Alan Rickman has been married for three years now, at least according to recent news, to a woman he met when they were teenagers. Their love has spanned decades and, apparently,
in 2002 while they were in New York City, after many years of living together (I believe the number cited was 40), they tied the knot. It was a very private ceremony, and then they celebrated by walking across the Brooklyn Bridge and having a nice lunch somewhere.

Now, someone may suggest that tax laws may have prompted this decision to wed, but I think that would be very unromantic.

I think Alan Rickman is one of those men who has a voice that is not just a useful instrument for an actor. It is a thing of beauty and a joy forever. One of those incredible English voices. It conveys deep sorrow, deep joy, and the capacity for passion. And intelligence and wit. Nuances of kindness and understanding. Oh, man.

When my mentor and I were discussing casting my first play for its first public presentation, he asked me, "Ideally, who would you like to see in this?" Now, "this" is a full-length play that takes ten actors to perform. And I said, "Alan Rickman and Michael Caine, doing all the roles."

Michael Caine has his own wonderful love story, which he tells in his autobiography. He fell in love with his beautiful wife when he saw her on t.v. in a coffee commercial. I can't tell the whole tale the way he can; so you might want to look it up. It is a lovely, wondering, and fond reminiscence. And there is also this about Michael Caine: not every movie he's been in has been wonderful, but he has been wonderful in every movie he's been in. This past Christmas we watched "A Muppets Christmas Carol" once again. Michael Caine is Ebenezer Scrooge. And there he is: his intelligence, his wit, his wide capacity, and that voice--and we are moved to tears--tears, even as the chickens dance and the rats rejoice at Ebenezer's return to humanity.