'Titanic' and 'The Lord of the Rings' Actor Bernard Hill Dies at 79

British actor Bernard Hill, well known for the films 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'Titanic,' has passed away at the age of 79.

Bernard Hill, who played Captain Edward James Smith in the 1997 film Titanic.
[Photo by movie 'Titanic' still cut]

According to local media including the BBC on the 5th (local time), his manager announced that Hill passed away that morning. The cause of death has not been disclosed, and his fianc?e and son were by his side at the time of his passing.

Born in Manchester, England in 1944, Hill made his debut in 1973 with the BBC drama 'Hard Labour' and appeared in dramas and films across the UK and the US.

He left a strong impression on fans worldwide by playing Captain Edward James Smith in the 1997 film 'Titanic' and King Th?oden of Rohan in the second and third parts of 'The Lord of the Rings.'

In 1982, Hill was nominated for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Best Actor award for his role as unemployed worker Yosser Hughes in the BBC drama 'Boys from the Blackstuff.' In 2015, he received critical acclaim for his outstanding performance as the Duke of Norfolk during the reign of Henry VIII in the BBC series 'Wolf Hall.'

Hill was scheduled to return to TV in the BBC drama 'The Responder,' starring Martin Freeman, which began airing its second season that night. British media outlet Express reported that fans shed tears upon seeing the late actor in the episode aired that night.

Elijah Wood, who co-starred as Frodo in 'The Lord of the Rings,' paid tribute on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “He was a gentle and great king,” and “We will never forget you.” Scottish singer and actor Barbara Dickson also posted on X, stating, “Bernard was truly an amazing actor,” and “The journey with him was special.”