British Actor Bernard Hill Known For His Roles As Captain Edward Smith In The 1997 Oscar Winning Film Titanic And King Theoden In The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy Has Died At The Age Of 79

Bernard Hill, Actor in 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' Dies at 79

British actor Bernard Hill, known for his roles as Captain Edward Smith in the 1997 Oscar-winning film "Titanic" and King Théoden in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, has died at the age of 79.

Hill's agent confirmed his death, but no cause was given.

Hill had a long and successful career in film and television, appearing in over 100 productions. In addition to his iconic roles in "Titanic" and "Lord of the Rings," he also starred in "Gandhi" (1982), "The Bounty" (1984), and "Gladiator" (2000).

Tributes to Hill have been pouring in from fans and fellow actors alike. Actor Russell Crowe, who starred alongside Hill in "Gladiator," tweeted, "RIP the great Bernard Hill. A wonderful actor and a lovely man." Singer-songwriter Billy Bragg wrote, "Bernard Hill was a brilliant actor. His performance as Captain Smith in 'Titanic' was one of the most moving I've ever seen."