Bernard Hill dead aged 79: Titanic and Lord of the Rings actor dies as tributes pour in from friends & colleagues
TRIBUTES are pouring in for a Titanic and Lord of the Rings star who has tragically died aged 79.
Bernard Hill, who also featured in stand-out hits like Boys from the Black Stuff and Gandhi, passed away in the early hours of this morning.
His agent Lou Coulson today confirmed his tragic death to the BBC, and tributes are already pouring in for the star.
Hill played Captain Edward Smith in the 1997 Oscar-winning film Titanic.
He also went on to star as King Théoden in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Barbara Dickson wrote on X: “It’s with great sadness that I note the death of Bernard Hill.
“We worked together in John Paul George Ringo and Bert, Willy Russell marvellous show 1974-1975.
“A really marvellous actor. It was a privilege to have crossed paths with him. RIP Benny.”
Bernard was born in Manchester and studied at Manchester Polytechnic School of Drama.
In 11976 he had his first TV role – as Police Constable Cluff in the Granada Television series Crown Court.
He then went on to play Yosser Hughes in Alan Bleasdale’s BBC Play for Today programme.
Hill also appeared on stage in The Cherry Orchard, and the title roles in Macbeth and A View from the Bridge.
In the mid-1990s, Hill began appearing in films more regularly.
His first major role came in The Ghost and the Darkness before he played Captain Edward J. Smith in Titanic.
Hill then played King Théoden of Rohan in the 2nd and 3rd films of The Lord of the Rings.
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