Alan Rickman dead: J.K. Rowling pays tribute

J.K. Rowling shared a touching tribute to Alan Rickman, who died Thursday at the age of 69.

Rickman played Severus Snape, the complicated Potions professor of Rowling’s Harry Potter saga, in the franchise’s eight films, beginning with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in 2001 and continuing through Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 in 2011.

“There are no words to express how shocked and devastated I am to hear of Alan Rickman’s death. He was a magnificent actor & a wonderful man,” the author wrote Thursday on Twitter. “My thoughts are with Rima and the rest of Alan’s family. We have all lost a great talent. They have lost part of their hearts.”

Along with playing Snape, Rickman was also known for films like Die Hard, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and Love Actually. Head here for a look at more of his best roles.