Sir Ian Holm, a veteran of TV, film and stage perhaps best known for his portrayal of Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, has passed away at the age of 88, per the PA Media news. According to his agent Alex Irwin, Holm “died peacefully in hospital after a Parkinson’s-related illness, with his family and carer at his bedside.”
Although his final appearance might have been as Bilbo, Holm’s career spanned decades, beginning on stage in the 1950s. Holm would make the jump to TV and eventually film. He was known for playing Ash in Ridley Scott’s seminal Alien (1979) and Father Vito Cornelius in The Fifth Element (1997). He also appeared in comedies like Garden State (2004) and big-budget action films like The Day After Tomorrow (2004).
The British Academy for the Arts weighed in on the news, noting that Holm had been nominated for no less than six BAFTAs over the course of his career. He won twice, including for playing coach Sam Mussabini in 1981’s Chariots of Fire, a role that also netting him an Academy Award nomination Best Supporting Actor.
We are very sorry to hear of the death of Ian Holm. Nominated for 6 BAFTAs in his wide-ranging and successful career across TV and film, he is pictured here winning the Supporting Actor award for his role in Chariots Of Fire in 1981. pic.twitter.com/x3OduDwoJe
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) June 19, 2020
Holm’s talent will be missed. We wish him well on his next adventure.
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h/t CNN