Never known as my favorite actor, but always an actor I would enjoy, Bob Hoskins passed away recently after suffering pneumonia.
My first experience with Bob Hoskins' performance came from his supporting turn in the Terry Gilliam's "Brazil" as Spoor, a Central Services Worker. Not a starring role, but certainly a memorable one which would lead to many more in a long career.
His most well-known role would come not much later as the role of Eddie Valliant in Robert Zemeckis' "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" in 1988. Me being young an impressionable when first watching "Roger Rabbit" initially thought Bob Hoskins was always just a gruff-sounding American based off his portrayal of Eddie, even after I had seen "Brazil". It's an amazing performance of comedic timing and the ability to work seamlessly during a time when special effects were much more difficult to bring to life on film. It really is a sham that Bob Hoskins was not nominated for Best Actor for this performance.
Moving through the 1990's, Bob Hoskins made many memorable, if somewhat forgettable, appearances in major Hollywood films including: Hook, Nixon, Michael and Super Mario Bros. I wont dwell too much on Super Mario Bros. as Bob Hoskins has stated in interviews that the film was the worst experience he had and that he considered the film a "piece of shit". That may be the case, but his performance as Mario is not the worst thing in that movie.
Recently, Bob Hoskins announced that he was suffering from Parkinson's Disease and would be retiring from making films. His last film given to us was the 2012 fantasy film "Snow White and the Huntsman".
Bob Hoskins gave us many years of interesting Hollywood and small films to choose from including his role as a London gangster in "The Long Good Friday" his role as Nikita Khrushchev in "Enemy at the Gates" and his Oscar-nominated performance as a driver in "Mona Lisa". Gone, but not forgotten, Bob Hoskins left behind a legacy that will continue onward for many years.
