Born in 1944, Bernard Hill is a British actor. 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.
Known For
Titanic
(1997)
Edward Smith
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
(2003)
Théoden
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
(2002)
Théoden
Valkyrie
(2008)
General - Desert Sequence
The Scorpion King
(2002)
Philos
ParaNorman
(2012)
Judge Hopkins (voice)
Gandhi
(1982)
Sergeant Putnam
True Crime
(1999)
Warden Luther Plunkitt
The Ghost and the Darkness
(1996)
Dr. David Hawthorne
Wimbledon
(2004)
Edward Colt
Gothika
(2003)
Phil Parsons
The Bounty
(1984)
William Cole
A Midsummer Night's Dream
(1999)
Egeus
Franklyn
(2008)
Esser
Drowning by Numbers
(1988)
Madgett
Mountains of the Moon
(1990)
Dr. Livingstone
Full Filmography
Acting
Hard Labour
(1973)
Edward Thornley
Trial by Combat
(1976)
Blind Freddie
It Could Happen to You
(1976)
Syph
Housewives' Choice
(1976)
Eric
Professional Foul
(1977)
Broadbent
Our Flesh and Blood
(1977)
Bernard Blincoe
Daft Mam Blues
(1977)
Billy
The Spongers
(1978)
Sullivan
She Fell Among Thieves
(1978)
Carson
Soldiers Talking, Cleanly
(1978)
Mick
The Black Stuff
(1980)
Yosser Hughes
Fox
(1980)
Vin Fox
Say No to Strangers
(1981)
A Turn for the Worse
(1981)
Simon Simpson
Gandhi
(1982)
Sergeant Putnam
The Tragedy of Richard III
(1983)
First Murderer
Henry VI Part 1
(1983)
Duke of York / Master Gunner Of Orleans
Henry VI Part 2
(1983)
Duke of York
Henry VI Part 3
(1983)
Duke of York
Runners
(1983)
Trevor Field
The Bounty
(1984)
William Cole
The Chain
(1984)
Nick
Squaring the Circle
(1984)
Lech Walesa
Restless Natives
(1985)
Will's father
No Surrender
(1985)
Bernard
The Burston Rebellion
(1985)
Tom Higdon
Theban Plays: Antigone
(1986)
Messenger
Bellman and True
(1987)
Hiller
Boy Soldier
(1987)
Officer
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)
Double X: The Name of the Game
(1992)
Ignatius 'Iggy' Smith
The Law Lord
(1992)
Martin Allport
The Art of Tripping
(1993)
Olly's Prison
(1993)
Mike
Shepherd on the Rock
(1993)
Tam Ferrier
Dirtysomething
(1994)
Larry
Speaking In Tongues
(1994)
Skallagrigg
(1994)
John
Madagascar Skin
(1995)
Flint
The Ghost and the Darkness
(1996)
Dr. David Hawthorne
The Wind in the Willows
(1996)
The Engine Driver
Titanic
(1997)
Edward Smith
The Mill on the Floss
(1997)
Edward Tulliver
Titanic: Secrets Revealed
(1998)
Host
The Loss of Sexual Innocence
(1999)
Susan's Father
The Criminal
(1999)
Det. Insp. Walker
True Crime
(1999)
Warden Luther Plunkitt
A Midsummer Night's Dream
(1999)
Egeus
Great Expectations
(1999)
Abel Magwitch
Going Off Big Time
(2000)
Murray
Eisenstein
(2000)
The voice of Stalin
A Question of Faith
(2000)
Frederick
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
(2002)
Théoden
The Scorpion King
(2002)
Philos
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
(2003)
Théoden
The Boys & Girl from County Clare
(2003)
John Joe
Gothika
(2003)
Phil Parsons
Wimbledon
(2004)
Edward Colt
Beatles Biggest Secrets
(2004)
Narrator
A Very Social Secretary
(2005)
David Blunkett
The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse
(2005)
King William III
Horizon: Einstein's Unfinished Symphony
(2005)
The Last Tommy
(2005)
Narrator
Joy Division
(2006)
Dennis
Ocean Odyssey
(2006)
Narrator (voice)
No Go: The Free Derry Story
(2006)
Narrator (voice)
Cruel Sea: The Penlee Lifeboat Disaster
(2006)
Narrator (voice)
JFK's Women: The Scandals Revealed
(2006)
Self - Narrator (voice)
The Heart of the Earth
(2007)
Sr. Crown
Exodus
(2007)
Pharoah Mann
Save Angel Hope
(2007)
Oscar Kurz
Franklyn
(2008)
Esser
Valkyrie
(2008)
General - Desert Sequence
Exodus
(2008)
Narrator (voice)
Titus: The Gorilla King
(2008)
Narrator
Bombay Railway
(2008)
Narrator
The Kid
(2010)
Uncle David
Canoe Man
(2010)
John Darwin
Titanic: The Final Word with James Cameron
(2012)
Captain EJ Smith
ParaNorman
(2012)
Judge Hopkins (voice)
Reflections on Titanic
(2012)
Self
Outpost 11
(2012)
Cranleigh
Titanic: Case Closed
(2012)
North v South
(2015)
John Claridge
Golden Years
(2016)
Arthur
Inside CERN
(2016)
Narrator
Bloody Queens: Elizabeth and Mary
(2016)
Narrator
Interlude: City of a Dead Woman
(2017)
Richard
Segunda oportunidad
(2018)
Peter
The Moor
(2023)
Thornley
Forever Young
(2023)
Oscar Smith