Titanic and Lord of the Rings actor Bernard Hill Passes on

Actor Bernard Hill, renowned for his roles in Titanic and Lord of the Rings, has passed away at the age of 79. His agent, Lou Coulson, confirmed his death on May 5, 2024.

Hill, known for his compelling performances, portrayed Captain Edward Smith in the Oscar-winning film Titanic and King Théoden in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

One of his notable roles was in the 1982 BBC TV drama Boys from the Blackstuff, where he played Yosser Hughes, a character grappling with unemployment in Liverpool.

At Comic Con in Liverpool, actors Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, and Billy Boyd paid tribute to their colleague, describing him as “intrepid,” “funny,” and “beautiful.”

Hill’s portrayal of Yosser Hughes in Boys from the Blackstuff earned acclaim, with writer Alan Bleasdale describing his performance as “astonishing” and “mesmeric.”

Bernard Hill was set to return to TV screens in the second series of The Responder, a BBC drama starring Martin Freeman.

Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, praised Hill’s illustrious career, describing his roles as “iconic” and “remarkable.”

Hill’s extensive filmography included roles in acclaimed productions like Wolf Hall, Gandhi, Shirley Valentine, and The Scorpion King.

He was scheduled to appear at Comic Con Liverpool but had to cancel at the last minute. The convention expressed heartbreak over his passing and extended condolences to his family.

Scottish musician Barbara Dickson also paid tribute, describing Hill as a “marvellous actor” and expressing gratitude for having crossed paths with him.