Photo: CossieMoJo at English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
I'll be honest — Ian Holm is one of those actors I kept rediscovering my whole life without realizing it. The moment Bilbo reaches for the Ring and his face just twists? That's not acting, that's alchemy. But then you go back and he's already done it in Alien as the quietly sinister android Ash, and in Chariots of Fire as the obsessive coach Sam Mussabini, winning a BAFTA each time. He trained at RADA and spent years with the Royal Shakespeare Company before film even found him properly, and that stage foundation shows in every frame — he could hold a scene with nothing but stillness. Knighted in 1998, and genuinely earned it. We lost him in June 2020, and I still feel the gap.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Ian Holm
- Name (Japanese)
- イアン・ホルム
- Reading
- いあん・ほるむ
- Born
- September 12, 1931 – June 19, 2020
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Virgo / Goat
- Origin
- Goodmayes, United Kingdom
- Height
- 2 cm
- Occupation
- film actor / stage actor / television actor / actor / video game actor
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- Laurence Olivier Awards
- 1989 Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Annie Award
- 1967 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play
- 1998 Knight Bachelor
- 1969 BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
- 1982 BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | The Lord of the Rings | — | |
| Notable work | Chariots of Fire | — | |
| Notable work | Alien | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Ian Holm born?
September 12, 1931 – June 19, 2020.
Where is Ian Holm from?
Ian Holm is from Goodmayes, United Kingdom.
What does Ian Holm do?
Ian Holm works as film actor, stage actor, television actor, actor, video game actor.
How tall is Ian Holm?
Ian Holm is 2 cm.
What is Ian Holm known for?
Notable works include The Lord of the Rings, Chariots of Fire, Alien.
Film actor — see all → · Stage actor — see all → · More people from United Kingdom →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.