Actor Bernard Hill dies aged 79: Lord of the Rings and Titanic star set to appear opposite Martin Freeman in BBC drama tonight passes away

Bernard Hill, who starred in Titanic and Lord of the Rings, has died at the age of 79.

The actor, who played Captain Edward Smith in the 1997 Oscar-winning film, died in the early hours of this morning, his agent has said.

A father-of-one, he became known to a generation for his portrayal of the embattled King Theoden in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

In the process he starred in two films - Titanic and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King - which won 11 Oscars and crossed $1billion at the box office.

Hill had first become familiar to many in the UK for his emotive and bold performance as Yosser Hughes in the 1980s drama Boys from the Blackstuff, a role that also brought him to the attention of Hollywood.

His passing comes hours before he was due to return to TV in Martin Freeman drama The Responder, which airs on BBC One tonight.

Tributes have been paid to the thespian, with praise for his 'incredible talent' and a career that saw him 'blaze a rail across the screen'. 

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, said: '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 honoured to have worked with Bernard at the BBC. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this sad time.'