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With a career that spanned over five decades, Bernard Hill was an exceptional English actor who left an indisputable mark on the film industry. From his breakout role in Alan Bleasdale’sBoys from the Blackstuffto playing Captain Edward Smith in the 1997 Academy Award-winning filmTitaniche gave several influential and nuanced performances throughout his career in Hollywood.

Bernard Hill as Captain Smith in Titanic [Credit Paramount Pictures]

Bernard Hill as Captain Smith in Titanic [Credit: Paramount Pictures/20th Century Studios]Sadly, the actor passed away at the age of 79 as confirmed by his agent Lou Coulson on Sunday. Even though the Manchester native will be greatly missed by his fans, his artistic legacy will continue to live and entertain cinephiles. In fact, he holds a unique record that no other actor has surpassed to date and might not be broken in the years to come.

Bernard Hill made an exceptional record in Hollywood

Winning an Oscar is the highest level of success one can achieve in the film industry. However, earning 11 Oscars is an extraordinary accomplishment that only three films have ever achieved. These three films areTitanic,The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, andBen-Hur. And it is even hard to imagine an actor being part of not just one, but two films that have won a total of 11 Oscars.

It’s hard to imagine an actor being part of not just one, but two films that have won a total of 11 Oscars. It seems almost unbelievable, doesn’t it? But fortunately,Bernard Hillachieved his unique milestone by appearing inTitanicandThe Lord of the Rings. Hill played Captain Edward Smith in the epic romance starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet and Théoden in the fantasy adventure film.

Bernard Hill as King Théoden in Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

“I always felt like he wasn’t doing enough”: James Cameron Was Humbled by Bernard Hill in Titanic After Director Felt Late Actor Didn’t Give His Best

Bernard Hill played significant roles in two award-winning films, but he wasn’t awarded an Oscar for his performances. However, his involvement in both films which won 11 Oscars each puts him in a unique category in show business.

The LOTR star always stood out on the big screen

Bernard Hill has proved his acting prowess several times on the silver screen and his films likeTitanicare one of the best examples. In this movie, he played an ineffective authority figure which became his most remarkable performance despite short screen time. In the final scene, Captain Smith went down with the sinking ship which showcased how the deadlyaccidentleft him shocked and traumatized.

During theComic-Con Antwerplast year, Bernard Hill opened up about the Titanic’s Captain explaining how his death remains a mystery. SoJames Cameronturned to Hill and asked for his input on the ideal location for the death scene. Hill was initially hesitant. However, Cameron encouraged him to think about it and share his thoughts later.

“I always felt like he wasn’t doing enough”: James Cameron Was Humbled by Bernard Hill in Titanic After Director Felt Late Actor Didn’t Give His Best

“It’s not like the real thing”: Bernard Hill Unleashed the Fury of Rohirrim on Amazon’s Rings of Power as Series Looked Like a Cheap Lord of the Rings Knock-Off

After two days he told Cameron,“For the sake of the movie, he [should] be on the bridge. That’s the most dramatic place to be.”Apart from this, the actor also had a death scene in theLord of the Ringsfilms. Théoden, the King of Rohan, was killed during the Battle of Pelennor Fields outside Minas Tirith.

Titanicis available for streaming on Disney+ and Lord of the Rings on Netflix.

bernard hill titanic

Shikha Arya

Articles Published :18

Shikha Arya is a skilled content writer and entertainment journalist armed with a Master’s degree in English Literature. With over two years of experience, she specializes in thought-provoking pieces about pop culture icons, particularly drawn to cult classics such as “Stranger Things” and period dramas like “Downtown Abbey.” Ever abreast of industry trends, Shikha’s writing captures the pulse of what’s hot in entertainment. When not crafting compelling narratives, she finds solace in the tranquility of books and streaming shows, using these outlets to unwind after a day of creativity.

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Bernard HillLord of the RingsTitanic

“It’s not like the real thing”: Bernard Hill Unleashed the Fury of Rohirrim on Amazon’s Rings of Power as Series Looked Like a Cheap Lord of the Rings Knock-Off