Bernard Hill: 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings' star dies at 79

On May 5th, international media reported Bernard Hill's passing at the age of 79. The British actor, known for his roles in box office hits like Titanic and The Lord of the Rings, was announced deceased by his agent.

Bernard Hill was born in Manchester, England on December 17, 1944. His acting career began in the 1970s and gained significant momentum almost a decade later with his performance in the BBC series "Boys from the Blackstuff". In this series, Hill captivated audiences with his portrayal of Yosser Hughes, a man battling unemployment in Liverpool's suburbs, a role for which he earned a BAFTA nomination. Following the conclusion of the series, Hill found himself in high demand.

In 1997, Hill joined the cast of James Cameron's "Titanic" as Captain Edward James Smith, who famously sought to bring passengers to their destination a day early, a decision that contributed to the legendary tragedy of the British transatlantic liner. A few years later, Hill played Théoden, king of Rohan, in the Oscar-winning "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien's novel.

In 2015, Hill delivered another memorable performance in the BBC's adaptation of Hilary Mantel's "Wolf Hall," where he played the Duke of Norfolk, Anne Boleyn's uncle and an adversary of Cardinal Wolsey.

Bernard Hill was anticipated to return to television in the second season of the BBC series "The Officer," starring Martin Freeman, with its broadcast expected to begin shortly. However, the news of the actor's death was confirmed. Hill passed away on the morning of Sunday, May 5th, as announced by his agent, Lou Coulson. The actor's family has yet to make an official statement regarding his passing, and the cause of death remains undisclosed.