Ian Holm Actor Date of Birth: 12.09.1931 Country: Great Britain

1. Early Life and Education
2. Career Highlights
3. 1980s and 1990s
4. Rise to Stardom
5. Later Career and Legacy
6. Personal Life

Early Life and Education

Sir Ian Holm Cuthbert was born on September 12, 1931, in Goodmayes, Essex, England. The son of "comparatively elderly" Scottish parents, Gina Holm, a nurse, and Dr. Harvey Cuthbert, a psychiatrist who was the medical superintendent of West Ham Corporation Mental Hospital and a pioneer of electroconvulsive therapy, Ian had an older brother named Eric.

Holm was educated at Chigwell School, a boarding preparatory school, and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He established himself as a star player with the Royal Shakespeare Company before making the transition to television and film.

Career Highlights

In 1965, Holm played Richard III in the BBC historical serial "The War of the Roses," gradually moving into supporting roles in films such as "Oh! What a Lovely War" (1969), "Nicholas and Alexandra" (1971), "Mary, Queen of Scots" (1971), and "Young Winston" (1972). In 1967, he won the prestigious Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his role as Lenny in Peter Hall's production of "Home."

In 1977, Holm appeared in the television miniseries "Jesus of Nazareth" as Zerah, and the following year played J.M. Barrie in the BBC television series "The Lost Boys," in which his son Barnaby played the young George Davies.

His first major film role that would significantly advance his career was as the android Ash in Ridley Scott's iconic science-fiction thriller "Alien" (1979). He also played Sam Mussabini in the drama "Chariots of Fire," winning the Special Prize at the Cannes Film Festival and receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Upon his return to the UK, Holm won the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Chariots of Fire."

1980s and 1990s

In the late 1980s, he played the unforgettable Napoleon in Terry Gilliam's "Time Bandits" (1981), and appeared in "Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes" (1984) and the dystopian fantasy "Brazil" (1985). He also portrayed Lewis Carroll, the author of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," in Gavin Millar's biographical fantasy "Dreamchild" (1985).

In 1989, Holm received another BAFTA nomination for his performance in the television movie "Game, Set, and Match." Based on a novel by Len Deighton, it follows a British intelligence officer (played by Holm) who discovers his wife is an enemy spy.

The actor continued to appear in Shakespearean classics - he starred alongside Kenneth Branagh in the action-romance "Henry V" (1989) and played Polonius in Franco Zeffirelli's romantic drama "Hamlet" (1990) with Mel Gibson and Glenn Close. Holm reunited with Kenneth Branagh to costar with him and Robert De Niro in the horror film "Frankenstein" (1994), an adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel.

Rise to Stardom

Holm's stature as an actor grew in 1997, with two prominent roles as the eccentric but caring Father Vito Cornelius in Luc Besson's "The Fifth Element" and as the lawyer Mitchell in Atom Egoyan's drama "The Sweet Hereafter." In 2001, he played Dr. William Gull in "From Hell" alongside Johnny Depp and Heather Graham.

The following year, he appeared as Bilbo Baggins in the blockbuster "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," having previously played Bilbo's nephew, Frodo Baggins, in the 1981 radio adaptation of "The Lord of the Rings." He reprised the role of Bilbo in the trilogy's third installment, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" (2003), for which he shared the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

Later Career and Legacy

Holm received two Emmy nominations, for his performance in "King Lear" at the National Theatre in 1999 and for his supporting role as Patrick in Gillies MacKinnon's drama "Last of the Blonde Bombshells" in 2001, starring Judi Dench. In addition to his on-screen work, Holm narrated numerous British documentaries and commercials.

Personal Life

Holm was married four times. He entered into a civil partnership with his third wife, popular actress Penelope Wilton, in 1991, with whom he starred in the BBC television film "The Borrowers" (1993). They divorced in 2001. Having been previously married to Lynne Mary Shaw, Sophie Baker, and Penelope Wilton, he married for a final time to Sophie de Stempël, a protégée and 'life model' of renowned artist Lucian Freud.

Holm has five children, three daughters and two sons. His eldest daughter, Jessica, is a presenter at the prestigious Crufts Dog Show. Sarah-Jane Holm is known for her long-running role as Jenny Rodenhurst Simcock in the BBC comedy series "A Bit of a Do." Barnaby Holm was an actor as a child but now lives in Los Angeles and runs a Hollywood nightclub, while Harry Holm is a film director known for his work on music videos. Finally, Melissa Holm is an assistant director and casting director.

In 1990, Holm was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire. In 1998, he was knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Awarded the title for his services to drama, he became known as Sir Ian Holm.

Holm was treated for prostate cancer in 2001, which apparently remains in remission.