Actor Bob Hoskins Has Died Aged 71

We lost a British treasure today.

By Sam Hill /

Beloved actor Bob Hoskins, perhaps best known for his roles in films such as The Long Good Friday and Who Framed Roger Rabbit, has died from pneumonia at age 71. An extraordinary talent, Hoskins usually brought a raw and gritty shading to his roles, coupled with an undeniable air of cheekiness - many of which had him clad as tough gangster types. Hoskins had retired in 2012 after he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease a year earlier. His family have released the following statement:
"Bob died peacefully in hospital last night, surrounded by family, following a bout of pneumonia. We ask that you respect our privacy during this time and thank you for your messages of love and support."
As the kind of actor who always had the ability to either make you smile or make you nervous with his antics whenever he turned up on screen, Hoskins will be undisputedly remembered for his turn as doomed gangster Harold Shand in the brilliant London crime flick The Long Good Friday (1980), often thought to be a gem of British cinema. Hoskins was also famous for his performance as gumshoe Eddie Valiant in Robert Zemeckis' Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1998), his performance as Smee in Steven Spielberg's Hook (1991), and his award-winning turn in the 1986 film Mona Lisa, for which he was gifted with both a BAFTA and a Golden Globe. Always the compelling character and a candid personality in real life, he will surely be missed; we've certainly lost a treasure of British cinema.