earth as a man in his middle years. His dramatic appearance was interrupted by someone pouring a fire extinguisher all over him.
Rickman produces great comedic chops for this film and often expresses annoyance at humans. He’s also no stranger to making fun of himself, as he shows his lack of genitals as an angel. There’s a lot of sass in this character, a far cry from the seriousness of Snape, and probably a lot safer than Hogwarts.
9 Harry – Love Actually
Love Actually is a film that follows the stories of eight different London couples. Each tries to deal with their relationships in different ways, whether that be for better or worse. Alan Rickman plays a character called Harry, a managing director of a design agency.
His character is married to Karen (Emma Thompson), but he is occasionally flirted with by his secretary, Mia (Heike Makatsch). Harry is not a good man and is unfaithful to his wife. He purchases a lovely necklace for his secretary, much to his heartbreak of Karen. Many fans of Love Actually are still not over this story. Although Harry did not redeem himself, at least Snape did.
8 Dr. Alfred Blalock – Something The Lord Made
This made-for-television movie features Alan Rickman as the heart surgeon, Dr. Alfred Blalock. As a cardiac pioneer, his relationship with Vivien Thomas (Mos Def), another cardiac pioneer, becomes complicated and unstable as they develop a procedure to treat the blue baby syndrome.
Rickman’s character in Something The Lord Made is serious and unprejudiced. Rickman’s chemistry with Mos Def is what pioneers this film, as the two characters seek to revolutionize heart surgery and make history together. This stoic character, noted for his desire for medical science, is vastly different from the wizarding world of magical lore.
7 Absolem – Alice In Wonderland
Tim Burton’s creatively wonderful world of 2010’s Alice in Wonderland featured the snarky and all-too-serious caterpillar of Absolem. Noted for his blue color, and eagerness for hookah smoking. Rickman provides the voice for Absolem, and it’s the perfect blend of monotone and annoyance for the character.
The Caterpillar’s appearance in Alice in Wonderland is a great part of the film. He is oddly calming and quite mysterious with his questions and knowledge. It’s rather refreshing to see the character laugh, even in his rude actions of blowing smoke in Alice’s face and calling her a stupid girl. What’s the least like Severus Snape than that of a realistic blue caterpillar?
6 Sheriff Of Nottingham – Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves
Alan Rickman provides an astonishing performance in 1991’s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Most of his dialogue is written by Rickman himself, due to his disappointment with the screenplay. Rickman provides both hilarious, and well-worded threats and retorts in this Robin Hood feature film, and carries the movie on his shoulders.
The character, the Sheriff of Nottingham, was playing camp, and intensely satirical. Toward the film’s end, we witness a swordfight between the Sheriff of Nottingham and Robin Hood (Kevin Costner), as they battle in favor of Maid Marian (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio). The fight itself is fun and holds impressive merit in dueling. Seeing two men clash swords is far different from screaming words and watching impractical spells.
5 Judge Turpin – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber
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With Rickman’s role as Judge Turpin, he provides a sophisticated and classy act of intimidation. His power is not only in his wealth, or stature but in the boom in his voice. Rickman portrays Turpin with an intense knowledge, and protection of his ward, Johanna.
Turpin provides 2007’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street with talented vocals, as he sings for the musical. His tracks are bolstered by his great booming voice but ultimately cut short as Sweeney Todd cuts his throat at the request of a shave.
4 Alexander Dane – Galaxy Quest
Galaxy Quest is a beloved movie, and many see it as a cult classic. It’s a blend of comedy and sci-fi, and a commentary on pop culture, as well as a homage to Star Trek. The character of Alexander Dane is played by Alan Rickman, who provides dry humor, and a complete disinterest in the world of Galaxy Quest.
Dane is a great character from the washed-up TV series, Galaxy Quest, and is loosely based on both Leanord Nimoy and Spock. Dane is a Shakespearean actor, whose legacy is trapped as a campy-looking alien, Doctor Lazarus. He resents his character and his catchphrase.
3 Ronald Reagan – The Butler
Undergoing a makeup transformation, much like Lord Voldemort, Rickman lets his talents as a character actor show when he became Ronald Raegan for 2013’s The Butler. His role as the real-life United States President, Ronald Raegan was one that many still find shocking that it was Rickman under that makeup and hairpiece. It’s a vastly different role from Harry Potter’s Snape, mainly since this was once a sitting president.
Rickman puts on a thick and heavy American accent as he portrays Raegan, a rather hard feat considering just how iconic his British tone was. By no means is Rickman the central character of the film, but his scenes are a great watch.
2 Elliot Marston – Quigley Down Under
As the main antagonist for 1990’s Quigley Down Under, Rickman enters into the fray of a Western. A great genre for Hollywood movies, and one that Rickman seems a natural at. As Elliot Marston, the character hires Matt Quigley (Tom Selleck) to kill the Aborigines, to which Quigley objects.
The climax of the film has Quigley captured by Marston after Quigley has sabotaged the rancher’s work for too long. The two have a quick draw gun shooting duel, to which Marston loses, but not before dying with an amused and shocked expression.
1 Hans Gruber – Die Hard
In 1988’s Die Hard, Alan Rickman portrayed the East German terrorist, Hans Gruber. The character’s evil plans involved stealing a great financial wealth of over $640,000,000 and then killing over 30 hostages. The character is smart, and cunning, with nothing to prevent his goal. Well, except for one man, John McClane (Bruce Willis).
The two share great chemistry in their scenes, and Rickman provides wonderful acting abilities when Gruber is caught by McClane, and Gruber attempts to explain that he is an escaped hostage. His personality changes with a snap the moment McClane lets his guard down. It’s remarkable to see Rickman shift between two different characters. This character was so villainous, that it’s a joy to watch him fall from the 30th floor of the Nakatomi Plaza.