Ian Holm played Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson’s film trilogy based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
Holm appears as the older Bilbo, who lives in Hobbiton and begins writing the account that frames the story. He also appears in the prologue and later scenes connected with the One Ring. His performance presents Bilbo as witty, affectionate, and increasingly troubled by the Ring’s influence.
Martin Freeman played a younger Bilbo in Jackson’s three-film adaptation of The Hobbit, released from 2012 to 2014. That casting difference causes a frequent mix-up: both actors played the same fictional character at different ages and in different film series. Elijah Wood played Frodo Baggins, Bilbo’s younger cousin and heir.
Ian Holm’s screen career included major roles beyond Tolkien adaptations. He was also known for films such as Alien and Chariots of Fire. Holm died in 2020, aged 88, after a long career in British theatre, television, and cinema.