Yesterday, one of Britain's finest modern day actors, Bob Hoskins, passed away at the age of 71, after suffering pneumonia.

Hoskins became an actor by accident - a former window cleaner and nightclub bouncer, he was in a pub whilst some auditions were taking place, when he was told "OK, you next." Not one to miss an opportunity like this, he simply shrugged and gave it a try. This paved the way for acting in more than 80 films during his career.

For Pink Floyd fans, he was one of the most notable figures in the film of The Wall. Credited as Rock and Roll Manager, his character is seen entering Pink's trashed hotel room, to find his charge firmly out of it, slumped in a chair. His expletive exclamation sets the scene perfectly, with him quickly placating Michael Ensign's Hotel Manager character with the explanation that Pink was "an asthmatic".

More notable films featuring Hoskins' unique talents ranged from the likes of The Long Good Friday and Mona Lisa, through to Hook (as Smee) and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. His gruff cockney accent, his stocky appearance (or as he put it, "five foot six and cubed"), and his hugely accomplished acting style, always made him a compelling figure on screen - as perfectly illustrated in The Wall.