Actor Bernard Hill, known for his roles in "Titanic" and "Lord of the Rings," died early Sunday, family members confirmed.
Hill was 79. He was with his fiancée and his son when he died, his agent Lou Coulson said.
The actor's career began in 1974, with roles in several TV shows. One of Hill's most well-known roles was as Captain Smith in James Cameron's 1997 epic "Titanic." His character, which was based on Captain Edward Smith, the commander of the real-life Titanic, went down with the ship in the film.
Hill also played Théoden, King of Rohan, in both "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" and "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King."
The actor was meant to be at Comic Con Liverpool this weekend, but had to cancel, organizers said on social media.
"We're heartbroken to hear the news of Bernard Hill's passing," Comic Con Liverpool wrote. "A great loss. Thinking of his family at this very sad time, and wishing them a lot of strength."
Actor Sean Astin, who played Samwise Gamgee in the "Lord of the Rings" series, remembered the actor at the event, video shared online shows.
He was fearless. He was humorous. He was tough," Astin said.
The British Academy Film Awards, more commonly known as the BAFTAs, expressed sorrow at Hill's passing. Hill received two BAFTA nominations for "A Very Social Secretary" and his breakthrough role in "Boys From The Blackstuff," which won the Drama Series BAFTA in 1983.
Among Hill's other credits was Philos in 2002's "The Scorpion King." His most recent role was in the BBC drama "The Responder," set to return on Sunday.
"Bernard Hill left a mark on the screen, and his enduring career filled with iconic and remarkable characters is a testament to his incredible talent," BBC Drama Director Lindsay Salt remarked. "From 'Boys from the Blackstuff', to 'Wolf Hall,' 'The Responder', and many more, we feel truly privileged to have collaborated with Bernard at the BBC. Our hearts go out to his family during this difficult time."
