Ian Holm: 1931 - 2020

Actor Ian Holm has passed away at 88. 

Known to a generation of fans as Bilbo Baggins from Peter Jackson’s THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, he was born Ian Holm Cuthbert in Essex, England in 1931 to Scottish parents. A visit to the dentist led to an introduction to a well-known Shakespearean actor who would inspire his life-time career choice. He enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dramatic art in 1949. 

He established himself as a star on stage well before TV and cinema called his name, winning a Tony Award in 1967. In 1977, he appeared in the TV mini-series JESUS OF NAZERETH, and the following year he played J.M. Barrie in an award-winning BBC-TV production of THE LOST BOYS. In 1981, he would play Frodo Baggins in a BBC radio adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. 

In 1979, he had his breakthrough film-role as the treacherous android Ash in Ridley Scott’s horror/sci-fi classic, ALIEN. In 1981, he would earn an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his role in the eventual Best Picture winner, CHARIOTS OF FIRE. He would go on to more memorable roles in TIME BANDITS (1981), GREYSTOKE: THE LEGEND OF TARZAN, LORD OF THE APES (1984), and BRAZIL (1985). He would continue working on the stage, appearing often with fellow actor Kenneth Branagh. In 1994, Holm and Branagh would appear together in MARY SHELLEY’S FRANKENSTEIN. 

In 2001, he would return to the world of Tolkien when Peter Jackson cast him as Bilbo in THE LORD OF THE RINGS; a role that would give him fresh fame to a new generation. He would reprise the role years later in THE HOBBIT films.

Other memorable films include DREAMCHILD (1985), THE SWEET HEREAFTER (1997), THE FIFTH ELEMENT (1997), FROM HELL (2001), THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW (2004), GARDEN STATE (2004), THE AVIATOR (2004), and Pixar’s RATATOUILLE (2007). 

In 1989 he was honored as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. 

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This Blogger’s introduction to Sir Ian Holm came in the late 1970’s, when watching ALIEN on a new thing called HBO. Holm’s role as the android Ash was chilling, and his ability to go from warm to ice-cold impresses to this day. Years later when he stepped into the Hobbit-feet of Bilbo, the initial feeling was that it was perfect casting…and that feeling was correct. Holm gave Bilbo the humanity that Tolkien had wanted and would ultimately create one of the most beloved characters in cinema. In his third appearance as Bilbo in THE RETURN OF THE KING, just before he steps onto the ship that would bear him away from Middle-Earth…he says that he is quite ready for another adventure. The sea has now called him home.