Browse movies

Actor

Ian Holm Movies, Cast & Biography

Sir Ian Holm Cuthbert CBE (September 12, 1931 – June 19, 2020) was an English actor. After beginning his career on the British stage as a leading member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, he became a successful and prolific performer on television and in…

Born
12 September 1931
Died
19 June 2020
Birthplace
Goodmayes, Essex, England, UK
Known for
Actor
Guides here
2 films

Biography

Who is Ian Holm?

Sir Ian Holm Cuthbert CBE (September 12, 1931 – June 19, 2020) was an English actor. After beginning his career on the British stage as a leading member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, he became a successful and prolific performer on television and in films. He received numerous accolades including two BAFTA Awards and a Tony Award, along with nominations for an Academy Award and two Emmy Awards. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1989 by Queen Elizabeth II. Holm won the 1967 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor for his performance as Lenny in the Harold Pinter play The Homecoming. He won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for his performance in the title role in the 1998 West End production of King Lear. For his television roles he received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for King Lear (1998), and the HBO film The Last of the Blonde Bombshells (2003). He gained acclaim for his role in The Bofors Gun (1968) winning the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and a BAFTA Award win for his role as athletics trainer Sam Mussabini in Chariots of Fire (1981). Other notable films he appeared in include Alien (1979), Brazil (1985), Henry V (1989), The Madness of King George (1994), The Fifth Element (1997), The Sweet Hereafter (1997), and The Aviator (2004). He gained wider appreciation for his role as the elderly Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. He also voiced Chef Skinner in the Pixar animated film Ratatouille (2007). Description above from the Wikipedia article Ian Holm, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Biography from TMDB, edited for length. Verified 6 November 2026.

In our library

Ian Holm film guides

Full cast, ratings, runtime and official places to watch.

Filmography

Notable credits

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring2001Bilbo
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King2003Bilbo
  • The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey2012Old Bilbo Baggins
  • Ratatouille2007Skinner (voice)
  • Alien1979Ash
  • The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies2014Old Bilbo Baggins
  • The Fifth Element1997Cornelius
  • The Day After Tomorrow2004Terry Rapson
  • The Aviator2004Professor Fitz
  • Lord of War2005Simeon Weisz

Credit list from TMDB. Sorted by audience votes.

Questions

Frequently asked

Ian was born in which country?

Goodmayes, Essex, England, UK.

What is Ian Holm best known for?

Best known as a actor, with 2 credited films in the MovieState library.

Which Ian Holm films can I read about here?

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003).