This past week, actor Ian Holmes passed away at the age of 88. Holmes was best known for his Shakespearean stage work in King Lear and for films including both Alien and Chariots of Fire. But one film role that's meaningfully impacted its fans in a significant capacity is the role of Bilbo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings. In fact, his passing was so effecting to fans that players of The Lord of the Rings Online recently decided to hold a memorial in Holmes' honor.
Multiple events have been held on different servers in The Lord of the Rings Online celebrating Holmes' life and work. The Bilbo Baggins character in the game remains well, residing in Rivendell's Last Homely House just as many remember him from the films. Players will group up around the Bilbo Baggins NPC at all times of the day.
One server apparently had as many as 300 players gathered all at once in front of the Bilbo NPC's location. One account explained that a minstrel played the somber "The Misty Mountains Cold" song from the Hobbit film for the gathering's duration. Another server gathered in Bilbo's old home at Bag End, smoking pipes and playing music.
In the end, it's just a small way for those who appreciated Holmes' work to take a moment and remember him. Holmes may have taken the boat west to the Undying Lands, but Bilbo remains.
The Lord of the Rings Online is available now on PC.
Source: Reddit