Getty Images
Bernard Hill, the British actor best remembered for his roles in the blockbuster films “Titanic” and “The Lord of the Rings,” died on Sunday at the age of 79. new york times I will report it.
His death was confirmed in a statement from his family, but there was no information about where he died or the cause of death.
Born on December 17, 1944 in Brackley, England, he suddenly chose to study acting and graduated from Manchester Institute of Technology in 1970.
The first of his approximately 130 television and film credits was an appearance on the British television show Childhood (1974). He was particularly well known in the UK for his role as Yosser Hughes in the 1980 television film ‘Blackstuff’ and his 1982 miniseries ‘Boys from the Blackstuff’.
Hill appeared in the films The Dirty Knight’s Job (1976), It May Happen to You (1976), The Sailor’s Return (1980), Gandhi (1980), The Bounty ( 1984), “No Surrender” (1985), “Shirley Valentine” (1989), “Madagascar Skin” (1995), and “The Ghost and the Darkness” (1996). leading up to his most widely seen performance as Captain Smith in . “Titanic” (1997).
In the classic film, his character is given some responsibility for the fate of a luxury liner. I remember the image of him calmly standing at the wheel of the ship as the rapidly infiltrating seawater exploded into the room. He completes his mission and goes down with the ship.
In 2002 and 2003, he played the role of Theoden in The Lord of the Rings and The Return of the King. His weary king was an important part of the story, but like the captain of the “Titanic” he was unlucky.
His appearances in “Titanic” and “The Return of the King” made him the first person to appear in multiple films that grossed more than $1 billion at the box office. These films also made him the only actor to appear in at least two of the three films and win 11 Oscars (the most in film history).
Hill’s other films include Clint Eastwood’s True Crime (1999), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1999), The Criminal (1999) and The Scorpion King. ” (2002) and “Gothika” (2003). , “Wimbledon” (2004), “Valkyrie” (2008), “The Golden Years” (2016), “Forever Young” (2023), and “The Moor” (2023).
He died on the day the second season of the British series The Responder premiered on the BBC.
Hill was previously married to American actor Marianna Hill, with whom he had one son.
He leaves behind a fiance.
