Orlando Bloom and Elijah Wood lead Lord Of The Rings cast in paying tribute to Sir Ian Holm

Orlando Bloom paid tribute to his fellow Lord Of The Rings co-star Sir Ian Holm, after he passed away aged 88 on Friday following a battle with Parkinson’s disease.

The actor, 43, who played Legolas in the fantasy franchise took to Instagram shortly after news of Sir Ian’s death, and shared a touching message about the Bilbo Baggins star alongside Elijah Wood and their co-stars.

Posting a photo of Sir Ian, Orlando wrote in the caption: ‘We lost a legend today. He played one of the smallest of characters in our film Lord of the Rings but he was always a giant to me.’ 

Leading actor Elijah, who portrayed Bilbo’s nephew Frodo who embarks on the journey to destroy the One Ring, also paid tribute to Sir Ian.

Sharing an image of the actor in character on Twitter, the actor, 39, described Sir Ian as a ‘brilliant and vibrant’ person as he lamented the loss.

He wrote: ‘So sad to hear that the singular, brilliant and vibrant, Sir Ian Holm has passed. Farewell, uncle.’ 

Dominic Monaghan, who played hobbit Merry Brandybuck in the iconic trilogy, also took the chance to pay tribute to Sir Ian on social media, calling him a ‘magical man’ to work with.

Sharing a still from The Return Of The King in which Dominic, Eljah Wood, Sean Astin, and Billy Boyd shared a scene with Sir Ian’s character as he departed to the Undying Lands, he wrote: ‘Off to the Grey Havens goes dear Ian Holm. 

‘Pete Jackson said he was the best actor he had ever worked with. I studied him whenever I could. 

‘On set and off it, he was a magical man. So sweet. So full of twinkle. So GOOD at it all. Namarie Uncle Bilbo xoxo’

The Lord Of The Rings cast reunited earlier this month on a Zoom call chat for Josh Gad’s Reunited Apart YouTube series, which saw Orlando, Elijah, Sean, Dominic, Billy, Sir Ian McKellen, Sean Bean, Viggo Mortensen, John Rhys-Davies, Liv Tyler, Sean Bean, Andy Serkis, Miranda Otto, Karl Urban, Phillipa Boyens, and director Peter Jackson talk about the trilogy.

While he couldn’t be there in person to talk with his fellow co-stars, Sir Ian did send in a message wishing them well which Josh read after their chat.

In a sweet greeting, he said: ‘Dearest friends from the ring, I am sorry that I cannot see you in person.

‘I miss you all and hope your adventures are taking you to many places, i am in lockdown in my hobbit home, or holm, with all my love, Ian Holm.’ 

Sir Ian passed away ‘peacefully’ in hospital surrounded by his family and carer following his battle with Parkinsons, his agent revealed.

In a statement, his agent said: ‘He was a genius of stage and screen, winning multiple awards and loved by directors, audiences and his colleagues alike.

‘His sparkling wit always accompanied a mischievous twinkle in his eye. Charming, kind and ferociously talented, we will miss him hugely’. 

Parkinson’s is a degenerative condition where the brain cells that stimulate dopamine begin to die, often leading to tremors and anxiety.