‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Titanic’ actor Bernard Hill dies aged 79
A huge legacy left by a wonderful actor.
‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Titanic’ actor Bernard Hill passed away aged 79.
Hollywood actor has some notable works to his credit.
British actor Bernard Hill’s agent Lou Coulson confirmed his death in the early hours of Sunday to British media outlets.
Hill played Captain Edward Smith in the Oscar-winning 1997 epic romance “Titanic,”
Adding more to his acting career spanning over three decades, Hill earned worldwide recognition playing Theoden, King of Rohan, in two of the three “The Lord Of The Rings” films directed by Peter Jackson.
Hill featured in the BBC’s 1982 acclaimed drama “Boys from the Blackstuff”, is still lauded as one of the finest examples of its genre from the era, winning several awards.
In “Boys from the Blackstuff” he portrayed Yosser Hughes, a character who struggled – and often failed – to cope with unemployment in Liverpool.
Other roles in Hill’s decades-long career included the 1976 BBC TV series I, Claudius, an appearance in 1982’s Gandhi, Shirley Valentine in 1989, The Scorpion King in 2002 and the 2008 Tom Cruise film Valkyrie.
Following the news of his demise, tributes are pouring in for Bernard Hill on social media timelines.
The Boys from the Blackstuff & Yosser Hughes perfectly highlighted the emotional suffering we could see in the 1980s across working class communities ravaged & destroyed by a Thatcher government.
— lan Byrne MP (@IanByrneMP) May 6, 2024
A huge legacy left by a wonderful actor.
RIP Bernard Hill. pic.twitter.com/yYw9IpRXJI
So long to our friend, our king, Bernard Hill.
— Elijah Wood (@elijahwood) May 5, 2024
We will never forget you.
“For he was a gentle heart and a great king and kept his oaths; and he rose out of the shadows to a last fair morning.”
photo by Viggo pic.twitter.com/lxjepm5rUZ
“i go to my fathers, in whose mighty company, i shall not now feel ashamed…”
— anna 🏹 (@myelessar) May 5, 2024
absolutely horrible news, rest in peace bernard hill and thank you for everything 🤍 pic.twitter.com/qtJ4dXn083
Bernard Hill’s portrayal of Yosser Hughes was one of the most important cultural moments of the 80s. He symbolised the destruction of human dignity by dead-eyed Thatcherism. If only we had the same heft of working class writers and actors now to address today’s inequities. RIP pic.twitter.com/5vNQnTbJan
— NeilMackay (@NeilMackay) May 5, 2024
I don't say this lightly: Bernard Hill as King Theoden in the Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of my all-time favourite performances, a fascinatingly complex turn which brings to life a fascinatingly complex character.
— David Mitchell-Baker (@DavDav1228) May 5, 2024
RIP to the great Bernard Hill. pic.twitter.com/alASaP0y21
