Alan Rickman, the beloved British actor who died 10 years ago at the age of 69, has been remembered by a close friend as 'my best friend, my brother and my everything'. The friend, who met Rickman in 1980 and spoke to him daily, shared intimate memories of a man known for his wit, charm, and boundless generosity.
The pair lived together in a house they called 'Shakespeare Sauna' and owned a pet tortoise named Betty, which the friend would dress up and even put on a bicycle, leading to a complaint to the RSPCA. 'That’s the kind of sense of humour he had,' the friend recalled, adding that making Rickman laugh felt like 'winning an Oscar'.
Rickman was a mentor who steered his friend's career for 30 years, offering brutally honest critiques. 'He could see your ego and wanted to edit it,' the friend said, noting that Rickman was 'always right' in his assessments. He was also godfather to the friend's children, encouraging one shy daughter to attend clown school – advice that led to her becoming a comedian.
Rickman loved hosting parties in his dressing rooms, often inviting politicians, movie stars, and old friends, and ensuring no one went home alone. He even meticulously planned his own funeral, leaving nothing to chance. 'He wouldn’t have died until it was perfect,' the friend said, summing up a man who was 'totally unique'.
