Bob Hoskins is dead at 71. The British actor was reportedly dead Tuesday after ending his battle against Parkinson's disease and pneumonia.
According to The Guardian, the well-received actor was surrounded by his family in his final moments while suffering from pneumonia.
Bob Hoskins' death came almost two years after he retired and about three years following his diagnosis with Parkinson's disease in the autumn of 2011.
"We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Bob," the actor's wife of 30 years, Linda and their kids: Alex, Sarah, Rosa and Jack, said in a statement. "Bob died peacefully at hospital last night surrounded by family, following a bout of pneumonia."
"We ask that you respect our privacy during this time and thank you for your messages of love and support," they added.
The Oscar-nominated star of 'The Long Good Friday,' 'Mona Lisa,' and 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' has made a significant number of contributions to the industry.
At the time of his retirement, his agent even extended a message to all the people, Bob Hoskins has worked with in his career.
"[Bob] 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," his agent said. "Bob is now looking forward to his retirement with his family, and would greatly appreciate that his privacy be respected at this time."
Bob Hoskins was born in Suffolk after his mother was evacuated from London. He grew up in north London and left school at age 15 to work in a series of gigs i.e. being a porter, window cleaner, and lorry driver.
According to his biography, Hoskins did a three-year accountancy course but dropped out, only to make it big in the showbiz industry by mistake.
Once, the actor admitted that he only got his big break after he was mistakenly called for a theatre audition whilst accompanying a friend in 1968. He was mistaken as a candidate.
After successfully catching the eye of the panel of judges, a number of stage performance came knocking on Bob's door. Then one thing led into another as he slowly became a television regular, and he even snatched small film parts eventually.
Bob Hoskins' breakthrough role came in Dennis Potter's 1978 series Pennies From Heaven in which the actor portrayed a lovelorn sheet music salesman named Arthur Parker.
His more recent projects prior to his retirement include Mrs Henderson Presents, Made in Dagenham, Snow White and the Huntsman and Outside Bet.
Bob Hoskins' co-actor on Mrs Henderson Presents, Judi Dench, who has heard about the passing of her once co-actor told the Guardian, "I'm very sorry to hear this news, and am thinking of his family at this sad time."
Kate Hardie, Hoskins' co-actor on Mona Lisa took to Twitter to pay respect to Bob's death, saying: "Hugely sad. Can't think of many actors who explored masculinity with such tenderness. Bob Hoskins -goodbye lovely man and a huge thankyou!"
"He was one of the nicest and best actors I have ever worked with," Michael Caine, who starred with Hoskins in Last Orders, told the Guardian.
