British actor Alan Rickman has died from cancer at the age of 69, his family has said.

The star of stage and screen was among the most admired British actors of his generation, famous for roles in Harry Potter, Love Actually and Die Hard.

He won a BAFTA, Golden Globe, Emmy and Screen Actors Guild award during his career which began in the late 1970s.

A family statement said: “The actor and director Alan Rickman has died from cancer at the age of 69. He was surrounded by family and friends.”