Bob Hoskins Retiring From Acting
Actor Bob Hoskins, 69, has announced that he is retiring from acting.
His agent released a prepared statement, first reported by BBC, and then printed in full by ITV:
Bob Hoskins wishes to announce that he will be retiring from acting, following his diagnosis of Parkinson's disease last autumn.
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.
Bob is now looking forward to his retirement with his family, and would greatly appreciate that his privacy be respected at this time.
Parkinson's disease, which has also afflicted actor Michael J. Fox, and, of course, millions of others, "is a disorder of the brain that leads to shaking (tremors) and difficulty with walking, movement, and coordination. ... Parkinson's disease most often develops after age 50. It is one of the most common nervous system disorders of the elderly. Sometimes Parkinson's disease occurs in younger adults. It affects both men and women." (From U.S. National Library of Medicine.)
Hoskins became an "overnight sensation" with his stunning performance in crime drama The Long Good Friday in 1980 and will forever be remembered as Eddie Valiant in 1985's Who Framed Roger Rabbit, though my personal favorite of his performances is probably the soul-twisting one he gave in Neil Jordan's Mona Lisa. He has always been an actor who makes the material better, whether in Unleashed (AKA Danny the Dog) or as a dwarf in Snow White and the Huntsman, his last role.
Here's one to you, sir.
