Bob Hoskins
Bob Hoskins died after a bout of pneumonia. He was 71 years old. Reuters

Twenty-somethings who grew up with “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” collectively mourned the death of its lead character, Eddie Valiant, when Oscar-nominated actor Bob Hoskins died on Wednesday. He was 71.

The actor was arguably best known for his role in the 1940s Los Angeles-based film as a cartoon-hating detective who comes to the aid of a 'toon when he is erroneously accused of murder. Valiant and Roger Rabbit are perhaps one of the best onscreen duos in what was a groundbreaking interaction between live and animated characters, when the movie was released in 1988. The classic animation and unforgettable characters have made the film a cult classic that is still played on television today.

Other than “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” Hoskins was also known for the 1991 Peter Pan-inspired film “Hook,” where he played Smee; 1986’s “Mona Lisa,” for which he was nominated for an Oscar, and most recently he appeared in “Snow White and the Huntsman” as one of the dwarves. Hoskins died from pneumonia and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2011.

“We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Bob,” his family said in a statement. “Bob died peacefully at hospital last night surrounded by family, following a bout of pneumonia. We ask that you respect our privacy during this time and thank you for your messages of love and support.”

“RIP Bob Hoskins,” “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” and “Eddie Valiant” all began to trend on Wednesday after many Twitter users took to the 140-character social media site to mourn the actor and his character Eddie Valiant, too. It seemed the beloved Valiant was the only person who was able to keep the irrational Roger Rabbit in check. What will the cartoon rabbit do without his pragmatic other half?

Some of Valiant’s best exchanges with Roger and Jessica Rabbit most memorable quotes from “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” have been posted below, courtesy of the Internet Movie Database:

Eddie Valiant: You crazy rabbit! I'm out there risking my neck for you, and what are you doing? Singing and dancing!

Eddie Valiant: You mean you could've taken your hand out of that cuff at any time?

Roger Rabbit: No, not at any time, only when it was funny.

Eddie Valiant: Yes, a toon. We were investigating a robbery at the First National Bank of Toontown. Back in those days, me and Teddy liked working Toontown, thought it was a lot of laughs. Anyway, this guy got away with a zillion simoleons. We trailed him to a little dive down on Yukster Street. We went in. Only he got the drop on us, literally. Dropped a piano on us from fifteen stories. Broke my arm, Teddy never made it. I never did find out who that guy was. All I remember was him standing over me laughing, with those burning red eyes, and that high, squeaky voice. He disappeared into Toontown after that.

Eddie Valiant: Wait a minute. Wait a minute. You mean to tell me that in a fit of jealousy you wrote your wife a love letter?

Roger Rabbit: That's right! I knew that she was just an innocent victim of circumstance.

Eddie Valiant: I suppose you used the old lipstick on the mirror routine.

Roger Rabbit: What are we going to do, Eddie? What are we gonna do? What are we gonna do?

Eddie Valiant: What's all this we stuff? They just want the rabbit.

Eddie Valiant: You don't know how hard it is being a man looking at a woman looking the way you do.

Jessica Rabbit: I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way.

Eddie Valiant: Here's to the pencil pushers. May they all get lead poisoning.

Eddie Valiant: That lame-brain freeway idea could only be cooked up by a toon.

Eddie Valiant: Seriously, what do you see in that guy?

Jessica Rabbit: He makes me laugh.

Eddie Valiant: Weren't you the one I caught playing pattycake with old man Acme?

Jessica Rabbit: You didn't catch me, Mr. Valiant. You were set up to take those pictures.

Eddie Valiant: Well you better start drinking it black, Acme's taking the cream now.

Eddie Valiant: Hey, Judge. Doesn't a dying rabbit deserve a last request?

Eddie Valiant: Scotch on the rocks. And I mean ice!

Follow me on Twitter @mariamzzarella

RELATED STORIES