Actor Bernard Hill, who played roles in Lord Of The Rings and Titanic, has died aged 79, his agent has confirmed.
Hill also featured as Yosser Hughes in the iconic drama series Boys In The Blackstuff.
He was given a number of awards for his role as King Theoden in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and played Captain Edward Smith in the 1997 Oscar-winning film Titanic.
The actor was born in Blackley, Manchester, in 1944 and graduated with a diploma in theatre in 1970.
He was married to fellow actor Marianna Hill, with whom he shared a son. His agent Lou Coulson said he died in the early hours of Sunday.
Hill will return to TV on Sunday night starring in the second series of Martin Freeman’s The Responder.
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Fans have already started to pay tribute to him on social media.
Scottish musician Barbara Dickson wrote of their time working together: “It’s with great sadness that I note the death of Bernard Hill. We worked together in John Paul George Ringo and Bert, Willy Russell marvellous show 1974-1975.
“A really marvellous actor. It was a privilege to have crossed paths with him. RIP Benny x.”
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