Harry Potter Star, Alan Rickman Dies of Cancer at 69

Alan Rickman has died at the age of 69 after waging a secret battle with cancer, his family said today, DailyMail reports.

The British actor, known for his roles in films such as Harry Potter and Robin Hood, kept his fight with illness private before his death.

He revealed last year that he had secretly married his long-term partner Rima Horton, whom he had been in a relationship with since 1977, in a New York ceremony in 2012.

His family said in a statement today: ‘The actor and director Alan Rickman has died from cancer at the age of 69. He was surrounded by family and friends.’

Rickman, who was born into a working-class family in London, began his acting career on the stage before graduating to Hollywood films.