Bernard Hill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bernard Hill
Hill in 2007
Born	(1944-12-17)17 December 1944 Blackley, Manchester, England
Died	5 May 2024(2024-05-05) (aged 79)
Education	Xaverian College
Alma mater	Manchester Polytechnic School of Drama
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1970–2024
Spouse(s)	Marianna Hill
Children	1

Bernard Hill (born 17 December 1944 – died 5 May 2024) was a famous English actor. He was best known for playing important roles in big movies. These included Théoden, the King of Rohan, in The Lord of the Rings movies. He also played Captain Edward Smith in the movie Titanic.

Bernard Hill also starred in TV shows. He played Yosser Hughes in Boys from the Blackstuff, a popular drama from the 1980s. More recently, he was the Duke of Norfolk in the TV series Wolf Hall.

Early Life and Education

Bernard Hill was born in Blackley, a town in Manchester, England. He grew up in a Catholic family. His family members often worked as miners.

He went to Xaverian College for his schooling. Later, he studied drama at the Manchester Polytechnic School of Drama. He finished his studies and earned a diploma in theatre in 1970.

Acting Career Highlights

Bernard Hill started his acting career in the 1970s. One of his first big roles was in the TV show Boys from the Blackstuff. He played a character named Yosser Hughes. This character was a working-class man from Liverpool who faced many challenges. His famous line, "Gizza job" (meaning "Give us a job"), became a popular phrase. People used it to protest against high unemployment at the time.

Hill also acted in many well-known films. In 1982, he was in Gandhi, a movie directed by Richard Attenborough. He then appeared in The Bounty in 1984. This movie was about a famous mutiny on a ship.

Bernard Hill at a Lord of the Rings event in Germany, 2004

In 1985, he played John Lennon in a TV show called A Journey in the Life. He also performed on stage in plays like Macbeth.

A major film role for Hill was in The Ghost and the Darkness in 1996. He starred alongside Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas. The next year, in 1997, he played Captain Edward J. Smith in the blockbuster movie Titanic. This movie was directed by James Cameron.

In 2002, he appeared in The Scorpion King with Dwayne Johnson. His most famous role came in 2002 and 2003. He played King Théoden in the second and third The Lord of the Rings movies. These were epic films directed by Peter Jackson.

Bernard Hill also did voice acting. He was the voice of The Judge in the animated movie ParaNorman in 2012. In 2015, he played the Duke of Norfolk in the TV series Wolf Hall.

Personal Life and Passing

Bernard Hill was married to actress Marianna Hill. They had one son together, named Gabriel. He lived in Suffolk, England.

He was a big fan of the football team Manchester United. In 2019, he received a special award from the University of East Anglia.

Bernard Hill passed away on 5 May 2024, when he was 79 years old.

Film Roles

Television Roles

Theatre Roles

Video Game Roles

Images for kids

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  Bernard Hill in 2007

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  Bernard Hill at a Lord of the Rings convention in Bonn, Germany, October 2004

See also

In Spanish: Bernard Hill para niños