Alan Rickman dead: Daniel Radcliffe pays tribute to 'one of the greatest actors I will ever work with'

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Daniel Radcliffe has paid tribute to Alan Rickman, calling him "one of the loyalest and most supportive people I've ever met in the film industry".

Rickman's family confirmed the British film and theatre giant died on Thursday morning in hospital suffering from cancer. He was 69.

Writing on his Google Plus page, Radcliffe said film and theatre stages across the world are "all far poorer for the loss of this great actor and man".

Radcliffe praised Rickman for the support he showed him when he joined the Harry Potter series as a child, describing him as "one of the loyalest and most supportive people I've ever met in the film industry".

Radcliffe remembered the support he received from Rickman during the Harry Potter franchise that continued well after filming ended in 2011.

"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 day'."

While Rickman's character Professor Snape was perceived as evil and scary, Radcliffe said his actual personality was the polar opposite.

"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."

Radcliffe, who shared many scenes with Rickman during the films, credited him for treating him like a peer "rather than a child", despite the fact Radcliffe was 11 when he joined the cast of The Philosopher's Stone.

"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," he wrote.