Bafta defends Bob Hoskins in memoriam omission

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/feb/10/bafta-defends-bob-hoskins-in-memoriam-omission

Version 0 of 1.

Bafta organisers have defended their decision to exclude Bob Hoskins from the annual in memoriam segment of Sunday’s broadcast following widespread criticism.Hoskins was omitted in favour of Hollywood stars such as Lauren Bacall, Harold Ramis, Mickey Rooney and Robin Williams, all of whom also died in the past 12 months. The move sparked anger on Twitter, with comic David Baddiel suggesting it was “symbolic of the erasure in modern times of the working-class actor”. But the British Academy said in a statement that the omission was pre-planned because Hoskins’ life was celebrated during an obituaries package at its television awards in May.“Bafta features individuals in televised obituaries only once, sadly due to the number of people we’d like to recognise at any one time, and that means difficult decisions have to be made as to which ceremony they should be included in,” said the organisation in a statement.

“As Bob died in April last year, just before the television awards, we felt it was right to remember his wonderful career then, rather than wait until last night’s film awards.”

Hoskins won the best actor Bafta in 1986 for Neil Jordan neo-noir Mona Lisa. He was nominated on two further occasions: in the best actor category for his turn as London gangster Harold Shand in The Long Good Friday, and for best supporting actor for his turn as Colonel Perez in the 1983 Latin American-set drama The Honorary Consul.

The actor’s youngest daughter, Rosa, tweeted yesterday that her father would have taken the perceived snub in his stride. “Thanks to everyone who’s expressed dismay that Dad wasn’t mentioned in the #Bafta obituaries. But he wouldn’t have cared,” she wrote.

Thanks to everyone who's expressed dismay that Dad wasn't mentioned in the #Bafta obituaries. But he wouldn't have cared. #bobhoskins

#bobhoskins needed no external validation, he knew his worth and was confident about his contribution to the industry.

Hoskins died aged 71 on 9 April, suffering from pneumonia. He retired from acting in 2012 following a diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease in the autumn of 2011.