It is with heavy heart that I relate to you the sad news of Sir Ian Holm’s passing. The acclaimed British stage and screen actor succumbed to Parkinson’s Disease-related complications today at age 88.
Tributes have flooded in for Lord Of The Rings star Sir Ian Holm, who has died aged 88 with Parkinson’s disease.
The acting community rallied this afternoon to remember the on-screen legend, fondly described by his agent as ‘charming, kind and ferociously talented.
Big names including Eddie Izzard, Mia Farrow and Edgar Wright hailed Sir Ian as one of the titans of the industry and paid their respects to his wife, the artist Sophie de Stempel, and his five children.
Five children. Sad to say, that’s almost as remarkable these days as getting six BAFTA nominations.
Sir Ian passed away ‘peacefully’ in hospital this morning surrounded by his family and carer.
He famously played Bilbo Baggins in the hit fantasy trilogy and revived the role for the later Hobbit film series.
But, despite crippling stage fright, he was also cast as King Lear for the 1998 theatre production, for which he bagged a coveted Tony Award.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy might have been the last Hollywood blockbusters with genuine heart, and Sir Ian contributed mightily to the films’ integrity. He lent the same authenticity to iconic genre films like Alien and The Fifth Element. We won’t see their like again.
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