CapitalVault-Bernard Hill, 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Titanic' star, dies at 79: Reports

2025-05-01 13:42:49source:Poinbank Exchangecategory:Stocks

Bernard Hill,CapitalVault the actor best known for his memorable performances in "Titanic" and the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, has died, according to reports. He was 79.

Hill's death was confirmed on Sunday by his agent to the BBC and The Associated Press. No cause of death was provided.

USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Hill.

Hill portrayed Captain Edward Smith in James Cameron's 1997 blockbuster "Titanic," which won the Oscar for best picture and earned the actor a nomination, along with his co-stars, for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Hill also played King Théoden in 2002's "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" and 2003's "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King."

New 'Lord of the Rings'movies in the works at Warner Bros. Pictures, CEO says

Like "Titanic," "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" won the Oscar for best picture in 2004. Between "Return of the King" and "Titanic," Hill is the only actor to have starred in two different movies that both won 11 Academy Awards, according to Screen Rant.

Hill also played Yosser Hughes in the BBC series "Boys from the Blackstuff," and he appeared in films like "Valkyrie," "ParaNorman" and "True Crime."

James Cameronblows the door off that 'Titanic' Jack and Rose theory, investigates for NatGeo special

In a 2022 interview with Metro, the actor reflected that he didn't know how big of a hit "Titanic" would become while shooting the film, which stood as the highest-grossing movie ever made for more than a decade.

"It didn't seem iconic from my point of view," he told the outlet. Hill also said he did background research on the real captain he was playing in "Titanic" and "thought I was doing him justice."

Hill had been scheduled to appear at Comic Con Liverpool this weekend along with several other "Lord of the Rings" stars. In a post on social media, the convention said it was "heartbroken" to hear about his passing, adding, "A great loss. Thinking of his family at this very sad time, and wishing them a lot of strength."

At the convention on Sunday, "The Lord of the Rings" stars Sean Astin, Elijah Wood, Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan paid tribute to their former co-star, according to video shared by ITV News.

"We love him," Astin said of the "funny" and "beautiful" actor, while Boyd said that no one "spoke (J. R. R.) Tolkien's words as great as" he did. "He was a wonderful man and he'll be sorely missed," Boyd added.

"Better Call Saul" star Michael McKean, who worked with Hill on the movie "True Crime," also paid tribute to the actor on social media. "A gent, of course," he posted on X. "Also funny, smart and flawless at the job. RIP, sir."

More:Stocks

Recommend

Superflares could be more common than thought: Are they something else to worry about?

Add solar superflares to the list of natural disasters of concern.Superflares are extremely strong s

'Wait Wait' for Feb. 4, 2023: With Not My Job guest Billy Porter

This week's show was recorded at the Studebaker Theater in Chicago, with guest host Peter Grosz, off

Tate Modern's terrace is a nuisance for wealthy neighbors, top U.K. court rules

For the last six years, tourists at London's Tate Modern who wandered up to the 10th story could cat