MUMBAI: Bernard Hill, a well-known English actor renowned for his gripping roles in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "Titanic," passed away yesterday at the age of 79.

Barbara Dickson shared the news on X with regret, the former Twitter platform, "I note Bernard Hill's passing with great sadness." We collaborated on Willy Russell's fantastic performance, John Paul George Ringo and Bert, from 1974 to 1975. An actor of genuinely amazing talent. It was a privilege to have encountered him. Farewell, Benny x (sic).

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After Hill passed away, supporters gathered to honor his talent. Many commended his flexibility, recognizing his ability to move from playing complex characters like Yosser Hughes, the working-class character of the classic British miniseries "Boys from the Blackstuff," and dramatic historical figures.

Hill’s memorable depiction of King Theoden, the conflicted yet steadfast ruler of Rohan in ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ resonated with audiences globally. Additionally, his poignant performance as Captain Edward Smith, the ill-fated leader of the RMS Titanic, in James Cameron’s Academy Award-winning disaster epic left a lasting impact.

Over a career spanning more than five decades, Hill took on a diverse array of roles across stage, television, and film. He holds the distinction of being the only actor to have featured in two films that collectively garnered an unprecedented eleven Academy Awards – ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ and ‘Titanic.’

Bernard Hill gave a standout performance as the Duke of Norfolk.  In the 2015 BBC TV series 'Wolf Hall,' which was based on Hilary Mantel's work about the time of Henry VIII. This character was the uncle of Anne Boleyn and a rival of Cardinal Wolsey, demonstrating Hill's versatility as an actor.

Hill played many different characters that had a lasting influence throughout his long career, which lasted decades. Bernard Hill's versatility was evident in all of his roles, from his appearance in the highly regarded 1976 BBC series 'I, Claudius' to his part in the highly regarded 1982 film 'Gandhi.' He also starred in films like 'Shirley Valentine' (1989), 'The Scorpion King' (2002), and the 2008 Tom Cruise film 'Valkyrie.'

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Credits – News 18