Bob Hoskins, the actor behind Eddie Valiant of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and Smee of Hook, passed away at the age of 71 after a battle with pneumonia.
Gamers probably best recognize Hoskins for playing Mario in the cheesy Super Mario Bros. film adaptation that also starred John Leguizamo and Dennis Hopper. That film did its best to bring the Koopas and gameplay mechanics of the beloved Mario series into an alternate dimension through a worm hole in New York City.
Hoskins also starred in The Long Good Friday, Mermaids, Nixon, Last Orders, Mona Lisa, and other films. Hoskins was born in 1942 in England and eventually went on to win a BAFTA award and a Golden Globe for his performance in Mona Lisa.
I remember taking home Super Mario Bros. from the tape rental place down the street and watching it late at night with a friend. I freaked out when they transformed someone into a Koopa Troopa, but the film still holds a place in my heart for the kind of money-making rush some folks embark on when there's a hot new license in town.
Even if the end product sucks, the most diehard fans will find something to love.
Say what you will about Super Mario Bros. (I certainly have), Bob Hoskins was a great actor. For a longer look at his career, CNN has a lengthy collection of quotes and details from the man's career.
Thanks to elmoreoocyte for the tip.
