"Arise, arise, riders of Théoden!" Bernard Hill's unforgettable lines from his role in "The Lord of the Rings" echo his dramatic flair.
He delivered these words with passion, urging his warriors into battle with "Spears shall be shaken, shields shall be splintered! A sword day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now! Ride now! Ride! Ride for ruin and the world's ending! Death! Death! Death!"
In "Titanic," Hill portrayed Captain Edward Smith, one of the real-life characters in the 1997 film that starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. The epic tragedy, which garnered 11 Academy Awards, showcased Hill's subtle yet powerful performance as the ship's captain. As the doomed Titanic begins to sink, Hill's character retreats silently to the wheelhouse, taking a deep breath before gripping the wheel, just as water crashes through the windows.
Hill's career took off in the 1980s when he starred as Yosser Hughes in "Boys From the Blackstuff," a 1982 British TV miniseries about five unemployed men struggling with the economic downturn. His portrayal earned him a nomination from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in 1983, with the series itself winning the BAFTA for Best Drama Series.
Sadly, Hill's death came on the same day the second series of the BBC drama "The Responder" was set to air, in which he played the father of Martin Freeman's character. The BBC Drama director, Lindsay Salt, reflected on Hill's legacy, saying, "Bernard Hill blazed a trail across the screen, and his long-lasting career filled with iconic and remarkable roles is a testament to his incredible talent. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this sad time."
