Ian Holm, star of Lord of the Rings, Passes Away At 88

Bilbo Baggins has moved on to the gray havens.

Ian Holm, the versatile actor who played everything from androids to hobbits, has died in London at the age of  88, his agent confirmed today.

“It is with great sadness that the actor Sir Ian Holm CBE passed away this morning at the age of 88,” they said. “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.”

Holm’s final days were documented in a series of pastel portraits by his wife, Sophie de Stempel.

Holm, who won a Bafta and was nominated for an Oscar for his role as maverick athletics coach Sam Mussabini in the 1981 film Chariots of Fire, and also many know as the android Ash from the alien movies, but might be best known for his role as  Bilbo Baggins in the blockbusting Lord of the Rings trilogy.

  “I’m completely amazed by the reaction that the films have had. I get a lot of fan mail addressed to Bilbo and sometimes Sir Bilbo,” he told Britain’s The Independent in 2004. “It’s hardly ever addressed to Ian Holm.”

Some of Ian Holm’s fellow hobbits are paying tribute to their late costar.

So sad to hear that the singular, brilliant and vibrant, Sir Ian Holm has passed. Farewell, uncle. pic.twitter.com/q9RBKT3hBC

— Elijah Wood (@elijahwood) June 19, 2020

 

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Off to the Grey Havens goes dear Ian Holm. Pete Jackson said he was the best actor he had ever worked with. I studied him whenever I could. On set and off it, he was a magical man. So sweet. So full of twinkle. So GOOD at it all. Namarie Uncle Bilbo xoxo @theoneringnet

A post shared by D o m i n i c M o n a g h a n (@dom_monaghan_) on Jun 19, 2020 at 7:05am PDT