The most interesting character in the history of Snooker; in many ways, Alex makes Ronnie look like a choir boy. He was a tortured soul who put entertainment above victory and consequently didn't win nearly so much as he could have. Many of the greatest players have publicly stated they owe Alex a debt of gratitude for bringing the game to prominence with the television audience which of course is where the money comes from.
If you haven't seen it yet, there is a pseudo-documentary movie (which is quite accurate I can state) about the rise and fall of Alex Higgins and especially his rivalry with Steve Davis. You will need to find the movie on your own (The Rack Pack), but here is a trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYjJhHHpOTY