What awful news! Alan Rickman, one of my favorite actors, has died. He will always be Colonel Brandon, in my estimation. The sort of man that mature women want and marry.
I first met Alan as Hans, a dastardly terrorist in Die Hard. With his steely eyes, he was evil incarnate and more than a match for Bruce Willis’s John McClane – until McClane killed him off.
The next time I saw Alan, he played the vile Sheriff of Notthingham with a mullet in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Alan’s accent was real; Kevin Costner’s most certainly was not.
I then saw Alan as Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility. Swoon. We first encounter him when he sees and hears Marianne sing. I think I fell in love a little with him then.
He then rescues Marianne from the rain. He did not stagger, although Marianne (ahem) was no lightweight. When Marianne lies abed with fever, he begs Elinor for something to do – an occupation, anything, and so he fetches Marianne’s mother, just in time to see her recover from her fever.
Having shown his sterling character, Marianne is able to see Colonel Brandon’s finer qualities and contrast his character to Willoughby’s. Our fine Colonel then gives Marianne a pianoforte and reads to her – perfect husband material.Sigh.
Alan goes on to play Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films and a cheating husband in Love Actually. This scene with Rowan Atkinson is priceless and still keeps me laughing.
A gifted actor, Alan Rickman graced the stage and screen with his talented presence. You are missed, Mr. Rickman. You will be missed. Rest in peace and thank you for the many years of pleasure you have given me. You must away, and we cannot follow you.
Alan Rickman recites Sonnet 130
To view a catalogue of his work, go to IMBD, Alan Rickman
Jane Austen's World 
Indeed he was everything you say, The very few actors of his calibre give the real meaning to star/s.
(If you have a moment do you think that you can let Mr Webster et al know that calibre is spelt that way and not caliber, I find it very annoying to have him trying to corrupt, not correct, my spelling. Thanks Viv. :D
His voice, that timbre and diction just top off his other accomplishments. Thank you for the chance to revel in it for a moment. What an awful week of talented losses.
I had just watched sense and sensibilities night before and was wondering what new film he could be working on when my sister informed me next morning he had died. I felt a sadness for his loss.
This loss was indeed most affecting. He touched us all simply and elegantly.
How could I not love this? Alan Rickman was SEXY! Every performance of his that we got to enjoy just drove that home. His voice was unlike any other’s. . .he would make you hang on, just waiting for the next word to fall from his lips. . .Something so very appealing about him. There was a warmth that just emanated from him. Colonel Brandon was a perfect role for him. He will be greatly missed.
Wonderful testimony, Vic. He was talented, versatile and had a wonderful voice. He was a favorite of mine, too, and he will be greatly missed.
‘Always’.
He was also wonderful as the Rev. Obadiah Slope in the 1982 production of the Barchester Chronicles.
A sad loss. The poor man wasn’t even seventy.
Just my two cents, but I think his acting and Emma Thompson’s writing improved the character of Colonel Brandon from the book version. Improving Jane Austen, if I may be allowed the suggestion, is no mean feat.
Got to admit I teared up a bit on the news. I was caught with “Truly Madly Deeply”. A must see for pure romance. Thank you for this post, Vic.
And for something totally different, try “Galaxy Quest!”
Very nice tribute Vic – it is an awful loss – Truly Madly Deeply a must see for everyone, his turn as Slope (in Trollope) makes any Mr Collins look like a Romantic Hero, he was brilliant as the Sheriff of Nottingham, but of course he will always be Col Brandon to all of us Austen folk – I just finished listening to him for 15+ hours reading Return of the Native – fabulous – so felt as though he has been in my head for weeks – he will be missed and we can only conjecture what roles he might have played that will be so much less for his not being in them.
Truly, Madly, Deeply and Galaxy Quest are great. There are also great Rickman moments in 2001’s Blow Dry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73mfncfSA88
I’ve never seen the first two- will have to put them on my must-see list! Just watched Blow Dry (after googling Alan Rickman movies) – what a sweet film! He was wonderful -a great cast overall -took me a moment to recognize Lord Grantham in bleached hair- what a riot
In my opinion, Alan Rickman was the quintessential Col. Brandon just as Colin Firth is the perfect Mr. Darcy. Mr. Rickman’s Col. Brandon was strong, yet gentle, Intelligent but not stuffy, attentive but not fawning. He was the perfect man. We loved you, Alan, and thanks to the movies, we will continue to daydream about you and your remarkable gifts.
That voice… What a great loss. He could even make you love the liars and cheats he often played.
Thanks for including the great clips Vic. I will miss Alan too! May he rest in peace.
This is a lovely and meaningful tribute to Alan Rickman. Like everyone, it was with great sadness and shock to hear of his passing. It caught my breath and for a moment time stopped.The incomparable Colonel Brandon is gone, leaving us only with his memory.Thank you for posting Rickman’s moving Sonnet 130. His voice is a dream; He created a universe with his great talent and sensitivity. As its been said here, he was of the calibre of a true star.
His presence will be deeply missed. I loved him as Colonel Brandon, too, and he was so funny and amazing as the sheriff of Nottingham.
I first became aware of him when I watched The Barchester Chronicles when they were first shown on TV here in the U.S. in the late ’80s or early ’90s, several years after they aired in the UK.
He was supposed to be playing a rather slimy character but even though he tried to act repulsive, he was still rather sexy and that voice was stirring.
He was perfect as Col. Brandon and was so endearing in Love Actually, completely befuddled by a predatory female.
I’m still a little upset over the news regarding Alan Rickman’s death. It’s just so unexpected. I was about to watch 1995’s “SENSE AND SENSIBILITY”. But I think it would be a little painful for me . . . at least right now.
Yes, I think “Sense and Sensibility” was the one instance where I know that the movie enhanced my experience of the book. The romantic heroes of S & S come off seeming so flat and stiff on the page, at least at first – but now when I read them I see/hear Hugh Grant’s Edward and Alan Rickman’s Brandon and I just smile.
Alan Rickman’s narration of Thomas Hardy’s “Return of the Native” on BBC Audiobooks is just magnificent as well. What a loss.
Thanks for such a wonderful tribute. Such a great loss far too soon. He portrayed each of his vastly diverse characters so perfectly but to me he’ll always be Colonel Brandon.
Oh my….this makes me sad……and also DON’T FORGET his appearance in the Harry Potter Movies as the dark and evil professor…..always with that smirking lip curl!
Jo
He was an amazing actor. His portrayal of Col. Brandon and Emma Thompson’s wonderful script sold me on him not being too old for Marianne. I was hardly older than Elinor when I first read the book and like Marianne full of sensibility. “She ended up with the OLD GUY?! EW!” Then I saw the movie and like so many others, fell a little in love with Colonel Brandon. Alan Rickman was amazing in the small part in Love Actually. His facial expressions spoke volumes and who could forget how he made Snape into a (somewhat) likable character. I think J.K. Rowling wrote “The Prince’s Tale” chapter in Deathly Hallows with Alan Rickman in mind. I don’t know who else could have done it justice. He was a fine actor and will be missed. Cancer is such an ugly disease. I hate it.
Colonel Brandon is one of my favorite characters. I loved Sense and Sensibility and Colonel Brandon’s role is the noble center of the novel. He will be missed, but never forgotten.