He was Brian De Palma's second choice for the role of "Al Capone" in 1986's _Untouchables, The (1986)_ if 'Robert DeNiro' was not available. Hoskins was reportedly given a six-figure paycheck by De Palma for "being a great standby".

Spent several seasons with the Royal National Theatre and the Old Vic Theatre in London, where his credits included everything from a range of Shakespeare to Chechov to Shaw.

Is probably best known to American audiences for his role as down and out detective "Eddie Valiant" in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988).

Graduated from the Central School of Speech and Drama, London, England.

Children, with Livesey, Alex and Sarah

Describes himself as "Five-foot-six and cubic".

Was considered for the role of "Senator Ralph Owen Brewster" in The Aviator (2004) before Alan Alda.

Ranked #97 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]

In his earlier years before acting he wound up looking after camels in Syria and later packing fruit on a kibbutz in Israel, among many other odd jobs.

He adopted an American Accent for the role of "Eddie Valiant" on Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988).

Worked in a circus as a fire eater.

Has portrayed four WWII leaders in films - Nikita Khrushchev (Enemy at the Gates (2001)), Winston Churchill (World War II: When Lions Roared (1994) (TV)), Benito Mussolini (Mussolini and I (1985) (TV)) and Lavrenti Beria (The Inner Circle (1991)).

His mother was German Romani (Gypsy) and his film The Raggedy Rawney (1988) was based on stories his gypsy grandmother used to tell him.

Replaced Danny DeVito as "Mario" in Super Mario Bros. (1993).

According to Barry Letts in Beginning the End: Making 'The Time Warrior' (2007) (V), Hoskins was his first choice for the role of Irongron. Hoskins was not available to take the part but recommended David Daker, who was cast instead.

He was awarded the 1982 Critics' Circle Theatre Awards (Drama Theatre Award) for Best Actor of 1981 for his performance in Guys and Dolls and True West.

Has claimed to never have taken an acting lesson in his life and believes in the talent to be "all natural".

Children, with Banwell, Rosa and Jack

He won the best actor prize in 1986 at the Festival de Cannes for his performance in Neil Jordan's Mona Lisa (1986).