Bob Hoskins (1942-2014)
One of the great character actors of his generation, Bob Hoskins, died last night at the age of just 71. Hoskins dead of pneumonia, a complication of Parkinson’s Disease which he had been battling for some time, and reason behind his retirement announcement in 2012.
Hoskins starred on stage, screen, and television, often taking the role of hardened, everyman types in both comedies and dramas. Like an actor from another time, he was especially good in roles which would have been given to the likes of Humphrey Bogart or John Garfield in the 40s and 50s. After an extended period working in small supporting roles, he broke out in a big way, retaining his cockney accent and rugged charm with lead roles in Penny From Heaven, The Long Good Friday, and Mona Lisa.
His role in Mona Lisa (which earned him an Oscar nomination) lead to opportunities in Hollywood, including the role of Eddie in the cartoon-detective-comedy, Who Framed Roger Rabbit. While other roles came and went, his performance in Roger Rabbit as a hard nose detective will likely be the touchstone for many fans, due to the remarkable performance he gave, often required to play opposite cartoon characters. Pointed out by many since as a performance which should have been nominated for best actor, and key example of Oscar’s unwillingness to acknowledge brilliant comic acting. One only needs to watch a clip of Hoskins, with his pitch perfect accent and total commitment to the ridiculous premise and stylized performance, to see his genius.
Hoskins’s ability to commit 100% to any role may be what he’s best remembered for as a performer, and why acting students would do themselves a favor by studying his performance. Even in films which did poorly, such as Super Mario Brothers and Hook, Hoskins never breaks and sells every scene. And when given great roles, he was a shining example of why great acting can be it’s own pleasure.
Read more comedy news, stories, interviews with comedians, videos and comedy clips on our home page. Get more comedy news. Watch more viral videos. Read more interviews with the best comics in the business.
.
Latest posts by Lesley Coffin (see all)
- Can a Cartoon be a Trojan horse in Politics? Our Cartoon President Uses Lightness to Deliver Truth - June 11, 2019
- Tom Rhodes New 3 Hour Album Covers Something Pretty Big: The World - March 25, 2019
- Ari Shaffir’s Renamed Storyteller Show: An Oral History - February 19, 2019
