The excerpts, published by The Guardian, tell that the actor was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer in 2005 and began to receive treatment. According to Variety, doctors later decided to remove his entire prostate, with surgery occurring at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn. in January of the following year.
Variety further states that in 2007, the actor recorded his thoughts on his character’s demise written in J.K. Rowling’s final entry in the book series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, adding that he had always known about the harrowing love story between his character and Harry Potter’s mother, Lily. Alan Rickman Birth Anniversary: From Severus Snape to Hans Gruber, 5 of the Late Harry Potter Actor’s Most Iconic Roles!
“I have finished reading the last Harry Potter book,” he wrote at the time. “Snape dies heroically, Potter describes him to his children as one of the bravest men he ever knew and calls his son Albus Severus. This was a genuine rite of passage. One small piece of information from Jo Rowling seven years ago – Snape loved Lily – gave me a cliff edge to hang on to.”
Rickman also provided his reaction after exiting the premiere of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the first entry of the franchise. “The film should only be seen on a big screen,” Rickman wrote. “It acquires a scale and depth that matches the hideous score by John Williams. Party afterwards at the Savoy is much more fun.”