Elijah Wood leads tributes as The Lord of the Rings star Bernard Hill dies aged 79

Tributes have been paid for Bernard Hill, best known for roles in Titanic and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, who has died aged 79.

The actor’s agent Lou Coulson confirmed the news to PA, stating that he had died in the early hours of Sunday morning (5 May).

Hill played Captain Edward Smith in James Cameron’s blockbuster. He was also synonymous with the role of King Theoden in The Lord of the Rings.

Hill’s other roles included True Crime, which saw him star alongside Clint Eastwood in True Crime, as well as for the BBC series Wolf Hall and for his portrayal of Yosser Hughes in Boys from the Blackstuff.

Hill is also the only actor in history to have appeared in more than one film that won 11 or more Oscars, after starring in Titanic and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

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Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood posted a tribute by writing: "So long to our friend, our king, Bernard Hill.

"We will never forget you.

"'For he was a gentle heart and a great king and kept his oaths; and he rose out of the shadows to a last fair morning.'"

Barbra Dickson appeared alongside Hill in a musical based on the Beatles. She wrote: "It's with great sadness that I note the death of Bernard Hill.

"We worked together in John, Paul, George, Ringo and Bert, [by] 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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