British actor Bob Hoskins has died at the age of 71 from pneumonia.

One of Britain's best love actors, Hoskins was well known for playing cockneys, gangsters and down to earth working class characters.

Born in 1942 in Bury, St Edmunds, West Suffolk, Hoskins began his acting career in 1969 at the Unity Theatre in London. He got his first part after being offered to audition for a play that was being cast in the pub where he was drinking.

He became a household name after starring in Dennis Potter's 1978 musical drama series Pennies from Heaven, and would go on to appear in a string of successful movies in the 1980s, including Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Brazil and The Long Good Friday.

Bob Hoskins

For his turn in 1986 movie Mona Lisa, Hoskins won the prestigious best actor award at the Cannes Film festival, a Bafta and a Golden Globe.

His most recent roles include Outlaw, Made in Dagenham and Outisde Bet, with Hoskins also receiving an international Emmy for best actor for his appearance on BBC One drama The Street.

He was forced to retire from acting in 2012 after he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He leaves behind his wife Linda and children Alex, Sarah, Rosa and Jack.