Middle-Earth suffered a sad loss last week with the death of Sir Ian Holm, who played old Bilbo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movie trilogies. And, if a recent fan gathering in The Lord of the Rings Online is anything to go by, he will not be forgotten.
Reported by Eurogamer and Redditor Ch_Mell, over 300 passionate Middle-Earth fans gathered around the Bilbo Baggins NPC in the Hall of Fire of the popular MMORPG. They also posted this photo, accompanying the Reddit post.
Not only did dedicated LOTRO players mourn the passing of Holm through kneeling, but also through the power of song. Players marched the Shire and streets of Hobbiton, let off fireworks, and enjoyed a night of music and socializing in a tavern. Other alleged tributes include players letting off fireworks in front of Bilbo’s iconic home at Bag End. It’s impressive and heartwarming to see the passion players put into taking part in these tributes. You can check out one such tribute in this YouTube video here:
Out of respect for the late Sir Ian Holm and the community who mourned his death, LOTRO developer Standing Still Games enabled the Bilbo Baggins birthday quest until June 23rd and extended the Spring Festival until July 23rd.
Sir Ian Holm passed away on June 19th at the age of 88 due to complications caused by Parkinson’s disease. As well as starring as Bilbo Baggins, the actor played roles in such films as The Day After Tomorrow, Chariots of Fire, and Alien. He has played Napoleon Bonaparte in three different projects; in the television mini-series Napoleon and Love, Terry Gilliam’s Time Bandits, and The Emperor’s New Clothes.
Did you take part in the tributes to Ian Holm in The Lord of the Rings Online? Share your stories below!
