Ian Holm, famously known for playing Bilbo Baggins in Lord of the Rings, has died aged 88, his agent confirmed to The Guardian.
They said: “It is with great sadness that the actor Sir Ian Holm CBE passed away this morning at the age of 88.
“He died peacefully in hospital, with his family and carer,” adding that his illness was Parkinson’s related.
“Charming, kind and ferociously talented, we will miss him hugely.”
Lord of the Rings star Ian Holm has died aged 88 (Image: AFP/Getty Images)
His wife, artist Sophie de Stempel, documented her husband’s final days in a series of pastel portraits.
Born Ian Holm Cuthbert on 12 September 1931 in Goodmayes, in Essex, the budding actor first cut his teeth at the Royal Shakespeare Company before making an impact on television and film.
His most notable roles included playing athletics coach Sam Mussabini in the 1981 film Chariots of Fire – a portrayal which bagged him a Bafta and an Oscar nod.
The actor famously played Bilbo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings films (Image: Moviestore)
In the same year, he played Frodo Baggins in BBC radio adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.
Holm’s profile was significantly raised when he landed two big film roles – priest Vito Cornelius in The Fifth Element and lawyer Mitchell Stephens in The Sweet Hereafter.
Ian also starred in 1981 film Chariots of Fire (Image: PA)
Most recently, he played the older Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.
Earlier this month, he admitted he was upset that he was unable to appear in a virtual reunion for the Lord of the Rings films, saying: “I am sorry to not see you in person.
“I miss you all and hope your adventures have taken you to many places, I am in lockdown in my hobbit home, or holm.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
