The cast of The Lord of the Rings paid tribute to their co-star Bernard Hill, who passed away at the age of 79. Hill, known for his role as King Théoden in Peter Jackson’s trilogy, was remembered by Elijah Wood, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, and Sean Astin as a “funny, gruff, beautiful” friend. His co-stars shared their thoughts on his passing at Comic Con Liverpool, where they described feeling as though they had lost a family member. Hill’s fiancée Alison and son Gabriel were with him when he died.
Hill, who also played Captain Edward James Smith in Titanic, joined The Lord of the Rings cast for the second and third films in the trilogy, The Two Towers and The Return Of The King, which won 11 Oscars. He was well known for his breakout role in the 1982 BBC TV drama Boys from the Blackstuff, where he portrayed the character Yosser Hughes. Alan Bleasdale, who wrote the drama, praised Hill’s captivating performance in the role of Yosser Hughes, saying that he gave his all to the character and brought him to life with great strength and personality.
The actor was due to appear in the second series of The Responder, a BBC drama starring Martin Freeman, which began airing on Sunday. Hill’s long-lasting career was filled with iconic and remarkable roles, from Boys from the Blackstuff to Wolf Hall and many more. Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, paid tribute to him, calling Hill’s talent incredible and saying that the BBC felt truly honored to have worked with him. Hill’s portrayal of Yosser Hughes in Boys from the Blackstuff won critical acclaim, with the show winning a Bafta for best drama series in 1983 and being ranked seventh on a British Film Institute list of the best TV shows ever made.
In addition to his notable performances in Boys from the Blackstuff and Wolf Hall, Hill appeared in various other TV series and films throughout his lengthy career, including I, Claudius, Gandhi, Shirley Valentine, and Valkyrie. Despite being scheduled to appear at Comic Con Liverpool, Hill had to cancel last minute, leaving the convention heartbroken following his passing. Scottish musician Barbara Dickson also paid tribute to Hill, describing him as a “marvellous actor” and expressing gratitude for having crossed paths with him. Hill’s legacy as a talented and versatile actor is celebrated by his colleagues, fans, and the entertainment industry as a whole.
