Bernard Hill (17 December 1944 – 5 May 2024) was an English actor. He was known as a character actor of film, stage and television, having acted in nearly 130 projects. He is best known to British television viewers for playing Yosser Hughes in the groundbreaking 1982 TV series Boys from the Blackstuff. On film he has played Captain Edward John Smith in Titanic, King Théoden in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, and the Warden of San Quentin Prison in the Clint Eastwood film True Crime. Hill is the only actor to have appeared in more than one of the three films awarded 11 Oscars, and one of only three actors to have starred in more than one film grossing more than $1 billion USD, namely: Titanic and The Return of the King (the others being Orlando Bloom who also starred in The Return of the King, as well as Pirates of the Caribbean and Johnny Depp who also starred in Pirates of the Caribbean, as well as Alice in Wonderland). Hill has appeared in three films which have won Best Picture: Gandhi, Titanic, and The Return of the King. Hill died on 5th May 2024 at the age of 79.
Known For
Titanic
(1997)
Edward Smith
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
(2003)
King Théoden
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
(2002)
King Théoden
The Scorpion King
(2002)
Philos
ParaNorman
(2012)
Judge Hopkins (voice)
Valkyrie
(2008)
General - Desert Sequence
The Ghost and the Darkness
(1996)
Dr. David Hawthorne
Gandhi
(1982)
Sergeant Putnam
First Knight
(1995)
Knight (uncredited)
True Crime
(1999)
Warden Luther Plunkitt
The Bounty
(1984)
William Cole
Gothika
(2003)
Phil Parsons
A Midsummer Night's Dream
(1999)
Egeus
Wimbledon
(2004)
Edward Colt
Shirley Valentine
(1989)
Joe Bradshaw
Franklyn
(2008)
Esser
Full Filmography
Acting
Hard Labour
(1973)
Edward Thornley
Housewives' Choice
(1976)
Eric
It Could Happen to You
(1976)
Syph
Trial by Combat
(1976)
Blind Freddie
Professional Foul
(1977)
Broadbent
Pit Strike
(1977)
Tom
Our Flesh and Blood
(1977)
Bernard Blincoe
Daft Mam Blues
(1977)
Billy
Soldiers Talking, Cleanly
(1978)
Mick
She Fell Among Thieves
(1978)
Carson
The Spongers
(1978)
Sullivan
Fox
(1980)
Vin Fox
The Black Stuff
(1980)
Yosser Hughes
A Turn for the Worse
(1981)
Simon Simpson
Say No to Strangers
(1981)
Gandhi
(1982)
Sergeant Putnam
Henry VI Part 1
(1983)
Duke of York / Master Gunner Of Orleans
Henry VI Part 3
(1983)
Duke of York
Runners
(1983)
Trevor Field
The Tragedy of Richard III
(1983)
First Murderer
Henry VI Part 2
(1983)
Duke of York
The Bounty
(1984)
William Cole
Squaring the Circle
(1984)
Lech Walesa
The Chain
(1984)
Nick
No Surrender
(1985)
Bernard
Restless Natives
(1985)
Will's father
The Burston Rebellion
(1985)
Tom Higdon
Theban Plays: Antigone
(1986)
Messenger
Boy Soldier
(1987)
Officer
Bellman and True
(1987)
Hiller
Drowning by Numbers
(1988)
Madgett
Shirley Valentine
(1989)
Joe Bradshaw
Mountains of the Moon
(1990)
Dr. Livingstone
Shoot the Revolution
(1990)
Octavian Barbu
From Moscow to Pietushki
(1990)
Readings (voice)
The Law Lord
(1992)
Martin Allport
Double X: The Name of the Game
(1992)
Ignatius 'Iggy' Smith
Shepherd on the Rock
(1993)
Tam Ferrier
Olly's Prison
(1993)
Mike
The Art of Tripping
(1993)
Dirtysomething
(1994)
Larry
Skallagrigg
(1994)
John
Speaking In Tongues
(1994)
Joe
Madagascar Skin
(1995)
Flint
First Knight
(1995)
Knight (uncredited)
The Wind in the Willows
(1996)
The Engine Driver
The Ghost and the Darkness
(1996)
Dr. David Hawthorne
Titanic
(1997)
Edward Smith
The Mill on the Floss
(1997)
Edward Tulliver
Titanic: Secrets Revealed
(1998)
Host
True Crime
(1999)
Warden Luther Plunkitt
Great Expectations
(1999)
Abel Magwitch
The Criminal
(1999)
Det. Insp. Walker
The Loss of Sexual Innocence
(1999)
Susan's Father
A Midsummer Night's Dream
(1999)
Egeus
Going Off Big Time
(2000)
Murray
Eisenstein
(2000)
The voice of Stalin
A Question of Faith
(2000)
Frederick
The Scorpion King
(2002)
Philos
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
(2002)
King Théoden
Gothika
(2003)
Phil Parsons
The Boys & Girl from County Clare
(2003)
John Joe
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
(2003)
King Théoden
Wimbledon
(2004)
Edward Colt
Beatles Biggest Secrets
(2004)
Narrator
The Last Tommy
(2005)
Narrator
Horizon: Einstein's Unfinished Symphony
(2005)
A Very Social Secretary
(2005)
David Blunkett
The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse
(2005)
King William III
No Go: The Free Derry Story
(2006)
Narrator (voice)
Cruel Sea: The Penlee Lifeboat Disaster
(2006)
Narrator (voice)
Ocean Odyssey
(2006)
Narrator (voice)
Joy Division
(2006)
Dennis
JFK's Women: The Scandals Revealed
(2006)
Self - Narrator (voice)
Exodus
(2007)
Pharoah Mann
Save Angel Hope
(2007)
Oscar Kurz
The Heart of the Earth
(2007)
Sr. Crown
Valkyrie
(2008)
General - Desert Sequence
Bombay Railway
(2008)
Narrator
Exodus
(2008)
Narrator (voice)
Franklyn
(2008)
Esser
Titus: The Gorilla King
(2008)
Narrator
Canoe Man
(2010)
John Darwin
The Kid
(2010)
Uncle David
ParaNorman
(2012)
Judge Hopkins (voice)
Titanic: The Final Word with James Cameron
(2012)
Captain EJ Smith
Reflections on Titanic
(2012)
Self
Outpost 11
(2012)
Cranleigh
Titanic: Case Closed
(2012)
The Sorrows
(2013)
North v South
(2015)
John Claridge
Golden Years
(2016)
Arthur
Bloody Queens: Elizabeth and Mary
(2016)
Narrator
Inside CERN
(2016)
Narrator
Interlude: City of a Dead Woman
(2017)
Richard
Segunda oportunidad
(2018)
Peter
Forever Young
(2023)
Oscar Smith
The Moor
(2024)
Thornley