British film icon Alan Rickman has died aged 69

British actor Alan Rickman has died aged 69 after a battle with cancer.His family confirmed his death in a statement released on Thursday which said the actor died "surrounded by family and friends."Rickman is best known to younger fans for his role as Professor Snape in the Harry Potter films, but shot to global fame aged 41 in 1988after playing Hans Gruber alongside Bruce Willis in Die Hard.The 69-year-old died in his hometown of London and had fought his battle with cancer away from the limelight.He was considered one of the greats of British theatre and had been a long time member of the Royal Shakespeare company, one of Britain's leading theatre organisations. He also won a Bafta for playing theSheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves in 1991.This post is being updated.Join the conversation about this storyNOW WATCH: NASA scientists are baffled by a mysterious pyramid structure they found in space
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