Elijah Wood Pays Tribute To Lord Of The Rings Co-Star Bernard Hill, Dead At 79

Bernard Hill at the Tobacco Dock in London, for the after show party of the world premiere of Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, as the actor has died, his agent confirmed. 76078374 (Press Association via AP Images)

Veteran actor Bernard Hill, best known for his roles in Hollywood blockbusters like Titanic and The Lord of the Rings, passed away at the age of 79.

The actor’s death was confirmed Sunday morning by his agent Lou Coulson to PA.

Grieving fans, British politicians and former co-stars celebrated the actor’s legacy, reflecting on his career.

Elijah Wood, who played hobbit Frodo Baggins alongside the late actor’s role as King Théoden in Peter Jackson’s iconic Middle-earth saga Lord of the Rings adaption, led the emotional tributes, posting a heartfelt homage to Hill.

“So long to our friend, our king, Bernard Hill,” Wood wrote on X. “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.'”

Hill’s commanding presence spanned both epic blockbusters and critical darlings. His versatile career also included roles in True Crime with Clint Eastwood, the six-part BBC series Wolf Hall, and as Yosser Hughes in the influential British drama Boys from the Blackstuff.

Hill is the only actor to have starred in more than one film that scooped 11 or more Oscars, achieving this with both James Cameron’s Titanic and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – the final instalment in Jackson’s trilogy.