Bob Hoskins dies

Actor passes away from pneumonia at 71

by Jennie Kermode

Bob Hoskins in The Long Good Friday
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.

Share this with others on...
News

Underrepresented stories Laura Green and Anna Moot-Levin on Matter of Mind: My Parkinson’s

Between strangers Anthony Chen in capturing emotion in Drift

Art of observation Matthäus Wörle on his collaborative approach to debut documentary Where We Used To Sleep

Gateway between worlds Anu Valia on expectations, reality and We Strangers

The little things Inside the 2024 Glasgow Short Film Festival

Choosing her colours Joe Lawlor and Christine Malloy on Rose Dugdale and Baltimore

Filmhouse gets £1.5m funding boost Edinburgh cultural hub set to reopen this year

More news and features

Interact

More competitions coming soon.