If you're anything like me, you woke up Thursday morning to discover that Mr. Alan Rickman had passed away. Rickman played many roles over the years, the most famous to our generation being Professor Severus Snape from "Harry Potter." As we grew older, we watched more of his roles, such as Hans Gruber from "Die Hard" and Judge Turpin from "Sweeney Todd." Despite being a trained stage actor, Rickman could adapt any role or personality to the film set.

Rickman was known for playing traditional villain roles, though he claimed each character had his/her own motives or backstory. This is particularly apparent in Snape's role, as Snape was motivated by former love and was able to hide his true motives from everyone. Before the first film, Rowling told Rickman a small part of Snape's true motives and true character to allow him to be the best Snape that he could. The story that Rickman learned was the truth about Snape's story -- that he was cruel towards Harry because of Lily -- is false, but Rickman admitted that he knew that Snape was more than he seemed, and that he played Rickman as a dynamic character, not just a "mean teacher."

Rickman's character continues to be a highly debated character, even six and a half years after the final book was released. Many are unsure if Snape is a hero or an anti-hero. He did give his life for Harry to honor Lily's memory, and he was highly unappreciated. He also, however, tortured Harry and his friends for years to maintain his reputation, and he was so cruel that Neville was terrified of the professor -- the reflection of Neville's biggest fear was the Potions Master.

Severus, if any do not know, fell in love with the girl who would go on to be Harry's mother at a very young age -- maybe eight or nine. Despite the odds (the two belonged to opposite houses), the two remained friends until the age of sixteen. Severus, however, was raised around the Dark Arts and grew to practice them to avoid being tortured by his dorm mates. One final fight separated the two for good, despite Snape's attempts to apologize and fix it. Losing her to his biggest tormentor, James Potter, could not diminish his love for her. When her son was born and their lives threatened, he offered everything to keep her safe. That was not enough, and she was killed. Severus, despite his hatred for the child that was the result of Lily's marriage to another man and the (in his eyes) cause of Lily's death, protected the boy for the next seventeen years. At the end of his life, his love for Lily overcame everything else in the world; his Patronus remained a symbol of Lily, and his final wish was to see her again.

Rickman played this incredible character in ways that I cannot even fathom. Little mannerisms in the first book suddenly became relevant in the last books, something Rickman could portray despite the final book being non-existent at the time. Rickman remained a fan of Harry Potter for the rest of his life and a strong supporter of his young castmates; he applauded Emma's career, watched Dan's shows on Broadway, and even kept one of 11-year-old Rupert's drawings. Rickman was a treasure to the Harry Potter series and will never be forgotten.

Around the world, fans are paying tribute to this man, from a memorial at Platform 9 3/4 in King's Cross to Universal Studios placing a single Lily outside the Potions Classroom in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Fans in Orlando raised their wands (a lit wand is a traditional sign of respect for a wizard who passes away, as candles are to Muggles) to Rickman, in honor of his work on the series.