Alan Rickman’s younger co-stars in the Harry Potter films have joined J.K. Rowling and the many others paying tribute to the late film star. First up was Daniel Radcliffe, who shared his memories of the Harry Potter villain turned hero on Google Plus, his social media platform of choice. In his post, Radcliffe calls Rickman “undoubtedly one of the greatest actors I will ever work with†and remembers his late co-star as “one of the first of the adults on Potter to treat me like a peer rather than a child.†Radcliffe first starred in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone with Rickman when he was just 11 years old, and worked closely with him on all eight Potter films. Read his full tribute below:
 Alan Rickman is undoubtedly one of the greatest actors I will ever work with. He is also, one of the loyalest and most supportive people I’ve ever met in the film industry. He was so encouraging of me both on set and in the years post-Potter. I’m pretty sure he came and saw everything I ever did on stage both in London and New York. He didn’t have to do that. I know other people who’ve been friends with him for much much longer than I have and they all say “if you call Alan, it doesn’t matter where in the world he is or how busy he is with what he’s doing, he’ll get back to you within a dayâ€.
People create perceptions of actors based on the parts they played so it might surprise some people to learn that contrary to some of the sterner(or downright scary) characters he played, Alan was extremely kind, generous, self-deprecating and funny. And certain things obviously became even funnier when delivered in his unmistakable double-bass.
As an actor he was one of the first of the adults on Potter to treat me like a peer rather than a child. Working with him at such a formative age was incredibly important and I will carry the lessons he taught me for the rest of my life and career. Film sets and theatre stages are all far poorer for the loss of this great actor and man.
Rickman’s fellow Hogwarts professor Emma Thompson starred alongside him in a number of films, and was one of the loved ones who said good-bye to the actor in his final moments. In a statement to People, she commended his “humour, intelligence, wisdom and kindness“:
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 humour, intelligence, wisdom and kindness. 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 and we shall not see his like again.
On social media, Emma Watson also took time to praise Rickman as both an actor and an outspoken feminist. The former Hermione Granger tweeted a quote from Rickman saying men identifying as feminists was to “our mutual advantage,†and also posted a short tribute to the actor on Facebook:
I’m very sad to hear about Alan today. I feel so lucky to have worked and spent time with such a special man and actor. I’ll really miss our conversations. RIP Alan. We love you.
Rupert Grint shared a tribute to Rickman on Instagram, writing that he was “so devastated to hear†the news. “I feel so privileged to have had the opportunity to work with him on numerous occasions,†he added. “Even though he is gone, I will always hear his voice.†(Grint also regrammed a fan’s image of Harry Potter toys attending a Snape memorial service over a copy ofThe Deathly Hallows.)
On Instagram, Matthew Lewis, the man who once was Neville Longbottom, posted his own memorial to Rickman:
I was at Leavesden Studios today when I heard the news. As I walked through the canteen I thought of Alan queuing up for his lunch with us mere mortals. I recalled the trailer in which he offered me some of the greatest advice I ever received about this mad profession we shared. Being back in those corridors made me remember a lot of things and I will treasure those memories all my life. He inspired my career more than he ever knew and I’ll miss him.
Evanna Lynch, Potter’s Luna Lovegood, shared her own memory of the man behind the Snape costume: