Ian Holm, star of Alien, Lord of the Rings, dies at age 88

Ian Holm, who many know as Bilbo Baggins from Lord of the Rings and Ash from Alien, died this morning at age 88.

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

Earlier this month, he expressed his sadness that he was unable to participate in a virtual reunion for the Lord of the Rings films, saying: “I am sorry to not see you in person, I miss you all and hope your adventures have taken you to many places, I am in lockdown in my hobbit home, or holm.”

Holm 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. He also played Napoleon in Terry Gilliam’s Time Bandits, and Mr. Kurtzmann in the same director’s Brazil, Lewis Carroll in the Dennis Potter-scripted Alice fantasy Dreamchild, Dr. Willis in The Madness of King George, and Father Cornelius in Luc Besson’s sci-fi epic The Fifth Element.

He is survived by his fourth wife and five children from previous relationships, as well as his third wife, the actor Penelope Wilton.