Ian Holm - Actor Profile

Ian Holm

Acting
Freshness: Jan 19, 2026
50Total Films
10.0 Highest Rated
Born: Sep 12, 1931
Birth Place: Goodmayes, Essex, England, UK

About 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.

Career Statistics & Market Influence

Analyzing the cinematic journey of Ian Holm reveals a career defined by exceptional commercial consistency. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.

Genre Dominance: Drama

The majority of Ian Holm's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.

The "Box Office" Signature

With a 100% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Ian Holm remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Landscape, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.

Best Ian Holm Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Ian Holm's career based on audience ratings.

Complete Filmography & Success Status

Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Ian Holm.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2014 The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Old Bilbo Baggins Hit Similar →
2012 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Old Bilbo Baggins Hit Similar →
2011 Discovering Hamlet Polonius (archive footage) Hit Similar →
2007 Ratatouille Skinner (voice) Super Hit Similar →
2007 The Real Middle Earth Narrator Hit Similar →
2005 The Queen of Trees Narrator Hit Similar →
2005 Lord of War Simeon Weisz Hit Similar →
2005 The Adventures of Errol Flynn Narrator (voice) Super Hit Similar →
2004 The Aviator Professor Fitz Hit Similar →
2004 Garden State Gideon Largeman Hit Similar →
2004 D-Day 6.6.1944 Narrator (voice) Hit Similar →
2004 The Day After Tomorrow Terry Rapson Hit Similar →
2004 The Making of 'The Return of the King' Self Super Hit Similar →
2004 Dragon's World: A Fantasy Made Real Narrator Super Hit Similar →
2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Bilbo Super Hit Similar →
2001 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Bilbo Super Hit Similar →
2001 The Emperor's New Clothes Napoleon Bonaparte / Sergeant Eugene Lenormand Hit Similar →
2001 From Hell Sir William Gull Hit Similar →
2000 The Last of the Blonde Bombshells Patrick Hit Similar →
1999 eXistenZ Kiri Vinokur Hit Similar →
1999 Simon Magus Sirius / Boris / The Devil Hit Similar →
1998 King Lear King Lear Super Hit Similar →
1997 The Sweet Hereafter Mitchell Stephens Hit Similar →
1997 The Fifth Element Cornelius Super Hit Similar →
1996 Big Night Pascal Hit Similar →
1995 Landscape Duff Super Hit Similar →
1994 The Madness of King George Willis Hit Similar →
1993 The Mysterious Career of Lee Harvey Oswald Narrator (voice) (UK version, Timewatch: The Mysterious Career of Lee Harvey Oswald) Super Hit Similar →
1992 Elizabeth R: A Year in the Life of The Queen Self - Narrator (voice) Super Hit Similar →
1991 Naked Lunch Tom Frost Hit Similar →
1990 Hamlet Polonius Hit Similar →
1990 A Season of Giants Lorenzo de' Medici Hit Similar →
1989 Henry V Captain Fluellen Hit Similar →
1988 Another Woman Ken Hit Similar →
1985 Mr. and Mrs. Edgehill Eustace Edgehill Hit Similar →
1985 Dreamchild Reverend Charles L. Dodgson / Lewis Carroll Hit Similar →
1985 Brazil Mr. Kurtzmann Super Hit Similar →
1983 Bette Davis: The Benevolent Volcano Narrator (voice) Hit Similar →
1981 Time Bandits Napoleon Hit Similar →
1981 Chariots of Fire Sam Mussabini Hit Similar →
1979 All Quiet on the Western Front Himmelstoss Hit Similar →
1979 Alien Ash Super Hit Similar →
1978 Les Misérables Thénardier Hit Similar →
1978 The Lost Boys J.M. Barrie Super Hit Similar →
1971 Mary, Queen of Scots David Riccio Hit Similar →
1971 Nicholas and Alexandra Yakovlev Hit Similar →
1969 Oh! What a Lovely War President Poincare Hit Similar →
1968 Frankenstein Frankenstein / The Monster Super Hit Similar →
1965 The Wars of the Roses King Richard III Super Hit Similar →
1962 The Cherry Orchard Trofimov Super Hit Similar →

Ian Holm - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Ian Holm?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Ian Holm is "Landscape" with a rating of 10.0/10.

How many movies has Ian Holm acted in?

Ian Holm has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Ian Holm?

Other notable films include "Frankenstein", "The Making of 'The Return of the King'", and "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King".