The actor, renowned for iconic roles in Titanic and Lord of the Rings, also gained acclaim for his portrayal of Yosser Hughes in Boys from the Blackstuff

Bernard Hill, the actor best known for his roles in Titanic and The Lord of the Rings, has passed away at the age of 79, his agent has confirmed.

Hill, who played King Théoden in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, joined the franchise in the 2002 film The Two Towers and returned for The Return of the King in 2003, which garnered 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. In Titanic, Hill portrayed Captain Edward Smith in the Oscar-winning 1997 film, alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.

His fellow Lord of the Rings cast member, Dominic Monaghan, who played Merry Brandybuck, shared a tribute on Instagram, remembering Hill as “the broken king” who “has passed to the grey havens but will always be remembered.”

The Manchester-born actor also earned critical acclaim for his portrayal of Yosser Hughes in the groundbreaking 1980s drama Boys from the Blackstuff. His performance in the series led to a BAFTA TV nomination in 1983. The same year, Boys from the Blackstuff won the BAFTA for Best Drama Series.

Hill’s death occurred early on Sunday morning, as confirmed by his agent Lou Coulson. A statement from his family is expected soon.

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, praised Hill as “an incredible talent,” highlighting his legacy in productions like Wolf Hall and The Responder, with his long career marked by a series of iconic roles.

Other notable projects in Hill’s career included Clint Eastwood’s True Crime, the 1989 romantic comedy Shirley Valentine, the 1999 film Great Expectations, and the 2002 action movie The Scorpion King.

Singer and actress Barbara Dickson also paid tribute, recalling their work together in John Paul George Ringo and Bert, and describing Hill as “a really marvellous actor” and a privilege to work with.