Veteran British actor, Bernard Hill, best known for his roles in ‘Titanic’ and ‘Lord of the Rings’, has passed away at the age of 79.

His agent, Lou Coulson, confirmed the news and stated that Hill died on Sunday morning in the presence of his fiancée Alison and his son Gabriel.

Hill rose to fame after his appearance in the 1982 BBC TV drama ‘Boys from the Blackstuff’.

He gained global recognition for his portrayals of Captain Edward Smith in the 1997 Oscar-winning movie ‘Titanic’ and King Théoden in the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy.