This is terribly sad news. British actor Bob Hoskins has passed away at the age of 71. Many of us will remember him for the gruff, but lovable Eddie Valiant in Who Framed Roger Rabbit; a role that cemented his considerable fame. Hoskins would appear in more than 100 movies, most recently as Muir in Snow White and the Huntsman. Read on for more.
The relatively short and bald Hoskins never looked like the typical hollywood pretty boy, but he amassed a hugely successful career from playing tough guys with a softer side. From the toon hating Valiant to the gangster Harold Shand in The Long Good Friday, Hoskins always brought an edge to the characters he played. In 1987, Hoskins was reportedly cast as Al Capone in The Untouchables before Robert De Niro had accepted.
Hoskins would gain acclaim for many of his roles, and probably biggest of which was in 1986 as George in Neil Jordan‘s Mona Lisa. He would earn nomination for best-actor in that year’s Academy Awards. Comfortable in larger and smaller budget films as well as stage productions, Hoskin‘s was the consummate performer. Many that knew him considered him an “actor’s actor” and a gentleman.
In a statement released today by the family, Hoskins died overnight in the hospital while fighting pneumonia. As recently as 2012, he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He is survived by his wife Linda and children Rosa, Alex, Jack and Sarah. They said in a statement: “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Bob.”
