I read an article just after learning of Alan Rickman's death, when he was asked about this film a couple years ago, he related that he was in Hollywood only two days before being asked to play this role. Being the classically trained Shakespearean stage actor that he was, he was at first insulted. An action film??!! He then went one to recount what contributions that he made to the film and they are huge. Director John McTiernann and producer Joel Silver wanted to put Gruber in some sort black bad ass military style get-up. The was WAY too "Darth Vadery" for Rickman and he suggested, that given Gruber was really just a thief, he should be in a really nice suit. He also suggested the meeting with the McClane character. Neither one of these was in the novel the film was based on. Can you imagine the film without these touches! He recounted the same story last year while being honored for his work at the BAFTA's (Britain's Oscars), you check it out at The Guardian. RIP Alan, you are sorely missed.
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