Robert William "Bob" Hoskins (born October 26, 1942) is a British actor, known for playing Cockney rough diamonds and gangsters, and for family films such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988). Durring the late 80s early 90s he had sucessful roles in advertising the recently privatised companies of British Gas and British Telecoms (Now BT Group).

Born in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, Hoskins had a number of occupations before going into acting, and made his stage debut in 1969. He hit the big time in 1978 when he starred in Dennis Potter's successful BBC drama serial, Pennies From Heaven.

His performances in British films such as The Long Good Friday (1980) and Mona Lisa (1986) won him the approval of the critics and, in the case of the latter, an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. He has also appeared in Super Mario Bros. (1993), which was considered a flop.

Hoskins is known for his "cold bum test" which he uses whenever he receives a new script. He takes it to the lavatory to read, and if it's an enthralling script, his buttocks will have gone cold due to the time elapsed.

He made a cameo appearance as a rock band's manager in the Pink Floyd film The Wall, where his one-word expletive exclamation was the film's only dialogue.

He has also directed films.

External links