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Bernard Hill

Actor

Bernard Hill

Born December 17, 1944 in Blackley, Manchester, England, UKDied May 5, 202487 films

Bernard Hill (17 December 1944 – 5 May 2024) was an English actor. He was 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. Hill died on 5th May 2024 at the age of 79.

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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King posterFirst watchThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King20038.5as ThéodenAs armies mass for a final battle that will decide the fate of the world--and powerful, ancient forces of Light and Dark compete to determine the outcome--one member of the Fellowship of…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach

Filmography

87 films as actor
  1. 2024The MoorThornley
  2. 2024Forever YoungOscar Smith
  3. 2018Segunda oportunidadPeter
  4. 2017Interlude: City of a Dead WomanRichard
  5. 2016Golden YearsArthur
  6. 2015North v SouthJohn Claridge
  7. 2013The Sorrows
  8. 2012Outpost 11Cranleigh
  9. 2012ParaNormanJudge Hopkins (voice)
  10. 2010The KidUncle David
  11. 2010Canoe ManJohn Darwin
  12. 2008ValkyrieGeneral - Desert Sequence
  13. 2008FranklynEsser
  14. 2008Bombay RailwayNarrator
  15. 2007Save Angel HopeOscar Kurz
  16. 2007ExodusPharoah Mann
  17. 2007The CrumblegiantNarrator
  18. 2007The Heart of the EarthSr. Crown
  19. 2006Joy DivisionDennis
  20. 2005A Very Social SecretaryDavid Blunkett
  21. 2005The League of Gentlemen's ApocalypseKing William III
  22. 2005HeatwaveNarrator (voice)
  23. 2004WimbledonEdward Colt
  24. 2003The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the KingThéoden
  25. 2003GothikaPhil Parsons
  26. 2003The Boys & Girl from County ClareJohn Joe
  27. 2002The Lord of the Rings: The Two TowersThéoden
  28. 2002The Scorpion KingPhilos
  29. 2000Going Off Big TimeMurray
  30. 2000EisensteinThe voice of Stalin
  31. 2000A Question of FaithFrederick
  32. 1999The CriminalDet. Insp. Walker
  33. 1999A Midsummer Night's DreamEgeus
  34. 1999The Loss of Sexual InnocenceSusan's Father
  35. 1999Great ExpectationsAbel Magwitch
  36. 1999True CrimeWarden Luther Plunkitt
  37. 1998Titanic: Secrets RevealedHost
  38. 1997TitanicCaptain Smith
  39. 1997The Mill on the FlossEdward Tulliver
  40. 1996The Wind in the WillowsThe Engine Driver
  41. 1996The Ghost and the DarknessDr. David Hawthorne
  42. 1995First KnightKnight (uncredited)
  43. 1995Madagascar SkinFlint
  44. 1994Speaking In TonguesJoe
  45. 1994DirtysomethingLarry
  46. 1994SkallagriggJohn
  47. 1993Olly's PrisonMike
  48. 1993Shepherd on the RockTam Ferrier
  49. 1992A Question of IdentityErwin van Haarlem
  50. 1992Double X: The Name of the GameIgnatius 'Iggy' Smith
  51. 1992A Midsummer Night's DreamBottom (voice)
  52. 1992The Law LordMartin Allport
  53. 1990Shoot the RevolutionOctavian Barbu
  54. 1990Mountains of the MoonDr. Livingstone
  55. 1989Shirley ValentineJoe Bradshaw
  56. 1988Drowning by NumbersHenry Madgett
  57. 1987Bellman and TrueHiller
  58. 1987Boy SoldierOfficer
  59. 1986Theban Plays: AntigoneMessenger
  60. 1985No SurrenderBernard
  61. 1985Restless NativesWill's father
  62. 1985The Burston RebellionTom Higdon
  63. 1984The ChainNick
  64. 1984Squaring the CircleLech Walesa
  65. 1984The BountyWilliam Cole
  66. 1984Samson and DelilahWillie
  67. 1983RunnersTrevor Field
  68. 1983The Tragedy of Richard IIIFirst Murderer
  69. 1983Henry VI Part 3Duke of York
  70. 1983Henry VI Part 2Duke of York
  71. 1983Henry VI Part 1Duke of York / Master Gunner Of Orleans
  72. 1982GandhiSergeant Putnam
  73. 1981A Turn for the WorseSimon Simpson
  74. 1980FoxVin Fox
  75. 1980The Black StuffYosser Hughes
  76. 1978Soldiers Talking, CleanlyMick
  77. 1978She Fell Among ThievesCarson
  78. 1978The SpongersSullivan
  79. 1977Pit StrikeTom
  80. 1977Professional FoulBroadbent
  81. 1977Daft Mam BluesBilly
  82. 1977Our Flesh and BloodBernard Blincoe
  83. 1976Housewives' ChoiceEric
  84. 1976Trade Unions: Seven Days that Shook Young JimBernie
  85. 1976Trial by CombatBlind Freddie
  86. 1976The PeddlerGraham
  87. 1973Hard LabourEdward Thornley