THN is sad to report that Bob Hoskins has announced his retirement after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Bob Hoskins is a British institution with a wide and varied acting career spanning from the early 1970s to this year’s release of SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNSTMAN. He was an unlikely hero for many of my generation as the star of WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT? (1988) and SUPER MARIO BROS. (1993). You know you love it really!
Although he will always be Eddie Valiant to me, I remember getting the shock of my life in my mid-teens seeing him as Harold Shand in THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY (1980) for the first time. Hoskins is incredible in the role, and if you are only familiar with him as the bumbling Smee in Steven Spielberg’s HOOK (1991) then you are in for a shocker when he announces “The mafia? I’ve shit ’em!” Hoskins went on to win a BAFTA and a Golden Globe for his performance in MONA LISA (1987). He was nominated for an Oscar that year too but lost out to Paul Newman for THE COLOR OF MONEY (1986) the less than stellar sequel to THE HUSTLER (1961). One might even say the Academy only awarded it to Newman for failing to give him the honour the first time round.
At 69 years old, Hoskins is now retiring to spend time with his family and I say “Good on yer Mr. Hoskins.” He’s certainly earned it, and he’s left us with a great filmography that I’m sure film fans will continue to explore for generations. THN would like to wish him all the best for the future and we’ll soon be running our Top 10 Best Hoskins Performances, so stay tuned.
Here’s a statement from his agent:
He wishes to thank all the great and brilliant people he has worked with over the years, and all of his fans who have supported him during a wonderful career. Bob is now looking forward to his retirement with his family, and would greatly appreciate that his privacy be respected at this time.”
Source: BBC News
