We have very sad news to report today as legendary actor Ian Holm has passed away at age 88, according to a statement from his agent.
The British actor had a long acting career but is fondly remembered by horror fans for his portrayal of the android, Ash, in Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic Alien. The android’s secret mission was to bring an alien lifeform back and to consider the crew “expendable”.
Later in his career his stardom reached new heights as he portrayed Bilbo Baggins in the blockbuster film The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. In 2003 he reprised his role in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King which earned him a shared SAG award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. He continued with the character in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies playing the elder Baggins as Martin Freeman played the younger version in those films.
Holm also appeared in Ratatouille, The Aviator, From Hell, The Fifth Element, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Chariots of Fire and more.
We here at Horror News Network extended our deepest condolences to Ian’s family and friends.
