Renowned for his portrayal of Captain Edward J. Smith in Titanic, Bernard Hill has passed away at the age of 79. With a distinguished career spanning film, television, and theater, the veteran actor’s demise was shared by Scottish folk musician Barbara Dickson via Twitter.
Expressing her sadness, Barbara tweeted, “It’s with great sadness that I note the death of Bernard Hill. We worked together in John Paul George Ringo and Bert, Willy Russell marvellous show 1974-1975. A really marvellous actor. It was a privilege to have crossed paths with him. RIP Benny x #bernardhill.”
Fans mourned the loss of the versatile actor, praising his performances in Titanic and The Lord of the Rings. Particularly, his portrayal of the complex character Yosser Hughes in the British miniseries Boys from the Blackstuff garnered much acclaim. Additionally, his role as King Theoden in The Lord of the Rings was highly revered by audiences.
It’s with great sadness that I note the death of Bernard Hill. We worked together in John Paul George Ringo and Bert, Willy Russell marvellous show 1974-1975. A really marvellous actor. It was a privilege to have crossed paths with him. RIP Benny x#bernardhill pic.twitter.com/UPVDCo3ut8
— Barbara Dickson (@BarbaraDickson) May 5, 2024
One fan reflected, “RIP #BernardHill everybody is referring to his brilliant role in boys from the black stuff but I thought he was sublime in Wolf Hall as the Duke of Norfolk. Such a great actor.” Another fan paid tribute, “Rest in peace Bernard Hill. Many were your wonderful performances, and the inspiration you brought to the world cannot be understated. Rest in the halls of your fathers, in whose mighty company you shall not know shame.”
Bernard’s portrayal of Captain Edward J. Smith in James Cameron’s Titanic, alongside an ensemble cast including Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, and Bill Paxton, remains iconic. Notably, he is the only actor to have appeared in multiple films that have won 11 Academy Awards – Titanic and The Lord of the Rings.
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