Earlier this afternoon brought the sad news that Alan Rickman had passed away at the age of 69 after a battle with cancer, strangely coming just a few days after David Bowie's life came to an end in a similar way at the same age. Both considered legends in their own right in their respective fields.

It's tragic news for fans of Rickman who has had some of cinema's most iconic roles the last few decades from Hans Gruber in Die Hard to Snape in Harry Potter, not to forget Eamon de Valera in Michael Collins.

His friends and former co-stars have been paying tribute to the actor, most notably his Love Actually on-screen wife Emma Thompson, as well as Harry Potter writer J. K. Rowling, and star of the famous flicks Daniel Radcliffe.

Actress Emma Thompson, who has starred with Rickman in multiple movies including Harry Potter and Sense and Sensibility, had these heartfelt words to say...

"Alan was my friend and so this is hard to write because I have just kissed him goodbye.

What I remember most in this moment of painful leave-taking is his humor, intelligence, wisdom and kindness. His capacity to fell you with a look or lift you with a word. The intransigence which made him the great artist he was—his ineffable and cynical wit, the clarity with which he saw most things, including me, and the fact that he never spared me the view. I learned a lot from him.

He was the finest of actors and directors. I couldn’t wait to see what he was going to do with his face next. I consider myself hugely privileged to have worked with him so many times and to have been directed by him.

He was the ultimate ally. In life, art and politics. I trusted him absolutely.

He was, above all things, a rare and unique human being and we shall not see his like again."

While Daniel Radcliffe had this to say...

Finally J.k Rowling tweeted...