Bob Hoskins - dies aged 71 - R.I.P.

It was reported earlier this week that British screen legend Bob Hoskins passed away in hospital surrounded by his family following a bout of pneumonia - he was 71 years of age. He retired from acting two years ago having been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.

Robert William Hoskins Jnr., first major TV role came in a Sunday evening educational piece called 'On the Move' aimed at tackling adult literacy - that was 1975/6, and at one point  was reported to be reaching a national audience of 17 million viewers. His real breakthrough on the small screen came two years later in 1978 in the BBC's 'Pennies from Heaven'. 

Toward the back end of the 70's he appeared in a number of lesser films, but it was the 1980 'The Long Good Friday' that really put Hoskins on the cinema map and which garnered him much critical acclaim  - for his portrayal of London crim, Harold Shand alongside Helen Mirren. This film still stands up today as one of the archetypal British Gangster films. From there more key roles beckoned - some successful and some not so! 'Pink Floyd's The Wall', 'The Cotton Club', 'Brazil', 'Mermaids', 'Hook', 'Super Mario Bros', 'Nixon', 'Enemy at the Gates', amongst many others, and his last film 'Snow White and the Huntsman' in 2012. It will though be for 'The Long Good Friday', his award winning 'Mona Lisa' in 1986 and 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' in 1988 for which he will be most remembered.

He was nominated for the Best Actor award at the Oscars; he won the Golden Globe for 'Mona Lisa' and was nominated two other times; and he won the BAFTA too for 'Mona Lisa' and received three other nominations also. Over the years, 22 award wins and 14 other nominations.

Often cast as the Gangster type, the happy-go-lucky Cockney, or some fantasy character - Bob Hoskins left an indelible mark on British cinema especially, but was equally home rubbing shoulders and sharing screen time with the best of what Hollywood could offer.

Bob Hoskins - Rest In Peace
1942-2014

-Steve, at Odeon Online-