Lord of the Rings star Bernard Hill dies aged 79, agent confirms

Jolene Campbell

5 May 2024 at 10:44 am·1-min read

Bernard Hill, the actor known for his roles in Titanic and The Lord of the Rings, has died at the age of 79.

Hill played Captain Edward Smith in the 1997 Oscar-winning film Titanic, and King Théoden in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

-Credit:Pierre Vinet/New Line/Saul Zaentz/Wing Nut/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

Born in Manchester in 1944, Hill first came to prominence as Yosser Hughes, a working-class Liverpudlian man ultimately driven to the edge by an uncaring welfare system.

He also starred in Alan Bleasdale's BBC Play for Today programme, The Black Stuff, and its series sequel, Boys from the Blackstuff

His agent Lou Coulson confirmed to BBC News that he died in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A statement from his family is expected shortly.

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