Actor Bernard Hill, Known for King Théoden in The Lord of the Rings, Dies at 79

Early Sunday morning, the British actor Bernard Hill died at the age of 79. He is remembered by the audience as King Théoden from the two parts of the trilogy director Peter Jackson The Lord of the Rings – in particular, Hill played in The Two Towers and The Return of the King.

Hill’s death confirmed to the BBC server his agent Lou Coulson.

In addition to the aforementioned Théoden, one of Hill’s most famous characters was also Captain Edward Smith in the 1997 Oscar-winning film Titanic.

And British audiences also remember Hill as Yosser Hughes from the TV drama Boys from the Blackstuff. The series won the 1983 Bafta Award for Best Drama Series and was ranked seventh in the British Film Institute’s 2000 list of the greatest TV programs of all time.

The actor was due to appear at Liverpool Comic-Con this week, but has now released a statement on Twitter. “The news of Bernard Hill’s death is heartbreaking. Loss is great. Our thoughts are with his family in these difficult times and we wish them strength,” the post read.

Hill was born on 17 December 1944 in Blackley, Manchester. He studied at Manchester Theater School today. He was married to fellow actress Marianna Hill, with whom he had a son, Gabriel.