Super Mario Bros. star Bob Hoskins has passed away

Sad news tonight with word that actor Bob Hoskins has passed away today aged 71 from a bout of pneumonia. Hoskins acted for more than sixty years before retiring last year due to being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Hoskins played many roles over his career and is probably best known for his role in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Nintendo fans will however know Hoskins as Mario (Mario) from the 1993 live action Super Mario Bros. movie. He acted alongside Dennis Hopper (King Koopa) and John Leguizamo (Luigi Mario).

The movie bombed terribly and wasn’t particularly good, though that hasn’t stopped it becoming somewhat of a cult film that can be a guilty pleasure (or pain) to watch.

Bob Hoskins himself was critical of the movie and the process of creating Super Mario Bros. In an interview with the Guardian in 2007 he called it was the worst thing he ever did.

[quote]“The worst thing I ever did? Super Mario Brothers. It was a fuckin’ nightmare. The whole experience was a nightmare. It had a husband-and-wife team directing, whose arrogance had been mistaken for talent. After so many weeks their own agent told them to get off the set! Fuckin’ nightmare. Fuckin’ idiots.”[/quote]

Hoskins probably won’t be remembered for playing Mario out of all of his roles, but to Nintendo fans – he was Mario. Even if he hated it.

Rest in Peace.