Bob Hoskins retires from acting

leakyboots

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19176729

Bob Hoskins is to retire from acting after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

The 69-year-old star of the Hollywood hit Who Framed Roger Rabbit has enjoyed a career spanning four decades.

In a statement on Wednesday, his agent said he was withdrawing from acting after a "wonderful career" and would be spending time with his family.

Hoskins achieved a Golden Globe nomination for his role as a private detective opposite the animated bunny.

"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," said the statement.

"Bob is now looking forward to his retirement with his family, and would greatly appreciate that his privacy be respected at this time."

Hoskins, from Suffolk in England has played a wide variety of roles since the 1970s, ranging from gritty gangster films to comedy roles.

He played Harold Shand in the 1980 British gangster film, The Long Good Friday alongside Helen Mirren.

In 1986, his portrayal of George in Neil Jordan's film Mona Lisa, about a high-class call girl, won him numerous awards including a Globe for best actor, a Bafta and an Academy Award nomination.


Hoskins was again nominated for best supporting actor at the Globes for his role in Mrs Henderson Presents, a 2005 British comedy directed by Stephen Frears, starring Dame Judi Dench.

But it was for his role as a publican in Jimmy McGovern's drama serial, The Street, in which he achieved award success, winning best actor at the 2010 International Emmys.

The series, broadcast on the BBC between 2007 and 2009, followed the lives of various residents of an unnamed street in Manchester.

Other notable appearances include Smee in the 1991 film, Hook and as the same character in Neverland in 2011 which also starred Anna Friel, Rhys Ifans and the voice of Keira Knightley as Tinker Bell.

His last film appearance was in Snow White & The Huntsman, in which he played one of the eight dwarves opposite Kristen Stewart.

gaelicred

Never even knew he was sick one of my favourite actors:(

krudler

Thats a shame, didnt know he was sick either.

gaelicred

I will have to watch The Long Good Friday again

Jame Gumb

Sad news...an excellent actor.

Tells a great story about being signed up by Brian De Palma to play Al Capone in The Untouchables when they couldn't get De Niro. Then De Niro was signed up. They sent Hoskins $300,000 and he said "Brian, anytime you don't want me to be in a movie, give me a call!"

mrmorgan

Sad news. I always remember hook!

RobbingBandit

Very sad, loved him in Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Hook and Neverland,also great in a film with Jet Lee who's name escapes me at this time. Found it, Unleashed.

Duggy747

Super Mario forever :pac:

I liked him as an actor, alot of duds in his career but he was always an enjoyable watch no matter the movie. Ditto on having to give Long Good Friday a watch again.

Just recently I heard they were having another crack at bringing Roger Rabbit back with full intentions of including Bob.

gaelicred

http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/blogs/movie-editors/bob-hoskins-career-foul-mouthed-quotes-125403647.html enjoy:D

Cardinal Richelieu

Jame Gumb wrote: »

Sad news...an excellent actor.

Tells a great story about being signed up by Brian De Palma to play Al Capone in The Untouchables when they couldn't get De Niro. Then De Niro was signed up. They sent Hoskins $300,000 and he said "Brian, anytime you don't want me to be in a movie, give me a call!"

That money grows with each retelling:D

Daily Telegraph

In early 1986, a script arrived in the post at Bob Hoskins’ house for a film called The Untouchables, with a note attached from the director Brian De Palma asking him to read it and then come to Los Angeles to discuss the role of Al Capone.
“I went to meet him at his hotel and he said, ‘Really, I want Robert De Niro to play him,’” recalled Hoskins in an interview, years later. “I thought, ‘Well, great. What am I doing here?’”
He was there, it transpired, because of De Niro’s proposed fee, which was causing much consternation at Paramount. De Palma agreed to sign Hoskins as a back-up for the role on a ‘pay or play’ contract and in the end, De Niro got the part.
“Linda, my missus, was opening the post one morning and said ‘What’s that?’ and it was a cheque for £20,000,” he recalled. “It said, ‘Thanks for your time Bob, love Brian.’ I phoned him up and I said, ‘Brian, if you’ve ever got any other films you don’t want me in, son, you just give me a call.’”
This is a vintage Hoskins anecdote: uproariously self-deprecating and told with such impeccable modesty it borders on fibbing. He tactfully omitted two details from the story. Firstly, that he was Paramount’s first choice for the role, and the studio only caved to De Palma’s demand for De Niro over fears the film lacked sufficient star power. And secondly, the amount he received was closer to £120,000 than £20,000.

The Long Good Friday would be my favourite Bob Hoskins movie, some of his move choices in later years were a bit dodgy but then again aging actors have to take whats on offer.