The actor, who starred in Titanic and became known to a generation for his portrayal of the embattled King Theoden in Peter Jackson's film trilogy, died in the early hours of this morning, his agent said.
Bernard Hill pulled out of the Lord of the Rings reunion at Comic Con telling organisers 'his partner was ill' just hours before he died, it emerged today.
Alan Bleasdale, who co- wrote the 1980's hit series, said that Hill's death was 'a great loss and great surprise' adding that his performance as Yosser was 'the great, definitive performance of his generation'. The sad news of Bernard Hill's death comes as a video emerged of him telling his fans at Scotland's Comic Con to 'keep going'
Just a day before his death, the beloved star, 79, was also notably absent from a get-together with his former cast mates, including Orlando Bloom, Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, and Billy Boyd. A message posted on Comic Con's Instagram said: 'Due to Bernard's partner being taken very ill he can no longer attend the event. He sends his sincere apologies and thanks you all for you understanding'.Hill had been due to speak at Comic Con in Liverpool today but cancelled because his wife was ill
Tributes from fans and those within the acting world have been paid to the thespian this afternoon, praising him for his 'incredible talent' and a career that saw him 'blaze a rail across the screen'. Writer Mr Bleasdale added: ': 'It was an astonishing, mesmeric performance - Bernard gave everything to that and you can see it in all the scenes. He became Yosser Hughes.
Alongside a photo of them together, she wrote: 'It's with great sadness that I note the death of Bernard Hill.'A really marvellous actor. It was a privilege to have crossed paths with him. RIP Benny x.' The actor was cast as Yosser Hughes, a working class Liverpudlian in The Black Stuff and its sequel, Boys from the Blackstuff, in 1982.
The actor, pictured as King Theoden, won plaudits for his portrayal of the ageing monarch trying to protect his people from the forces of evil Bernard Hill pictured with his wife Marianna Hill at the premier of the Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers in 2002
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