Lord of the Rings and Titanic actor Bernard Hill dies aged 79

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Bernard Hill, the well-known actor recognized for his remarkable performances in the notable films Titanic and the Lord of the Rings series, has passed away at the age of 79.

Hill played the role of Theoden, the ruler of Rohan, in the successful fantasy trilogy that won Oscars. Additionally, he portrayed the character Captain Edward Smith in James Cameron's movie about the tragic wreck of the Titanic.

The announcement was verified to the BBC by the representative of the performer, Lou Coulson. Coulson stated that the actor passed away at the start of Sunday, May 5th.

The family of Hill is anticipated to issue a statement soon.

The performer was famous for playing the unforgettable character of Yosser Hughes in Alan Bleasdale's groundbreaking drama series Boys from the Blackstuff.

From Titanic (1997) to The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), Hill was the exclusive performer ever to grace the silver screen in several movies with over 11 Oscar accolades.

He was scheduled to attend the Liverpool Comic-Con this week, but unfortunately, news of Bernard Hill's death emerged. The event posted a statement on Twitter expressing their deep sadness over his loss. They also extended their sympathies to his family, hoping they find the strength to get through this tough time.

Barbara Dickson, a folk musician, expressed her sorrow on Twitter about Bernard Hill's passing. She stated that they had collaborated on an exceptional production by Willy Russell titled "John, Paul, George, Ringo and Bert" from 1974-1975.

"He was an outstanding actor. I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet him. Rest in peace Benny x."

Hill was brought into this world on December 17, 1944 in Blackley, Manchester. He grew up in a family of miners who followed the Catholic faith. Hill received an education at the Manchester School of Theatre, which is known by a different name now.

Hill got his first big break in acting after appearing in minor roles on BBC's I, Claudius and Hard Labour. His major turning point came in 1979 when he played the character of a working-class man from Liverpool who was pushed to the edge due to the mercilessness of the welfare system in Britain, in the drama series The Black Stuff. He continued to play the same role three years later in the sequel titled Boys from the Black Stuff.

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The saying "gizza job" from his character gained a lot of recognition among people watching TV shows in Britain.

Several movies came after, such as Gandhi, Mountains of the Moon, Skallagrigg and Madagascar Skin (1995).

During the 90s, Hill's fame in Hollywood increased as he landed significant roles in movies like The Ghost and the Darkness, which starred Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas.

Hill portrayed the commander of the ill-fated Titanic ship, which goes under in the heart of the North Atlantic Ocean.

Hill appeared in the movie True Crime, directed by Clint Eastwood, in 1999. He enjoyed the experience and expressed his admiration for Eastwood, saying: "He's a compassionate director who understands the perspective of actors. He maintains a calm atmosphere on set and directs in a gentle manner."

In the movie The Two Towers, we meet Hill's character, who makes an appearance as part of the cast. The film centers around Theoden, a leader of the Rohan people, and Hill's character is involved in the plot. Hill also played the same character in the final installment of the trilogy, Return of the King.

When Hill was inquired about his most cherished moment, he later contemplated and responded: "I enjoyed and relished every single moment of every day that I had the chance to be a part of Lord of the Rings."

The performer has also played important characters such as Philos in the supernatural thriller The Scorpion King, which starred Dwayne Johnson, and Thomas Howard in the six-part version of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall produced by the BBC.

The latest job that Hill has landed is in the police TV series The Responder, starring Martin Freeman. It's set to premiere on BBC One this Sunday.