Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Alan Rickman dead: Harry Potter fans pay 'wands up' tribute to Snape

Many Harry Potter fans have been thanking the late actor for 'making their childhoods'

Jess Denham
Thursday 14 January 2016 16:38 GMT
Comments
Harry Potter students raise their wands after the death of Albus Dumbledore
Harry Potter students raise their wands after the death of Albus Dumbledore

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Harry Potter fans are paying tribute to actor and director Alan Rickman, who played Professor Snape in the popular film franchise and has sadly died aged 69.

Rickman’s family confirmed the news on Thursday morning, stating that he had been privately suffering from cancer.

Rickman gave acclaimed performances in the likes of Die Hard, Sense and Sensibility and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves but it is his role as Snape that touched younger fans of JK Rowling’s Hogwarts movies the most.

Soon after his death was announced, fans began flooding Twitter with posts expressing their shock and sorrow, with many sharing photos of the “wands in the air” scene featured in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince after the death of headmaster Albus Dumbledore.

Rickman’s career only took off aged 41 when he played villain Hans Gruber in 1988’s Die Hard alongside Bruce Willis.

He has two films out this year, Eye in the Sky with Helen Mirren and Alice Through The Looking Glass as the Blue Caterpillar.

JK Rowling, Daniel Radcliffe, Stephen Fry and Emma Thompson are among those to pay tribute to Rickman.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in