British actor Alan Rickman, whose long career included the "Harry Potter" films and "Love Actually," has died. He'll posthumously appear as the voice of the Blue Caterpillar in "Alice Through the Looking Glass."

"The actor and director Alan Rickman has died from cancer at the age of 69," a family statement read. "He was surrounded by family and friends."

ajc.com

Credit: Jennifer Brett

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Credit: Jennifer Brett

Rickman rose to worldwide fame in 1988, when he played German terrorist Hans Gruber, the antagonist opposite Bruce Willis' John McClane in "Die Hard," the AP notes.

Since then he has played such ranging roles as the Metatron in 1999's "Dogma," the sheriff of Nottingham in 1991's "Robn Hood: Prince of Thieves," and Ronald Reagan in 2013's "The Butler."

Twitter is in mourning:

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