Summary
- Bernard Hill, known for playing King Théoden in Lord of the Rings, has passed away at age 79.
- The actor played prominent roles in many films and TV shows throughout his career including
Titanic
and
Gandhi
. - Hill’s legacy includes his memorable movie performances opposite A-listers as well as prominent television roles.
Bernard Hill has died. The actor, who played Théoden, King of Rohan, in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, was born in Manchester, England on December 17, 1944. His acting career began in 1970 when he graduated from the theater program at the Manchester Polytechnic School of Drama. The star has since gone on to appear in more than 100 film and television titles, which in total earned him a pair of Best Actor BAFTA nominations for his roles as Yosser Hughes in 1982’s Boys from the Blackstuff and David Blunkett in 2005’s A Very Social Secretary.
Per The Guardian, Bernard Hill passed away at the age of 79. Further details about the nature of his death have yet to be confirmed. The news was reported by his agent Lou Coulson. The actor is survived by his wife, El Condor and Messiah of Evil star Marianna Hill, as well as their son Gabriel.
Bernard Hill’s Legacy Remembered
Hill Played Many Prominent Roles Throughout His Career
Hill is likely still best recognized for his role as Lord of the Rings‘ King Théoden, having played the character in both The Two Towers and The Return of the King, a pair of movies that were substantial box office hits in addition to winning 13 Oscars between them. However, he has taken on a great number of other recognizable roles at different budget levels, in British and Hollywood productions alike. One of his other biggest roles was playing Captain Smith in James Cameron’s Titanic, which remains the fourth highest-grossing movie of all time worldwide.
Titanic Cast & Character Guide
James Cameron’s 1997 blockbuster includes a stellar cast playing some timeless fictional characters and a few real-life historical personalities.
On the big screen, he has held roles of various sizes in well-known titles including playing Sergeant Putnam in Gandhi, Warden Luther Plunkitt in True Crime, Edward Colt in Wimbledon, Philos in The Scorpion King, and Phil Parsons in Gothika. These roles have allowed him to star opposite A-listers including Ben Kingsley, Clint Eastwood, Kirsten Dunst, Dwayne Johnson, and Halle Berry, though he has had an equally robust career on the small screen. Below, see a breakdown of some of the actor’s longest-running television roles:
|
Title |
Character |
Duration |
|---|---|---|
|
Fox (1980) |
Vin Fox |
13 episodes |
|
Boys from the Blackstuff (1982) |
Yosser Hughes |
5 episodes |
|
Lipstick on Your Collar (1993) |
Uncle Fred |
6 episodes |
|
Once Upon a Time in the North (1994) |
Len Tollit |
6 episodes |
|
The Grid (2004) |
Agent Derek Jennings |
6 episodes |
|
Wolf Hall (2015) |
Duke of Norfolk |
6 episodes |
|
Unforgotten (2015) |
Father Robert Greaves |
6 episodes |
Although he was attached to appear in Grahame Wood’s upcoming horror title The Pub, the project is reportedly still in pre-production. This will make the final onscreen appearance of Bernard Hill his role as Tom, the father of Chris Carson (Martin Freeman), on season 2 of the police drama The Responder, which had already been set to premiere its first episode on the evening of May 5, just hours after the announcement of the actor’s death. Although the star is now departed, he leaves behind a wide-ranging legacy that is a testament to his talent and commitment.
Source: The Guardian