Actress Emma Thompson has led tributes to her Love Actually co-star Alan Rickman, who has died at the age of 69 from cancer.
She says "He was, above all things, a rare and unique human being".
His family say he'd been suffering from cancer.
The actor found a fresh legion of fans playing Professor Snape in the Harry Potter films.
Author J.K. Rowling tweeted "There are no words to express how shocked and devastated I am to hear of Alan Rickman's death. He was a magnificent actor & a wonderful man." In a second post she added
My thoughts are with Rima and the rest of Alan's family. We have all lost a great talent. They have lost part of their hearts.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) January 14, 2016
He played a number of other memorable baddies alongside Bruce Willis in Die Hard and Kevin Costner in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Rickman endeared himself to fans on stage and on the screen for years with his iconic voice and temperment.
His first big screen hit was in 1988 when just days after arriving in Hollywood, he was cast in Die Hard.
The role he'll be best remembered for in Ireland was his portral of Eamon de Valera in the 1996 movie Michael Collins.
He told The Last Word last April that it was an ironic role for him to play:
He never won an Oscar, but did pick up a Golden Globe, an Emmy and a BAFTA.
Today FM's movie reviewer Ed Smith spoke to Susan Keogh about Rickman on Today's National Lunchtime News
