Lord of the Rings cast pays tribute to Bernard Hill, who has died aged 79
The cast of “The Lord of the Rings” has honored their colleague Bernard Hill, who passed away at the age of 79. Hill, renowned for his portrayal of King Théoden in Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy, died early Sunday morning.
Elijah Wood, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, and Sean Astin, known for their roles as the four hobbits in the films, bid farewell to their cherished friend, describing him as “funny, gruff, beautiful.” Addressing fans at Comic-Con in Liverpool, they expressed the loss as that of a “family member.”
Scheduled to attend the Merseyside event, Hill had to withdraw. Nevertheless, his co-stars gathered on stage to pay tribute to him, sharing their heartfelt sentiments.
Astin, who portrayed Frodo’s loyal companion Samwise Gamgee, initiated the homage, reflecting on Hill’s indomitable spirit and endearing qualities. Boyd, who played Pippin, reminisced about Hill’s unmatched delivery of Tolkien’s words, admiring his ability to infuse realism into the fantastical narrative.
Hill passed away in the company of his fiancée, Alison, and son, Gabriel.
Born in Manchester, Hill joined the “Lord of the Rings” cast for the second installment, “The Two Towers” (2002), and reprised his role for the triumphant conclusion, “The Return Of The King” (2003), which garnered 11 Oscars. Additionally, he gained recognition for portraying Captain Edward Smith in “Titanic.”
However, Hill’s breakthrough role came in the 1982 BBC TV drama “Boys from the Blackstuff,” where he delivered a mesmerizing performance as Yosser Hughes, a character grappling with unemployment in Liverpool.
Alan Bleasdale, the creator of “Boys from the Blackstuff,” expressed profound sadness at Hill’s passing, describing it as both a significant loss and an unexpected event.
He praised Hill’s dedication to his craft and the transformative nature of his performances, particularly in his portrayal of Yosser Hughes.
“You always felt that Bernard would live forever. He had a great strength, physically and of personality.”
Hill was due to return to TV screens in series two of The Responder, a BBC drama starring Martin Freeman, which begins airing on Sunday.
Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, paid tribute to him, 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.”
“From Boys from the Blackstuff to Wolf Hall, The Responder, and many more, we feel truly honored to have worked with Bernard at the BBC. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this sad time.”
In Boys from the Blackstuff, Hill drew praise for his gritty portrayal of Yosser Hughes, an intense and memorable character who pleaded “Gizza [give us a] job” as he sought work.
That show won a Bafta for best drama series in 1983, and in 2000 it was ranked seventh on a British Film Institute list of the best TV shows ever made.
Another of Hill’s memorable BBC TV performances came in the 2015 drama series Wolf Hall, adapted from Hilary Mantel’s book about the court of Henry VIII. Hill portrayed the Duke of Norfolk – an uncle of Anne Boleyn and an enemy of Cardinal Wolsey.
Other roles in Hill’s decades-long career included the 1976 BBC TV series I, Claudius, an appearance in 1982’s Gandhi, Shirley Valentine in 1989, The Scorpion King in 2002, and the 2008 Tom Cruise film Valkyrie.
He was meant to be at Comic Con Liverpool on Saturday, but had to cancel at the last minute, the convention said in a post on X. As news of his death broke, the organizers said on the platform they were “heartbroken” at Hill’s death, and wished his family “a lot of strength”.
Scottish musician Barbara Dickson also paid tribute on X, saying he had been “a marvelous actor”.
She added: “It was a privilege to have crossed paths with him. RIP Benny x.”
