It is with a heavy heart that we inform you that Bob Hoskins, a veteran actor of more than 100 productions has passed away at age 71.
Hoskins played the lead role in the infamous live-action Super Mario Bros movie, which went on to become one of the most well-known movie flops of all-time, representative of the years of failures in translating video games to the big screen. Hoskins himself proclaims it the worst thing he ever did, but that didn’t stop it from retaining a strange following of fans who wanted to see more.
Hoskins has starred in many memorable and notable movies, such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Hook and The Long Good Friday. He last appeared in Snow White and the Huntsman in 2012. After filming was completed, he then retired from acting following a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.
Born in Suffolk, England in 1942, Bob Hoskins started his career on the stage as a high school dropout, performing for theater groups whilst working odd-jobs on the side. He broke into the television industry in the early ’70s, and his acting talents brought him recognition and roles for the rest of his career.
Whether he was playing a down-on-his-luck private eye or a hired driver who didn’t understand his clients, his performances as scruffy but likable characters were always memorable. His work earned him an Oscar nomination, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe and many other award wins and nominations throughout his career.
Hoskins’ agent Clair Dobbs confirmed his passed this Tuesday, surrounded by his family in the hospital after an ongoing battle with pneumonia. His family released the following statement today:
Hoskins was a rightfully popular figure in the acting world, if not on superstar levels, and we here at Game Rant are very saddened to hear of his passing. Our condolences go out to his family and friends during this difficult time.
“We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Bob. We ask that you respect our privacy during this time and thank you for your messages of love and support.”
