He died early Sunday morning at the age of 79, BBC News reported with reference to Hill’s management. In the global hit “Titanic”, which won eleven Oscars in 1998, Hill played Captain Edward Smith alongside the two main roles Jack and Rose, who were played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.
Hill, who was born in Manchester, England in 1944, also played King Théoden in two films in director Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” film trilogy, of which the third part, “The Return of the King”, also won eleven Oscars. Hill joined the cast for the second part of “The Two Towers” and continued his role in the third part of the famous fantasy series.
“A truly wonderful actor”
Hill’s breakthrough came in 1982 with the BBC drama series Boys From The Blackstuff. He was married and had a son.
British actress and singer Barbara Dickson, who starred with Hill in a musical based on the Beatles, reacts to her colleague’s death on X (formerly Twitter): “It is with great sadness that I note the death of Bernard Hill,” she wrote . “A truly wonderful actor. It was a privilege to have crossed paths with him. RIP Benny.” The director of BBC Drama also responded to the news regarding the actor: “Bernard Hill has blazed a trail across the screen and his long career full of iconic and remarkable roles is a testament to his incredible talent.”
