Alan Rickman had ‘so much more to offer the world', says wife

Telegraph

15-04-2025

had 'so much more' to offer the world, his wife has said.
Harry Potter star Rickman, who portrayed potions master Severus Snape in all eight films in the series, died aged 69 of pancreatic cancer in 2016 – six months after his diagnosis.
Rima Horton made the comments by Tower Bridge in central London where almost 800 trainers, representing the number of people who die from the disease each month in the UK, have been laid ahead of the London Marathon.
The installation, unveiled by charity Pancreatic Cancer UK on Tuesday morning, is situated near the halfway point for the 26.2-mile race next Sunday.
Around 10,500 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the UK each year, and more than half of them die within three months of their diagnosis. Less than 7 per cent live for five years.
Of her work with the charity, Ms Horton said: 'I got involved with Pancreatic Cancer UK because Alan died of pancreatic cancer, and Alan was only 69 and had so much more to offer the world.'
She added she 'couldn't bear' the thought of others dying in the way her late husband had.
Ms Horton said Rickman's diagnosis was a 'complete shock' to the couple, as the actor had not experienced any 'obvious symptoms'.
'He had a few minor things. I gather, quite a lot of people with pancreatic cancer do have symptoms two years beforehand, they do go to their doctor, but they're so nebulous,' she said.
'And in Alan's case, backache, maybe some stomach problems, but nothing that you would associate with something like pancreatic cancer, so when he was diagnosed, it was a complete shock. I think it knocked us sideways, completely.'
Ms Horton said her late husband was not only an 'extraordinary actor' but was 'incredibly kind' and would do anything he could to help others.
'If he could make a phone call, if he could write a letter, if he could put two people in touch with people, he did.
'I know people say to me often when they're in any sort of difficult situation: 'Now, what would Alan do here?' because he did have a reputation of being not just wise, he just had a very good intuition about things and about people which is one of the reasons he was a good actor.'
On Monday HBO confirmed that Snape will be played by black actor Paapa Essiedu in the television adaptation of Harry Potter, set to premiere in 2026.
Pancreatic Cancer UK recommends anyone experiencing one or more of the most common symptoms - back pain, indigestion, stomach pain and weight-loss - for more than four weeks should contact their GP.
Anyone with jaundice – yellowing of the eyes or skin – should immediately go to A&E.
There are currently no early detection tests and four out of five people (80 per cent) are not diagnosed until the cancer has spread, meaning life-saving treatment is no longer possible.
Pancreatic Cancer UK is the Charity of the Year for the TCS London Marathon 2025.