Born: February 21, 1946 in Hammersmith, London

Alan Rickman is known for his diverse list of roles in films such as Love Actually, Die Hard, Sense and Sensibility, Dogma, Galaxy Quest, and (of course) the Harry Potter series. Mr. Rickman attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art from 1972 to 1974. His portrayal of elegant and heartless seducer Le Vicomte de Valmont in The Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses won him both critical and popular acclaim and led to his being offered the role of the villainous Hans Gruber in the first Die Hard film. Mr. Rickman's unique characterization garnered worldwide attention and set a chilling new standard for screen villains. Since then, he has appeared in over 30 films and received many prestigious nominations and awards for his work in film, theatre, television and radio, including BAFTA, Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG and Tony Awards. He is Vice-Chairman of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and currently lives in England.