Today, at the age of 88, British actor Ian Holm has passed away. He performed, inter alia, in such films as “Alien – Eighth Passenger Nostromo”, “Frankenstein”, “The Fifth Element”, “eXistenZ” or “The Day After Tomorrow”. For many, however, he will forever remain Bilbo Baggins.
His agent informed about the actor’s death:
It is with great sadness that we would like to inform you that Sir Ian Holm died today at the age of 88. He died in a hospital surrounded by his family and caregiver. He was charming, kind, and extremely gifted. We will miss him very much.
In 1998 he was granted a knighthood. In 2001, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, but he won the disease. The actor has been struggling with Parkinson’s disease for years. He was married four times and had five children. He spent the last 17 years of his life with Sophie de Stempel.
Before starting his career as a film and series actor, he was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, one of the largest theater companies in the British Isles.
He made his film debut in the 1960s, but only later roles brought him fame. He has appeared in Hugh Hudson’s Chariots of Fire (he was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Sam Mussabini), Ridley Scott’s Alien and The Lord of the Rings , where he played the role of Bilbo Baggins. He also played Lech Wałęsa in the British television film Strike: The Birth of Solidarity .
