Bernard Hill obit

Bernard Hill: Titanic and Lord of the Rings actor dies

 He was not on the list.

Actor Bernard Hill, best known for roles in Titanic and Lord of the Rings, has died aged 79.

He played Captain Edward Smith in the 1997 Oscar-winning film and King Théoden in the Lord of the Rings.

His breakout role was in 1982 BBC TV drama Boys from the Blackstuff, where he portrayed Yosser Hughes, a character who struggled - and often failed - to cope with unemployment in Liverpool.

He died early on Sunday morning, his agent Lou Coulson confirmed.

With him at the time were his fiancee Alison and his son Gabriel.

Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd, the actors who played the hobbits Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, paid tribute to their co-star at Comic Con in Liverpool.

Astin began by saying: "We love him. He was intrepid, he was funny, he was gruff, he was irascible, he was beautiful."

Boyd recounted watching the trilogy with Monaghan, saying: "I don't think anyone spoke Tolkien's words as great as Bernard did. He would break my heart. He will be solely missed."

Alan Bleasdale, who wrote Boys from the Blackstuff, said Hill's death was a "great loss and also a great surprise".

"It was an astonishing, mesmeric performance - Bernard gave everything to that and you can see it in all the scenes. He became Yosser Hughes."

Alan Bleasdale: 'I was desperate to work with him'

He added: "I was desperate to work with him. Everything he did - his whole procedure for working, the manner in which he worked and his performance was everything that you could ever wish for.

"You always felt that Bernard would live forever. He had a great strength, physically and of personality."

Hill, who was from Manchester and lived in Suffolk, was due to return to TV screens in series two of The Responder, a BBC drama starring Martin Freeman, which begins airing on Sunday.

Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, paid tribute to him, saying: "Bernard Hill blazed a trail across the screen, and his long-lasting career filled with iconic and remarkable roles is a testament to his incredible talent."

"From Boys from the Blackstuff, to Wolf Hall, The Responder, and many more, we feel truly honoured to have worked with Bernard at the BBC. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this sad time."

In Boys from the Blackstuff, Hill drew praise for his gritty portrayal of Yosser Hughes, an intense character who pleaded "Gizza [give us a] job" as he sought work.

That show won a Bafta for best drama series in 1983, and in 2000 it was ranked seventh on a British Film Institute list of the best TV shows ever made. Another of Hill's memorable BBC TV performances came in the 2015 drama series Wolf Hall, adapted from Hilary Mantel's book about the court of Henry VIII. Hill portrayed the Duke of Norfolk - an uncle of Anne Boleyn and an enemy of Cardinal Wolsey.

In Peter Jackson's epic trilogy The Lord of the Rings, Hill joined the cast for the second film, 2002's The Two Towers, and returned to the franchise for 2003's The Return Of The King, which picked up 11 Oscars.

Other roles in Hill's decades-long career included the 1976 BBC TV series I, Claudius, an appearance in 1982's Gandhi, Shirley Valentine in 1989, The Scorpion King in 2002 and 2008 Tom Cruise film Valkyrie.

He was meant to be at Comic Con Liverpool on Saturday, but had to cancel at the last minute, the convention said in a post on X. As news of his death broke, the organisers said on the platform they were "heartbroken" at Hill's death, and wished his family a "lot of strength".

Scottish musician Barbara Dickson also paid tribute on X, saying he had been a "really marvellous actor".

She added: "It was a privilege to have crossed paths with him. RIP Benny x."

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Martin Freeman in The Responder (2022)

The Responder

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2024

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Bernard Hill, Mark Peachey, David Edward-Robertson, Chris Cronin, Sophia La Porta, Vicki Hackett, and Elizabeth Dormer-Phillips in The Moor (2023)

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Segunda oportunidad (2018)

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Interlude City (2016)

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2016

 

Simon Callow, Alun Armstrong, Phil Davis, Bernard Hill, Sue Johnston, Virginia McKenna, and Una Stubbs in Golden Years (2016)

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Unforgotten (2015)

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Damian Lewis and Mark Rylance in Wolf Hall (2015)

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Philip Glenister, Steven Mackintosh, Saskia Reeves, and Liz White in From There to Here (2014)

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Doug Bradley and Bernard Hill in Shepherd on the Rock (2014)

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5.8

Tam Ferrier

2014

 

OutPost 11 (2013)

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3.8

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2013

 

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2013

 

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6.5

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Ramón Salgado

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Casey Affleck, Bernard Hill, Anna Kendrick, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Tucker Albrizzi in ParaNorman (2012)

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2012

 

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Short

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2011

 

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Short

The Narrator (voice)

2011

 

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7.3

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2011

3 episodes

 

Fable III (2010)

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7.4

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2010

 

The Kid (2010)

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6.8

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2010

 

Bernard Hill and Saskia Reeves in Canoe Man (2010)

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5.9

TV Movie

John Darwin

2010

 

Five Days (2007)

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6.6

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2009

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Tom Cruise in Valkyrie (2008)

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7.1

Confident General - Desert

2008

 

Steve Coogan, Bernard Hill, Lisa Millett, and Dominic Senior in Sunshine (2008)

Sunshine

8.0

TV Mini Series

George Crosby

2008

3 episodes

 

Ryan Phillippe, Sam Riley, and Eva Green in Franklyn (2008)

Franklyn

6.0

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2008

 

Fairy Tales (2008)

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6.7

TV Mini Series

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2008

1 episode

 

Save Angel Hope (2007)

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4.2

Oscar Kurz

2007

 

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4.8

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2007

 

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2007

 

Joy Division (2006)

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6.0

Dennis

2006

 

Surviving Disaster (2006)

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7.4

TV Mini Series

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2006

7 episodes

 

Bernard Hill and Archie Panjabi in A Very Social Secretary (2005)

A Very Social Secretary

7.3

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David Blunkett

2005

 

Midsummer Dream (2005)

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4.7

Theseus (English version, voice)

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The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse (2005)

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King William III

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The Deal (2004)

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5.4

Short

Victor

2004

 

Kirsten Dunst and Paul Bettany in Wimbledon (2004)

Wimbledon

6.3

Edward Colt

2004

 

Julianna Margulies and Dylan McDermott in The Grid (2004)

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6.7

TV Mini Series

Agent Derek Jennings

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6 episodes

 

Ancient Egyptians (2003)

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7.9

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2003

 

Halle Berry in Gothika (2003)

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5.8

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2003

 

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Liv Tyler, Sean Astin, Christopher Lee, Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Miranda Otto, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, and Andy Serkis in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

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Timewatch (1982)

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5.9

Stalin (voice)

2000

 

A Question of Faith (2000)

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2000

 

The Criminal (1999)

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5.4

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1999

 

Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Everett, Calista Flockhart, and Stanley Tucci in A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999)

A Midsummer Night's Dream

6.4

Egeus

1999

 

Charlotte Rampling, Ioan Gruffudd, and Justine Waddell in Great Expectations (1999)

Great Expectations

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Abel Magwitch

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Clint Eastwood in True Crime (1999)

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Warden Luther Plunkitt

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Police chief

Charlie

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Secret Lives (1995)

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5.7

TV Series

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1997

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Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Gloria Stuart, and Frances Fisher in Titanic (1997)

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7.9

Captain Smith

1997

 

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6.1

TV Movie

Edward Tulliver

1997

 

Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Robert Bathurst, Keith-Lee Castle, Tim Faraday, Graham McTavish, Antony Sher, Richard James, and David Stone in Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (1996)

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6.8

Dr. David Hawthorne

1996

 

The Big Game (1995)

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5.5

TV Movie

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1995

 

Sean Connery, Richard Gere, and Julia Ormond in First Knight (1995)

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6.0

Knight (uncredited)

1995

 

Madagascar Skin (1995)

Madagascar Skin

6.1

Flint

1995

 

The Gambling Man (1995)

The Gambling Man

7.1

TV Mini Series

Frank Nickle

1995

3 episodes

 

Stages

TV Series

Joe

1994

1 episode

 

Bernard Hill in Once Upon a Time in the North (1994)

Once Upon a Time in the North

7.7

TV Series

Len Tollit

1994

6 episodes

 

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6.3

TV Series

Larry

John

Martin Allport ...

1985–1994

4 episodes

 

Tony Doyle, Tom Georgeson, Neil Pearson, and Siobhan Redmond in Between the Lines (1992)

Between the Lines

8.1

TV Series

Chief Constable Harmsworth

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2 episodes

 

Bernard Hill, Robert Pugh, and Nigel Harrison in Telltale (1993)

Telltale

TV Series

Det. Sgt. Gavin Douglas

1993

3 episodes

 

Olly's Prison (1993)

Olly's Prison

8.3

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Mike

1993

 

Ewan McGregor, Kim Huffman, and Louise Germaine in Lipstick on Your Collar (1993)

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8.1

TV Mini Series

Uncle Fred

1993

6 episodes

 

Drug-Taking and the Arts (1993)

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7.3

The Presenter

1993

 

Crime Story (1992)

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8.8

TV Series

Erwin van Haarlem

1992

1 episode

 

Shakespeare: The Animated Tales (1992)

Shakespeare: The Animated Tales

7.9

TV Series

Bottom (voice)

1992

1 episode

 

Double X: The Name of the Game (1992)

Double X: The Name of the Game

4.1

Iggy

Iggy Smith

1992

 

Simon Jones and Brian Protheroe in Shrinks (1991)

Shrinks

7.0

TV Series

Frank Beasley

1991

1 episode

 

About Face (1989)

About Face

6.5

TV Series

Bryce

1991

1 episode

 

Screenplay (1986)

Screenplay

6.6

TV Series

Octavian Barbu

1990

1 episode

 

Mountains of the Moon (1990)

Mountains of the Moon

7.1

Dr. Livingstone

1990

 

Pauline Collins in Shirley Valentine (1989)

Shirley Valentine

7.2

Joe

1989

 

The Fremantle Conspiracy (1988)

The Fremantle Conspiracy

9.0

TV Mini Series

Breslin

1988

 

Joely Richardson in Drowning by Numbers (1988)

Drowning by Numbers

7.1

Madgett

1988

 

Bellman and True (1987)

Bellman and True

6.8

Hiller

1987

 

Milwr Bychan (1987)

Milwr Bychan

6.9

Officer

1987

 

The Theban Plays by Sophocles (1986)

The Theban Plays by Sophocles

7.6

TV Series

Messenger

1986

1 episode

 

The Great White Mountain

TV Movie

Jacques Balmat

1986

 

Mountain Men

TV Series

Jacques Balmat

1986

 

The Children's Rebellion

TV Movie

Tom

1985

 

Everyman (1977)

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8.1

TV Series

John Lennon

1985

1 episode

 

John Lennon: A Journey in the Life (1985)

John Lennon: A Journey in the Life

8.4

TV Movie

John Lennon

1985

 

No Surrender (1985)

No Surrender

7.1

Bernard

1985

 

Vincent Friell and Joe Mullaney in Restless Natives (1985)

Restless Natives

6.8

Will's Father

1985

 

Samson and Delilah

6.1

Short

Willie Naknervis

1985

 

Jackanory (1965)

Jackanory

7.1

TV Series

Storyteller

1985

5 episodes

 

Bernard Hill in Squaring the Circle (1984)

Squaring the Circle

7.7

TV Movie

Lech Walesa

1984

 

The Chain (1984)

The Chain

6.9

Nick

1984

 

Mel Gibson, Anthony Hopkins, and Tevaite Vernette in The Bounty (1984)

The Bounty

7.0

Cole

1984

 

Still Life

TV Movie

Frank

1984

 

James Fox in Runners (1983)

Runners

5.6

The Hotel - Trevor Field

1983

 

Ron Cook in Richard III (1983)

Richard III

8.2

TV Movie

First Murderer

Sir William Brandon

1983

 

Brian Protheroe in The Third Part of Henry the Sixth (1983)

The Third Part of Henry the Sixth

8.0

TV Movie

Duke of York

1983

 

The Second Part of Henry the Sixth (1983)

The Second Part of Henry the Sixth

7.6

TV Movie

Duke of York

1983

 

Brenda Blethyn in The First Part of Henry the Sixth (1983)

The First Part of Henry the Sixth

7.3

TV Movie

Master Gunner

Duke of York

1983

 

Gandhi (1982)

Gandhi

8.0

Sergeant Putnam

1982

 

Bernard Hill in Boys from the Blackstuff (1982)

Boys from the Blackstuff

8.5

TV Mini Series

Yosser Hughes

1982

5 episodes

 

Say No to Strangers (1981)

Say No to Strangers

6.6

Short

Teresa's Dad (uncredited)

1981

 

Play for Today (1970)

Play for Today

7.8

TV Series

Simon Simpson

Mick

Sullivan ...

1973–1981

7 episodes

 

The Glamour Girls

TV Series

Boris

1980

1 episode

 

Eamon Boland, Bernard Hill, Larry Lamb, Derrick O'Connor, Elizabeth Spriggs, Peter Vaughan, and Ray Winstone in Fox (1980)

Fox

8.2

TV Series

Vin Fox

1980

13 episodes

 

Bernard Hill in The Black Stuff (1980)

The Black Stuff

8.1

TV Movie

Yosser Hughes

1980

 

Peter Barkworth and Hannah Gordon in Telford's Change (1979)

Telford's Change

8.7

TV Series

Jack Burton

1979

2 episodes

 

The Sailor's Return (1978)

The Sailor's Return

6.9

Carter

1978

 

Pickersgill People (1978)

Pickersgill People

7.6

TV Series

Harry 'Sharky' Finn

1978

1 episode

 

BBC2 Play of the Week (1977)

BBC2 Play of the Week

7.5

TV Series

Carson

Broadbent

1977–1978

2 episodes

 

Premiere (1977)

Premiere

7.4

TV Series

Tom

1977

1 episode

 

Second City Firsts (1973)

Second City Firsts

5.8

TV Series

Billy

1977

1 episode

 

Jan Francis in Rooms (1974)

Rooms

7.7

TV Series

Mr. Morton

1977

6 episodes

 

Warship (1973)

Warship

8.4

TV Series

CPO Straker

1977

1 episode

 

I, Claudius (1976)

I, Claudius

8.8

TV Mini Series

Gratus

1976

2 episodes

 

It Could Happen to You (1976)

It Could Happen to You

5.7

Syph

1976

 

A Dirty Knight's Work (1976)

A Dirty Knight's Work

5.1

'Blind' Freddie - beggar

1976

 

Don Henderson, Diane Keen, Peter Sallis, and Don Warrington in Crown Court (1972)

Crown Court

7.3

TV Series

PC Cluff

Jury Foreman

1976

5 episodes

 

2nd House (1973)

2nd House

6.5

TV Series

The Beatles

1974

1 episode

 

George Cole, Bernard Hepton, Ron Moody, and Colin Welland in Village Hall (1974)

Village Hall

7.8

TV Series

Policeman

1974

1 episode

 

Anthony Hopkins in Childhood (1974)

Childhood

6.6

TV Series

Janey's father

1974

1 episode

 

Additional Crew

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The 60s: The Beatles Decade

6.6

TV Series

narrator

2006

5 episodes