Ian Holm Lord of the Rings Star breathed his last at the age of 88
Ian Holm Lord of the Rings Star breathed his last at the age of 88. Ian Holm, a versatile British actor whose long career includes the roles of "Chariots of Fire" and "The Lord of the Rings", has died. He was 88.
Holm died peacefully in a hospital on Friday morning, surrounded by his family and carer, his agent Alex Irwin said in a statement. His illness was Parkinson-related.
British actor Ian Holm has died at the age of 88, according to a statement by his agent. Holm had a long and varied acting career, giving him a look at the characters in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy of Bilbo Baggins, Ash in Ridley Scott's "Alien" and athletics coach Sam Mussolini's 1981 film "Chariots" Seen as. Of Fire, "a performance for which he was nominated for an Oscar.
Born in Essex, south-east England in 1931, Holm attended London's RADA Drama School.
“His sparkling wit always accompanied a mischievous twinkle in his eye,” Irwin said. “Charming, kind and ferociously talented, we will miss him hugely.’’
Holm appeared in scores of films, big and small, from fictional plays to fictional epics. A generation of filmmakers referred to him as Bilbo Baggins in "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" trilogies.
He won a British Academy Film Award and received an Oscar for Supporting Actor for portraying leading athletics coach Sam Musabani in the 1982 hit film Chariots of Fire.
His other movie roles included Father Cornelius in “The Fifth Element,” android Ash in “Alien,’’ a smooth-talking lawyer in “The Sweet Hereafter,’’ Napoleon Bonaparte in “Time Bandits,’’ writer Lewis Carroll in ”Dream Child" and a royal physician in “The Madness of King George.’’
After forging a successful career on the stage, he moved into television and later movie acting.
Holm also played Father Vito Cornelius in "The Fifth Element" (1997) and Professor Fitz in "The Aviator" (2004).
In 1989, he was named Commander of the British Empire (CBE) and in 1998 he was knighted for services to the play.Holm died peacefully with his family in the hospital Friday morning following a Parkinson-related illness, said his agent Alex Irwin, along with his family and caretaker.
His portrayal of Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogies ensured that the magic of his craft could be shared by all generations, Irwin said in a statement.He was a talent for stage and screen, winning numerous awards, and was loved by directors, audiences and his colleagues alike. His sparkling wit was always in his eyes with a mischievous twinkle.
Charming, kind and brutally talented, well miss him dearly.Holmes death sparked a wave of online tributes.The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) gave this information by tweeting.
We are very sorry to hear of Ian Holmes death, read the tweet.And writer and director Edgar Wright thanked Him for his brilliant performance.
Wright wrote on Twitter, RIP Ian Holm, a genius actor who brought in plenty of appearances for the weird, heartbreaking and intimidating parts.
He was also a charismatic theater actor who won the Tony Award for Best Actor in 1967 as Lenny in Harold Pinter's play "The Homecoming".
He was a longtime member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, although a battle of debilitating staging fears kept him off the stage for many years during the making of "The Iceman's Cometh" in 1976.
In 1998, Holm from the Associated Press said, I think its often for actors. They lose their nerve. They may think that this is a crazy way to live life, or whatever. I was fortunately employed in other media. I could freeze in front of a camera, and I would have to become a chimney sweep or something.
He returned to live performances and won the 1998 Lawrence Olivier Award for Best Actor for the title role of King Lear at the National Theater.Holm was knighted in 1998 for his services to the play.Mia Farrow said she was one of the veterans of the theater.
