'Titanic' Actor Who Played Iconic Captain Smith Dead At 79
Bernard Hill, best known for his roles in the "Titanic" and "The Lord of the Rings," has died on Sunday. He was 79.
The English actor was with his finacée Alison and son Gabriel when he passed away early Sunday morning, his agent Lou Colson confirmed to news outlets.
Hill had an impressive career, spanning over five decades. He had his first TV appearance in 1973 on the show "Hard Labour."
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It wasn't until 1982 when the Manchester, England, native had his breakout role in BBC's TV drama "Boys from the Blackstuff."
His last role on television was also on BBC, in the show "The Responder." The latest episode he starred in was aired Sunday, the same day of his passing.
Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, called the actor an "incredible talent" in a tribute posted online.
"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," Salt wrote.
"From 'Boys from the Blackstuff', to 'Wolf Hall,' 'The Responder,' and many more, we feel truly honored to have worked with Bernard at the BBC. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this sad time."
Hill's most iconic roles were in "Titanic" and "The Lord of the Rings" -- both of which bagged several awards, including multiple Oscars.
In the 1997 box office hit "Titanic," Hill portrayed the role of Captain Smith, the commanding officer of the ill-fated ship. The character was based on the real-life captain of the MS Titanic, Captain Edward John Smith, and was memorable for bravely going down with the sinking ship.
He also played the character of Théoden, King of Rohan, in the "LOTR" series. He starred in both "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" and "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King."
On Sunday, his "Lord of the Rings" co-actors paid tribute to the actor while at the Comic Con in Liverpool.
"We love him. He was intrepid, he was funny, he was gruff, he was irascible, he was beautiful," Sean Astin, who played Sam in the movie saga, told BBC.
Billy Boyd who played Pippin added, "I don't think anyone spoke Tolkien's words as great as Bernard did. He would break my heart. He will be solely missed."
