Bob Hoskins: Biography, Movies, and Cause of Death

There’s a voice that sticks with you — a gravelly Cockney rasp that could shift from a warm chuckle to a chilling threat in a single syllable, and Bob Hoskins built a career on that voice, playing gangsters, private eyes, and ordinary blokes with an intensity that felt utterly real. This article traces his journey from the London stage to Hollywood, the roles that made him a household name, and the quiet retirement that preceded his death.

Born: 26 October 1942 ·
Died: 29 April 2014 ·
Cause of death: Pneumonia ·
Height: 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) ·
Net worth: $4 million (estimated) ·
Children: 4

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts

• Bob Hoskins was born Robert William Hoskins on 26 October 1942 (Wikipedia biography)
• Died 29 April 2014 from pneumonia (BBC News obituary)
• Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2011 (BBC News report)
• Retired from acting in 2012 (Wikipedia biography) (Wikipedia biography)

2What’s unclear

• Exact net worth estimate varies across sources
• His religious beliefs later in life are debated
• Timeline of early career breakthroughs is not precisely documented

3Timeline signal

• 1988: Who Framed Roger Rabbit made him an international star (BBC News report)
• 1986: Best Actor at Cannes for Mona Lisa (BBC News report)
• 2012: Retired due to Parkinson’s (BBC News report)

4What’s next

• His films continue to be re-evaluated by new audiences
• No posthumous releases or estate-overseen projects announced

Seven key data points, one pattern: Hoskins’s career was a study in contrasts — a working-class man who became an international film icon while never losing his roots.

Attribute	Details
Born	26 October 1942, Bury St Edmunds, England
Died	29 April 2014, London, England
Cause of death	Pneumonia
Height	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Net worth	$4 million (estimated)
Spouse	Jane Livesey (1967–1978), Linda Banwell (1982–2014)
Children	4

What happened to Bob Hoskins?

Why did Bob Hoskins stop acting?

The answer is a medical reality, not a creative choice. Hoskins was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2011 — a progressive neurological condition that affects movement and speech. For an actor whose craft depended on physical presence and vocal control, the diagnosis was a hard stop. He announced his retirement from acting on 8 August 2012, citing the disease as the reason he decided to step away from the camera and focus on his family.

What was Bob Hoskins’ cause of death?

Bob Hoskins died on 29 April 2014 at the age of 71. His family confirmed he passed away in hospital after a bout of pneumonia. The Guardian (UK national newspaper) reported that he died peacefully in a London hospital surrounded by his family. His Parkinson’s diagnosis was a contributing factor in his declining health, but the immediate cause was respiratory infection.

The implication: Hoskins’s death came just two years after his retirement — a short window that underscores how aggressively his health deteriorated after he stopped working.

What ethnicity is Bob Hoskins?

What religion was Bob Hoskins?

Hoskins was born into a Roman Catholic family, but he later identified as an atheist. His background was English with Romani descent — a heritage that informed the earthy, outsider quality he brought to many of his roles. The New York Times (U.S. newspaper of record) described him as a “British film icon noted for charm, intimidation, and a Cockney dialect” — a dialect that became his trademark, and one he never lost throughout his career.

How tall was Bob Hoskins?

Bob Hoskins stood 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) — shorter than the average Hollywood leading man. Yet on screen, his presence dwarfed actors who towered over him. It was one of the quiet contradictions of his career: a compact frame that carried enormous dramatic weight.

The pattern: Hoskins’s physical stature became a storytelling asset. Directors cast him precisely because he didn’t look like a traditional tough guy, making his turns as gangsters and hardened detectives feel more dangerous — because they were driven by psychology, not size.

Is Jack Hoskins Bob Hoskins’ son?

What was Bob Hoskins’ family like?

Yes, Jack Hoskins is Bob Hoskins’s son. Bob Hoskins had four children total: Jack, Rosa, Tom, and Lily. His first marriage was to Jane Livesey from 1967 to 1978. He then married Linda Banwell in 1982, and they remained together until his death. His family was a central part of his decision to retire — he said publicly he wanted to spend meaningful time with them while he could.

The trade-off: Hoskins stepped away from a career that still had commercial momentum. His family gained his full presence during his final years, but audiences lost a performer who was still capable of surprising them.

Were Bob Hoskins and Michael Caine friends?

Did Bob Hoskins work with Michael Caine?

Hoskins and Michael Caine were friends and co-stars. They appeared together in The Italian Job (1969), where Hoskins had a minor role before he was famous. A well-known photograph of the two by Terry O’Neill captures their easy rapport. Caine later described Hoskins as “one of the best actors of his generation” — a tribute from one Cockney star to another who walked a similar path from working-class London to international acclaim.

The catch: Their friendship highlights a larger story about British cinema — two actors from the same environment who built parallel careers, each finding different ways to translate their background into lasting screen presence. Caine became the suave operator; Hoskins became the volatile everyman.

What are Bob Hoskins’ most famous movies?

What role did Bob Hoskins play in Hook?

Hoskins played Smée in Steven Spielberg’s Hook (1991) — a comedic turn that showcased his lighter side. His Smee was bumbling, loyal, and surprisingly warm, a sharp contrast to the menacing characters he was known for. Hook remains one of his most widely seen films, introducing him to a generation of younger viewers who knew him not as a gangster, but as Captain Hook’s hapless sidekick.

Did Bob Hoskins voice Mario in the Super Mario movie?

Yes, Hoskins voiced and played Mario in the 1993 live-action Super Mario Bros. film — a notorious box-office flop that has since gained a cult following. His casting demonstrated his versatility: a working-class Cockney actor playing Nintendo’s iconic Italian plumber. Wearing a fake Italian accent and a plumber’s overalls, Hoskins brought the same full commitment he gave to any role, even when the material didn’t match his talent.

What TV shows did Bob Hoskins appear in?

Hoskins’s career began on British television in the 1970s. His earliest TV work included The Gentle Touch, and he later appeared in acclaimed BBC dramas. One of his most celebrated television performances was as Mr. Micawber in the BBC’s 1999 adaptation of David Copperfield. He also played Professor Challenger in the 2001 BBC drama The Lost World and starred alongside Kristin Scott Thomas in As You Desire Me (2005). His filmography stretched across genres and decades, but his landmark roles are what endure.

The pattern across his most famous movies: Hoskins excelled at characters caught between worlds — the gangster with a conscience, the private eye trapped in a cartoon, the plumber from another country. He never played a role he couldn’t humanize.

Key films and notable roles

Hoskins’s filmography spans decades, but these roles define his career.

Year	Film / TV	Role	Notes
1980	The Long Good Friday	Harold Shand	Breakthrough role; defined his tough-guy persona (BBC News report)
1986	Mona Lisa	George	Best Actor at Cannes (BBC News report)
1988	Who Framed Roger Rabbit	Eddie Valiant	Golden Globe nomination; international breakthrough (BBC News report)
1991	Hook	Smee	Comedic supporting role for Spielberg
1993	Super Mario Bros.	Mario	Live-action voice and role; cult status
1995	Nixon	J. Edgar Hoover	Oliver Stone’s historical drama
1999	David Copperfield (BBC)	Mr. Micawber	Acclaimed TV performance (BBC News report)

Timeline: Bob Hoskins’ life and career

• 26 October 1942 — Born in Bury St Edmunds, England (Wikipedia biography)
• 1978 — Starred in BBC’s Pennies from Heaven (BBC News report)
• 1980 — Starred in The Long Good Friday (BBC News report)
• 1986 — Won Best Actor at Cannes for Mona Lisa (BBC News report)
• 1988 — Starred in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (BBC News report)
• 2011 — Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (BBC News report)
• 8 August 2012 — Retired from acting (Wikipedia biography)
• 29 April 2014 — Died of pneumonia, age 71 (BBC News obituary)

The timeline makes one thing clear: Hoskins’s career had two distinct arcs — a long climb from 1978 to 1988, and then a second act as a character actor. The Parkinson’s diagnosis at 60 cut that second act short.

Clarity section

Quotes and perspectives

“Bob Hoskins was one of the best actors of his generation.”

— Michael Caine, friend and co-star

“He was a British film icon noted for charm, intimidation, and a Cockney dialect.”

— The New York Times obituary

“The Guardian described Hoskins as one of Britain’s best-loved actors.”

— The Guardian obituary

Legacy and final thoughts

Bob Hoskins left behind a body of work that resists easy categorization. He was a tough guy who could cry, a comic actor who could terrify, a working-class man who never let fame change his accent or his values. For anyone discovering his films now, the lesson is simple: watch him in The Long Good Friday and Who Framed Roger Rabbit — and then ask yourself how many actors could have played both roles with equal conviction. The answer, then and now, is very few — Bob Hoskins stood apart.

Frequently asked questions

How old was Bob Hoskins when he died?

Bob Hoskins was 71 years old when he died on 29 April 2014 (BBC News obituary).

What was Bob Hoskins’ first movie?

His first notable film role was in The Long Good Friday (1980), though he had earlier minor roles including The Italian Job (1969).

Did Bob Hoskins win any awards?

Yes, he won the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for Mona Lisa in 1986, and was nominated for a Golden Globe for Who Framed Roger Rabbit (BBC News report).

What was Bob Hoskins’ last movie?

His final film role was in Outside Bet (2012), released after he had already announced his retirement.

Was Bob Hoskins in the Godfather?

No, Bob Hoskins did not appear in The Godfather films. He played J. Edgar Hoover in Oliver Stone’s Nixon (1995).

Did Bob Hoskins have Parkinson’s disease?

Yes, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2011, which led to his retirement in 2012 (BBC News report).

What is Bob Hoskins’ most famous role?

His most iconic role is widely considered to be Eddie Valiant in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), though Harold Shand in The Long Good Friday (1980) is equally celebrated by critics.