Bernard Hill has taken on numerous roles throughout his career, including playing King Théoden in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Image source: New Line Cinema
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Hollywood has lost a great character actor. Bernard Hill died at the age of 79 early on Sunday morning, May 5, 2024, in the presence of his fiancée and son. That reports BBC News with reference to Hills Management.
King Théoden, Captain Smith, Yosser Hughes – many of his roles are still unforgettable for fans today. Numerous companions also express their condolences.
An impressive career
Bernard Hill first appeared in 1982 when he played the role of Yosser Hughes in the award-winning series Boys from the Blackstuff. For this performance he was immediately nominated for a BAFTA Award in the Best Actor category.
Many other BBC productions followed in which Bernard Hill played a leading role. He was best known to audiences worldwide as Captain Smith, the captain in James Cameron's film epic Titanic.
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Just a few years later, Hill took on an equally iconic role. He played King Théoden in Peter Jackson's legendary Lord of the Rings trilogy. His speech on the fields of Pelennor is still considered by many Tolkien fans to be one of the highlights of the entire film series.
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Afterwards, Bernard Hill was rarely seen on the big screen, but he remained active in series until the end.
Funny, harsh, wonderful
Like the BBC in one Follow-up message reported, companions have now also spoken out, including voices from the Lord of the Rings cast.
At last weekend's Comic Con in Liverpool, Elijah Wood, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan and Sean Astin took the stage to say goodbye to their friend:
We love him. He was fearless, he was funny, he was rugged, he was spirited, he was wonderful.
Billy Boyd, who played the hobbit Peregrin Took in Peter Jackson's film trilogy, remembers with awe:
I don't think anyone has spoken Tolkien's words as well as Bernard. The way he grounded those words in a realism.
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Alan Bleasdale, who once wrote the script for Boys from the Blackstuff and experienced Hill's beginnings first hand, also remembers:
I really wanted to work with him. Everything he did – his whole process, the way he went about it and his delivery was everything you could ask for. […] You always had the feeling that Bernard would live forever. He had great strength, both physically and personally.
Lindsay Solt, BBC drama director, highlights Bernard Hill's career:
Bernard Hill made his way across the screen, and his long career full of iconic and notable roles is a testament to his incredible talent
Farewell, King Théoden!
Fans on Reddit are no less saddened by the news of Bernard Hill's death. For example, in a thread on the Tolkien fans subbedit there are over 2,100 comments saying goodbye to the actor with numerous quotes from King Théoden and other allusions to Hill's iconic role.
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People's condolences on X (formerly Twitter) are also similar, for example under one post of the film portal DiscussingFilm.
From rest in peace, Bernard Hill. You will always be our King of Rohan. to I will forever remember him as the captain of the Titanic. His numerous performances are also paid homage here.
Bernard Hill will probably be seen again posthumously in a role, namely in the BBC series The Responder. However, an exact broadcast date has not yet been set.