Bernard Hill, beloved Titanic and Lord of the Rings actor, passes away at 79, sparking heartfelt tributes
Anticipate a forthcoming statement from his family
Bernard Hill, known for his roles in “Lord of the Rings” and “Titanic,” passed away at the age of 79.
He holds the rare distinction of appearing in multiple films that each won 11 Academy Awards, namely “Titanic” and “Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”
In the fantasy trilogy, Hill played King Theoden, while he portrayed Captain Edward Smith in James Cameron’s 1997 hit.
His agent, Lou Coulson, confirmed to BBC News that Hill passed away early this morning.
His family are expected to release a statement soon.
Hill secured his breakout role in the drama “Boys from the Blackstuff” as Yosser Hughes, the troubled “hard-man” whose life was falling apart.
In 2000, it was ranked seventh on a British Film Institute list of the best TV shows ever made.
He also had roles in the Richard Attenborough film “Gandhi” and the BBC adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s “Wolf Hall.”
His passing comes hours before he was due to return to TV in the drama The Responder, which airs on BBC One tonight.
The actor, who is a father-of-one, lived in Suffolk with his actress wife Marianna Hill.
Away from stage and screen, Hill was a karate expert and a keen Manchester United fan.
Tributes have begun to pour in on social media.
Scottish musician Barbara Dickson expressed her sadness at the passing of Bernard Hill, noting their time working together in the 1974-1975 production of John Paul George Ringo and Bert, a show by Willy Russell. She praised him as a “really marvellous actor” and considered it a privilege to have worked alongside him, ending with “RIP Benny x.”
Comicon Liverpool also shared their condolences, describing Bernard Hill’s death as a great loss and offering thoughts to his family during this difficult time, sending wishes for strength.
Online, a user mourned the death of Bernard Hill, highlighting his powerful performance in the 80s and expressing deep sadness at the news.
