Ian Holm dies aged 88
Tributes have been paid to the actor Ian Holm, who had died at the age of 88.
A versatile actor whose wide-ranging career on stage, television and film earned him Olivier, Tony and BAFTA awards alongside an Oscar nomination, Holm had been living with Parkinson’s disease for a number of years.
Having begun his career with the Royal Shakespeare Company, he developed into a leading character of subtle distinction, notable successes including early performances of Henry V and Richard III in Stratford and, much later, his Olivier award-winning King Lear for the National Theatre.
He gained a cult following for two memorable screen roles, the android Ash in Ridley Scott’s sci-fi horror Alien and as Bilbo Baggins in the hugely successful Lord of the Rings film trilogy.
Among early tributes on social media, the National Theatre described Holm as “an extraordinary actor” while the Shakespeare Institute called him “a masterful performer of Shakespeare’s plays”. The RSC described him as “one of the RSC greats”.
We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Sir Ian Holm. He was quite simply one of the RSC greats. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. https://t.co/6h7CGiPM2Y
— The RSC (@TheRSC) June 19, 2020
Actor Samuel West (whose father, Timothy, was Gloucester to Holm’s Lear) tweeted: “Daughter just asked why I was so sad. ‘Ian Holm died.’ ‘Who’s Ian Holm?’ ‘An actor.’ ‘A great actor?’ ‘Yes. A great actor.’”
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