Bernard Hill, the English actor famous for his roles in Lord of the Rings and Titanic, has passed away at the age of 79. Hill played Captain Edward Smith in James Cameron’s 1997 Oscar-winning epic and King Théoden in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. He rose to prominence in the 1980s for his portrayal of Yosser Hughes in the BBC drama Boys from the Blackstuff, a character who struggled to deal with the high unemployment rate in Liverpool.
Hill’s agent, Lou Coulson, confirmed the news of his death early on Sunday morning. Alan Bleasdale, the writer of Boys from the Blackstuff and a close friend of Hill’s, called the loss “astonishing” and said that his portrayal of Yosser Hughes was “mesmeric.” Hill was an accomplished and talented actor with an extensive body of work, including appearances in Wolf Hall, The Scorpion King, and Valkyrie.
The Responder, a BBC drama starring Martin Freeman, was due to feature Hill in its second season, which aired on Sunday. Lindsay Salt, the director of BBC Drama, said “Bernard Hill blazed a trail across the screen,” and that the BBC was “honoured to have worked with him.” Hill’s role in Boys from the Blackstuff is considered one of the greatest performances in British television history, winning a BAFTA in 1983 and ranking seventh on the British Film Institute’s list of the best TV shows.
The organisers of Comic Con Liverpool expressed their sadness at Hill’s passing, saying that they were “heartbroken” and that they wished his family “a lot of strength.” Scottish musician Barbara Dickson called Hill “a really marvellous actor” and said that it was a privilege to have met him. Hill’s death is a great loss to the entertainment industry, and he will be remembered for his talent, commitment, and contributions to British culture
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More