Oscar nominated actor Ian Holm, known for his roles in Hollywood blockbuster movies, ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Chariots of Fire’ died on Friday at the age of 88.
Ian Holm was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal as the coach Sam Mussabini in the 1981 award winning film ‘Chariots Of Fire’, which also saw him earn his second BAFTA and best supporting actor award at the Cannes Film Festival.
He also played the main antagonist Ash in the first Alien movie and featured in The Madness of King George and The Aviator.
As per statement by his agency, Holm was suffering with Parkinson’s related illness.
“It is with great sadness we can confirm that the actor Sir Ian Holm CBE passed away this morning at the age of 88,” said the statement.
“He died peacefully in the hospital with his family and carer.”
US actress, Mia Farrow paid respect to the star calling him “unfailingly brilliant.”
“He was among the giants of the theatre,” said Farrow, who appeared on stage with Holm at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC).
British comic and actor Eddie Izzard tweeted, “The great Ian Holm is dead. Wonderful actor and it’s so sad to see him go. Farewell, you did great work, Sir.”
Director Edgar Wright said that Holm was “A genius actor who brought considerable presence to parts funny, heartbreaking and terrifiying.”
The actor has given considerable contribution to the Hollywood movies and has appeared in “Oh! What A Lovely War’, ‘Time Bandits’, The day After Tomorrow,’ and ‘The Fifth Element’.
His last movie was in 2014, ‘The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies.’
He earned fame with his character of Bilbo Baggins in the ‘Lord Of The Rings’ triology, but he was already an established actor and a star of theatre with the RSC, and appeared regularly on British TV.
He won a Tony in 1967 for his performance as Lenny in the premiere of Harlod Pinter’s play ‘The Homecoming On Broadway.’ He was Pinter’s favorite actor. “He puts on my shoe, and it fits!” the playwright is reported as saying.
The artistic director of the RSC, Gregory Doran, called Holm “quite simply one of the RSC great.
The National Theatre in London, where he performed a memorable Lear in 1997, described him an “extraordinary actor” in a tweet.
As well as his Oscar nomination, he was also nominated for six British Academy of film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards.
BAFTA said it was “Very sorry” to hear of his death.
Holm was born in Essex, east of London, to a psychiatrist father and a mother who was a nurse, in 1931.
He was awared a knighthood in 1998 for services to drama.
As well as his acting career, he also served in the British army, completing national service in Austria.
He was married four times and had five children. His third wife was Downton Abbey star Penelope Wilton.
The couple divorced in 2001, after 10 years of getting married.
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