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| Bob Hoskins in The Long Good Friday |
The much loved actor Bob Hoskins has died at the age of 71, according to his agent. Hoskins, though sometimes typecast as a cheeky Cockney chappie, was an actor whose talent shone through in the great diversity of roles he played, from Who Framed Roger Rabbit's hapless detective to the taxi driver out of his depth in Mona Lisa and the sinister, obsessive catering manager in Felicia's Journey. Despite failing health, he recently appeared in Snow White And The Huntsman.
The actor's career path was an unusual one. Coming from a working class background and leaving school with only one O-level, he worked as a window cleaner and got into theatre by accident after being mistaken for a professional actor. He was immediately acclaimed for his remarkable natural talent.
Hoskins also did some notable work on television, appearing in an acclaimed production of Pennies From Heaven in 1978. He was highly respected in the industry, winning numerous awards from critics and from his peers.
Hoskins announced his retirement last year after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He had been looking forward to spending time with his family. He died peacefully in his sleep as a result of pneumonia, and is survived by his wife Linda and four children, Alex, Sarah, Rosa and Jack, who say they are devastated by their loss.
