The Rickman role in the Harry Potter films was Professor Severus Snape, a potions master and head of Slytherin house at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was portrayed by the late actor Alan Rickman, who brought a complexity to the character that made him one of the most beloved characters in the series. Snape was initially presented as a cold and unsympathetic character, but his true loyalty to Harry Potter and his love for Lily Potter were revealed throughout the series.