Actor. Versatile and gifted, he is best-known for playing the villain 'Hans Gruber' in the film "Die Hard" (1988) and as 'Professor Severus Snape' in the "Harry Potter" film series (2001-2011). The son of a factory worker, he studied Graphic Design at Chelsea College of Art and Design and worked in the graphics field, prior to pursuing his passion for the theatre. He earned a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and later began an extensive career on stage with several repertory companies including the Royal Shakespeare Company. During the 1970s, he began to appear on British TV. He made his mark internationally on the Broadway stage with his performance of 'La Vicomte de Valmont' in "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" (1987) and received nominations for a Tony and Drama Desk Award. He was the recipient of a BAFTA Award for the film "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" (1991) and received a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of the title character in the TV-Movie 'Rasputin' (1997). He received a Tony and Drama Desk Award nomination for playing 'Elyot Chase' in the Broadway production "Private Lives" (2002). Other notable films include: "Quigley Down Under" (1990), "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" (1991), "Truly, Madly, Deeply" (1991), "Bob Roberts" (1992), "Sense and Sensibility" (1995), "An Awfully Big Adventure" (1995), "Michael Collins" (1996), "Dogma" (1999), "Galaxy Quest" (1999), "Love Actually" (2003), "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (2005), "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (2007), "Bottle Shock" (2008), "Alice in Wonderland" (2010), "Gambit" (2012), "CBGB" (2013), "The Butler" (2013), "A Little Chaos" (2014) and "Alice Through the Looking Glass" (2016). He died following a battle with prostate cancer.