How it all began
Rima Horton, wife, friend and strong shoulder of Alan Rickman, participated in parliamentary elections and was once an active politician from the Labor Party. A little later, she even taught economics at Kingston University.
The meeting with his future husband took place while Alan was studying in Chelsea at the Royal School of Art and Design. He then wanted to become a graphic designer. At such a young age, Rickman was not yet able to perceive the acting profession as something stable. Therefore, thoughts about the stage and the big screen were present only in his dreams. When the young people met, Rima Horton had already reached adulthood, she was 18 years old. Alan was a year older. So they started dating. A chance meeting gradually grew into a great love that warmed them all their lives.
Movies
Alan Rickman's creative biography began on the theater stage. In the mid-1980s, the play “Dangerous Liaisons” was staged on Broadway, in which the actor played the main character, Viscount de Valmont. Here the promising actor was noticed by famous producers Joel Silver and Charles Gordon.
Alan Rickman in the play "Dangerous Liaisons"
They looked into his dressing room and offered him a role in the action movie Die Hard, where Bruce Willis was to play the main character. Alan Rickman had long dreamed of getting on screen and happily agreed. The film was released in 1988 and was a resounding success.
In Die Hard, the Briton got the role of a villain, which he did well. This prompted director Kevin Reynolds to offer the actor another negative role in his adventure film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. The film was released in 1992 and was warmly received by viewers and film critics, many of whom noted the brilliant performance of the Briton in the “villainous” role.
Alan Rickman in the movie "Die Hard"
But around the same time, another project was released - the wonderful melodrama “Sincerely, Madly, Strongly,” where Alan Rickman received his first positive role. As it turned out, he is so “plastic” that he equally easily transforms into the most opposite roles.
Another star role, and the main one, was played by Rickman in the film “Rasputin.” For this work he received his first significant awards - the prestigious Golden Globe and Emmy awards.
Alan Rickman in the movie "Rasputin"
The actor has long wanted to try his hand as a director. He was able to make this dream come true in 1997. First, Alan Rickman staged the play and then made a film based on the play by Sharman MacDonald. Both the production and the film received the same name as the play - “The Winter Guest”. The directorial debut turned out to be very successful. The film received two awards from the Venice Film Festival.
A few years later, the director staged the play “My Name is Rachel Corey.” Theatergoers saw the dramatic performance in 2005 on the stage of one of the London theaters.
Alan Rickman in the movie Dogma
Alan Rickman's fans love him not only for his brilliant acting, but also for the amazing timbre of his voice, which is an integral part of his success with audiences. Studies conducted to identify the “ideal voice” came to the conclusion that Rickman’s voice is one of the best. The artist had perfect English pronunciation.
Therefore, as a voice actor, Alan Rickman was incredibly successful. the Harry Potter films could see this.
.
Alan got the mission to play Professor Severus Snape
, for whom voice is one of the important characteristics. JK Rowling herself approved of the Briton's choice.
Alan Rickman as Severus Snape
In the 2000s, the star continued to delight his fans with new roles in films. In 2006, two wonderful films appeared, where Alan Rickman starred in key roles. These are the sensational projects “Snow Pie” and “Perfume. The story of a murderer."
And the next year he was seen in the image of Judge Turpin in the film by the famous director Tim Burton “Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” Alan Rickman continued to appear on the theater stage.
Alan Rickman in the movie "The All Seeing Eye"
The latest works of the British star include the musical-historical drama “The CBGB Club” and “The All-Seeing Eye,” where Rickman played General Frank Benson. This film was released in theaters in the spring of 2020, when the star was no longer alive. He didn’t even wait for the release of the fantasy adventure film “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” in which the butterfly Absolem speaks in Rickman’s unique voice.
Like mom
Rima Horton was an amazing beauty in her youth. Many men stared after her. But she gave her heart to one of the most mysterious personalities in Hollywood (at that time - in the future) Alan Sydney Patrick Rickman. Who he was - an obsessive workaholic or the ultimate monogamous man - will be debated for a long time. But for this woman he was the embodiment of intelligence, strength, masculinity, sincerity and great love.
For Alan Rome, Horton was a reflection of his mother, whom he loved dearly. He was only eight when his father died of cancer. The mother was left with four children in her arms. From that moment on, she became the closest person to Rickman. Until the end of his days, along with his love for Rome, a warm affection for his mother will live in Alan’s heart.
She always helped and supported her son, being absolutely sincerely confident that her boy had a special talent that would definitely help him in life.
Where and when was Alan Rickman born?
Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman, British actor and theater director was born in London on February 21, 1946. At that time, the parents already had a two-year-old son, David. And, a few more years later, two more children were born: son Michael and daughter Sheila.
The family lived not richly, or rather, very modestly. Alan's father, Bernard, was an ordinary worker at one of the factories, and his mother, Margaret, took care of the kids. When Alan was eight years old, his father died of lung cancer. Alan realized early on that fate is not always merciful, and you need to fight hard for your own benefits. Therefore, he studied diligently and received a scholarship.
From designer to actor
Rima Horton in her youth, soon after meeting Rickman, made an important decision to support his any endeavors and be on his side in any situation. Perhaps it was this strong spiritual unity that helped them live together for so long.
She was with him even at that important moment of choice for him, when Alan, despite some success in the craft of a graphic designer, gave up his not very favorite craft and again became a student, because he decided to become an actor.
Rickman writes a letter requesting an audition for the Royal Academy of Drama. He passes all the entrance tests with honors and gradually begins to comprehend all the secrets of acting.
Typical villain
Rickman got used to the completely uncharacteristic role of a villain so well that in the following years he was regularly invited to play negative or at least ambiguous characters. He has played the role of a businessman who abandons people in the wilderness without water (“Quigley in Australia”), a cruel civil servant who interrogates a woman (“Country in the Closet”), and even Grigory Rasputin (“Rasputin”).
Only in British films did Rickman manage to play good heroes. This happened for the first time in the film “Sincerely, Madly, Strongly.”
By the way, despite his growing popularity in cinema, the actor did not forget about the theater. He often refused screen roles in favor of live productions.
What to watch: "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves"
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
- USA, 1991.
- Adventures.
- Duration: 143 minutes.
- IMDb: 6.9.
An experienced warrior, Robin from Loxley, is captured during the next Crusade. Having escaped, he returns to his homeland and discovers that the Sheriff of Nottingham has seized power. Robin assembles a team of forest bandits to overthrow the sheriff and restore justice.
Alan Rickman turned down the role of the Sheriff of Nottingham twice. He believed that this would ruin his career (apparently for fear of finally strengthening his image as a villain). And he agreed only when the director gave him complete freedom to interpret the role.
Still, the original voice acting of the film looks a little strange: the action takes place in England, but all the main characters, including Kevin Costner, speak with an American accent. And only the villain has clear pronunciation.
Watch on iTunes →
Away from the bustle
In her younger years, Rimma Horton, whose biography is not as well known as that of her famous husband, dated Rickman for quite a long time. Their romance lasted about twelve years (starting in 1965) before they decided to live together as one family. The couple could be seen at many social events. But still, they preferred a quiet, calm life, which took place far from the ordinary life of celebrities, from all gossip and scandals.
They liked being just the two of them. The couple never ran out of topics for long conversations by the fireplace. They could discuss anything and not bother each other.
Faint star
But even after the worldwide success of Harry Potter, Rickman did not become a typical star. Ever since the days of Die Hard, he has regularly been included in lists of the sexiest men on the planet and ratings of the best villains. After the role of Snape, he gained millions of fans (and this despite the fact that he was neither a central nor a positive character). But Rickman still preferred theater to films and did not like to communicate with journalists.
The actor always scolded stars who talk a lot about themselves, considering this a sign of excessive narcissism. Since his youth, he was in a relationship with Rima Horton, but did not advertise his personal life. They got married in 2012 after 47 years of marriage. And they did it secretly, without guests or ceremony. But the general public found out about this only three years later.
The actor chose his roles just as carefully. In addition, he himself directed two films: “The Winter Guest” and “A Little Chaos” (in the official Russian release “A Romance of Versailles”). But both of these films are not very well known.
Rickman appeared in films less often than he could have. But each of his images is remembered for a long time. For example, in “Sweeney Todd” it turned out that he also sings well.
What to watch: "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
- USA, UK, 2007.
- Musical, thriller.
- Duration: 132 minutes.
- IMDb: 8.2.
Barber Benjamin Barker returns to London from hard labor, where he was unjustly sent by a judge who dreams of taking possession of his wife. The hero learns that his wife, unable to withstand the violence, committed suicide. And then he takes the name Sweeney Todd and decides to take revenge on all the villains.
Watch on iTunes →
Alan Rickman died on January 14, 2020, just shy of his 70th birthday. His last film role was the image of General Benson in the film “The All-Seeing Eye.” After that, he again voiced Absolem in the film “Alice Through the Looking Glass.”
On the day of Rickman’s death, thousands of Potter fans around the world lit their “magic wands” to bid farewell to their beloved actor. For his anniversary, fans planned to release a book with letters and creative works and present it to the actor. But it came out after Alan’s death, and the work was given to his wife as a tribute to the memory of a wonderful artist and simply charming person.
Children's question
True, the couple did not have children. This is what Rima Horton once firmly decided. Many years later, however, she began to regret this decision, but age no longer allowed her to change anything. But her husband supported her at the very beginning, just as she supported him in the decisions he made.
Once upon a time, annoying journalists asked him a question about why it happened that the couple lived without children. He replied rather sternly that it was a mutual decision. But initially Rima Horton, whose filmography practically does not contain her works, did not want kids, because she never became an actress and taught economics all her life. She was completely satisfied with their life, closed to each other, but at the same time rich and free from toddlers.
Alan Rickman and his wife give all their unspent love for their children to their nieces. They pamper them as best they can, take them to museums, cinemas, theaters, and try to walk with them more often. The actor is sure: if he and Rima had children, he would happily allow them whatever they wanted; he would be a weak-willed father, because he would adore them endlessly.
This is how he has always been, one of the great actors of modern cinema, Alan Rickman. The family was for him an island where he could take a break from all the hardships. For five decades, the couple walked through life hand in hand.
Death of a talented actor
Alan Rickman's date of death is January 14, 2020. The artist died in London, in his own home, surrounded by close friends and, of course, his beloved wife. The fact that Severus Snape, a favorite of millions with an extraordinary voice, died was a true shock for admirers of his talent.
Quite a lot of time has passed since his death, but the artist’s relatives are still reticent about this. This is why fans don't know where Alan Rickman is buried. Relatives only reported that the cause of Alan Rickman’s death was cancer. The audience's favorite was killed by pancreatic cancer. But how long the man struggled with the terrible illness and what he had to go through in the fight for life is unknown.
Colleagues in the acting workshop were also simply shocked by the news of the man’s passing, since most of them did not even suspect that the artist was seriously ill and dying.
Almost all the stars of “Harry Potter” were the first to express their condolences to Rima Horton after the death of Alan Rickman - they spent more than one year on the set and became very united. Emma Watson (Hermione) on her page on social networks told subscribers that she was incredibly sorry that Alan Rickman died, but she was happy that she knew such an incredible person.
Daniel Radcliffe (the same Harry Potter), expressing condolences, said that Rickman had a lot to learn both in acting and in terms of human qualities - he was always ready to help, a very decent and loyal man. Kindness, generosity, a good sense of humor - qualities that were inherent in this talented person, who did not always have to embody positive images.
Matthew Lewis (played Neville Longbottom) said that “Harry Potter” was the beginning of his acting career, because when filming began on the first film, he was still just a child. Lewis admitted that from those times he had the brightest and most positive memories of Alan - the actor was an example for the boy in many ways.
JK Rowling, Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry, Hugh Jackman, Will Poulter, Kevin McKidd, Theo Rossi, Barbara Palvin, Selma Blair and many others also joined in condolences to the family after the death of Alan Rickman.
For his colleagues and millions of theater and film fans, Rickman will forever remain a legend - a man with a unique voice, talent and soul.
Long-awaited wedding
Despite the fact that the relationship between the couple in love was quite calm and stable, they were in no hurry to enter into a marriage. Just last spring, information circulated in the media that Rima Horton and Alan Rickman had officially become husband and wife. A little later, the actor said this in an interview. He told reporters that the wedding ceremony took place in New York. There was no one there except the newlyweds themselves. That's what they decided. After the ceremony, they had lunch and then took a walk as legal spouses. Rickman gave his wife an engagement ring, but Rima did not wear it.
This may seem strange to the average person, but for many years the couple lived an ordinary life, despite the fact that Alan was mega-popular. He didn’t even always attend the premieres of his films. It has never been possible to find an article with gossip in any “yellow” publication; there was not a single scandal associated with the fairer sex or with drink and drugs; there were no quarrels with colleagues in the shop, no ups and downs over zero fees. For this, Rima was always grateful to him.
Once upon a time, the actors who encountered him on the set of the film “Mesmer” noted that Rickman was an amazing person. Nowadays such things simply don’t happen. And this is the true truth. He was a true gentleman, a wonderful family man, a very decent person and a brilliant actor. And all these wonderful qualities easily fit into him alone. Rima Horton not only loved her husband, but also had unlimited respect for him and was proud of him.
Rima Horton in her youth
Rima Horton, the widow of the famous English actor Alan Rickman, has always been a support for her husband. While still young, Rima Horton showed her interesting view of the world. In her youth, the wife of a famous actor ran for parliament and had liberal views. It seemed that time had no power over this couple, because they met when Rima was 18 years old and Alan was 19. The love of two undoubtedly talented people has stood the test of time and life’s difficulties. But they got married only fifty years after their first meeting. At the wedding there were only the closest people, no journalists or photographers. Alan told the public about the solemn event, and then only a few days later. Now that Alan is no longer alive, Rima still remains faithful to him. Rima Horton in her youth was a very inquisitive and erudite girl and even taught at Kingston University. Very little is known about the personal lives of Rima and Alan, as they preferred not to talk about their relationship. However, everyone who at least once saw them together claimed that they were an ideal couple. Sensitive, attentive Rima and caring Alan always gave the impression of the most harmonious union. Everyone was waiting for their imminent wedding. However, Rima Horton adhered to traditional views in her youth. therefore, only twelve years later the couple began to live together.
Pictured are Alan Rickman and Rima Horton
Rima always supported Alan in his endeavors, even when his design studio failed, she helped him cope with depression and accepted his desire to try to start a career as an actor. Everyone who knew Rima noted that it was difficult to find such an organized and hardworking person like her. After working at the university, Rima decided to devote all her free time to her husband and housekeeping. Journalists did not pester the talented English actor with questions about his personal life, because the relationship between Alan and Rima was calm and harmonious. It seemed that the couple always managed without quarrels. But knowing the strong character of the straightforward Rima, we can say with confidence that there were small quarrels like all couples. It’s just that Alan and Rima always knew how to hide their personal lives from prying eyes.
Pictured are Alan Rickman and Rima Horton
In some interviews, the husband admitted that Rima never rushed him into getting married, realizing what a big step it was for Alan. Only in 2020 was the actor able to overcome himself and propose to the one with whom he had lived his whole life. However, Rima did not wear a ring in honor of her engagement. This wise woman understood that such a serious step, even after fifty years, was not easy for Alan.
Rima Horton with her husband
One can only imagine how Rima felt when she learned about her husband’s illness. The whole world was shocked when it learned about the death of the great actor of our time and sympathized with Rima Horton with all my heart. It is impossible to stay away while hearing their love story, because such couples are very rare in the modern world. Rima Horton and Alan Rickman proved to everyone that one love for one person is indestructible and can last forever. Maybe.
Until the death separates us…
A few months after the wedding, in the summer of 2015, they learned that Alan was very seriously ill. Doctors diagnosed him with cancer. The prognosis was very disappointing. But even in this difficult situation, Rima, as for many years in a row, was support and support for her beloved husband. She looked after him and was by his side until the end of his life.
On Old New Year's Day, January 14 this year, actor Alan Rickman died of pancreatic cancer. Many still do not believe that Alan is no more. His wife, Rima Horton, was with him while his heart beat. And later, at all the special events that were dedicated to the memory of her husband, she was also present.
What kind of actor was Alan Rickman?
After two negative roles, Rickman took on the role of a positive hero in the melodrama “Sincerely, Madly, Strongly.” The directors noted that absolutely opposite roles suit him equally well.
For his work in the film "Rasputin", where Rickman played the main character, he received the most prestigious awards - Emmy and Golden Globe. But even at the very beginning of his career, Alan Rickman dreamed of trying himself as a director. He managed to make his cherished dream come true in the late 90s. His first work was a play, and only then he began working on the film “The Winter Guest”. The first attempts were successful, and the film received two awards at the Venice Film Festival.
