Actor Bernard Hill, known for his roles in iconic films such as Titanic and Lord of the Rings, has passed away at the age of 79. His agent, Lou Coulson, confirmed his death on Sunday morning.
Hill rose to fame with his portrayal of Captain Edward Smith in the 1997 blockbuster Titanic and King Théoden in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, his breakout role came in the 1982 BBC TV drama Boys from the Blackstuff, where he played the character Yosser Hughes, a man struggling to cope with unemployment in Liverpool.
At the time of his passing, Hill was with his fiancee Alison and his son Gabriel. His co-stars from Lord of the Rings, including Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, and Billy Boyd, paid tribute to him at Comic-Con in Liverpool. Astin described him as intrepid, funny, and beautiful, while Boyd praised his performance in Tolkien’s words.
Renowned playwright Alan Bleasdale, who worked with Hill on Boys from the Blackstuff, expressed his shock at the actor’s sudden death, calling it a great loss. Hill’s portrayal of Yosser Hughes earned him critical acclaim and won the series a Bafta for best drama in 1983.
Throughout his career, Hill appeared in a variety of TV shows and films, including Wolf Hall, where he played the Duke of Norfolk, and Gandhi. He also returned to the Lord of the Rings franchise for the second and third films, The Two Towers and The Return of the King.
Hill was scheduled to appear at Comic Con Liverpool but had to cancel last minute. The organizers expressed their sadness over his passing and extended their condolences to his family. Scottish musician Barbara Dickson also paid tribute to him, describing him as a “marvellous actor” and expressing gratitude for having known him.
