| Appeared on stage in such productions as "Ubu Roi" and "Hamlet" |
| Was a graphics designer at his own graphic design business for three years before turning to acting |
1979 | Made American TV debut as Tybalt in "Romeo and Juliet" for "The Shakespeare Plays" on PBS |
1985 | Joined the Royal Shakespeare Company |
1985 | Originated role of Le Vicomte de Valmont in RSC's West End production of "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" opposite Lindsay Duncan; reprised the role in the RSC's production on Broadway in 1987; earned a Tony Award nomination for his performance |
1988 | Feature acting debut in "Die Hard" as German terrorist Hans Gruber |
1991 | Starred as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Kevin Costner's "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" |
1995 | Co-starred in the Oscar-winning film version of "Sense and Sensibility" |
1995 | Gave acclaimed perfomance in title role of HBO movie "Rasputin"; won Emmy Award |
1997 | Feature directorial debut, "The Winter Guest"; also co-scripted with playwright Sharman MacDonald |
1998 | Co-starred with Helen Mirren in the London stage production of "Antony and Cleopatra" |
1999 | Played an angel in Kevin Smith's comedy "Dogma" |
2001 | Cast as Professor Snape in, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," the film adaptation of the first novel of the best-selling fantasy series by J.K. Rowling |
2001 | Reteamed on stage with Lindsay Duncan for a revival of Noel Coward's "Private Lives" |
2002 | Again played Professor Snape in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" |
2003 | Starred in the romantic drama "Love Actually" |
2004 | Reprised role of Professor Snape in, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," the third book in the 'Harry Potter' series |
2004 | Starred opposite Mos Def in the HBO drama "Something the Lord Made"; a dramatization of the relationship between heart surgery pioneers Alfred Blalock and Vivien Thomas; earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actor in a TV Movie |
2005 | Directed the play "My Name Is Rachel Corrie" at the Royal Court Theatre in London; based on the writings of the 23 year old American woman who was killed on March 16, 2003 by an Israeli Army bulldozer |
2005 | Reprised role of Professor Snape in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"; adapted from the fourth book in the fantasy series by J.K. Rowling and directed by Mike Newell |
2007 | Co-starred with Sigourney Weaver in the drama, "Snow Cake" |
2007 | Played the lecherous Judge Turpin, opposite Johnny Depp, in Tim Burton's "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" |
2007 | Reprised the role of Professor Snape in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," the fifth book in the fantasy series |
2008 | Portrayed English wine expert Steven Spurrier in "Bottle Shock" |
2009 | Reprised the role of Professor Snape in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," the sixth book in the fantasy series directed by David Yates |
2010 | Re-teamed with Tim Burton to play the Caterpillar in "Alice in Wonderland" |
2010 | Reprised role of Professor Snape for the seventh and final installment of the series directed by David Yates, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"; film released in two parts, Part 1 in November 2010 and Part 2 in July 2011 |
2011 | Cast in the world premiere of Theresa Rebeck's "Seminar" on Broadway |
