The first movie I ever saw him in was Die Hard, where he played the villain Hans Gruber. After that I remember him best for being the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood. He was Snape, of course, but I liked him better in the other roles. My favorite was his role as Alexander Dane in Galaxy Quest.
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.