Bernard Hill - Actor Profile

Bernard Hill

Acting
Freshness: Jan 19, 2026
50Total Films
9.0 Highest Rated
Born: Dec 17, 1944
Birth Place: Blackley, Manchester, England, UK

About Bernard Hill

Bernard Hill (17 December 1944 – 5 May 2024) was an English actor. He was known as a character actor of film, stage and television, having acted in nearly 130 projects. He is best known to British television viewers for playing Yosser Hughes in the groundbreaking 1982 TV series Boys from the Blackstuff. On film he has played Captain Edward John Smith in Titanic, King Théoden in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, and the Warden of San Quentin Prison in the Clint Eastwood film True Crime. Hill is the only actor to have appeared in more than one of the three films awarded 11 Oscars, and one of only three actors to have starred in more than one film grossing more than $1 billion USD, namely: Titanic and The Return of the King (the others being Orlando Bloom who also starred in The Return of the King, as well as Pirates of the Caribbean and Johnny Depp who also starred in Pirates of the Caribbean, as well as Alice in Wonderland). Hill has appeared in three films which have won Best Picture: Gandhi, Titanic, and The Return of the King. Hill died on 5th May 2024 at the age of 79.

Career Statistics & Market Influence

Analyzing the cinematic journey of Bernard Hill reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.

Genre Dominance: Drama

The majority of Bernard Hill's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.

The "Box Office" Signature

With a 68% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Bernard Hill remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Titus: The Gorilla King, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.

Best Bernard Hill Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Bernard Hill's career based on audience ratings.

Complete Filmography & Success Status

Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Bernard Hill.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2016 Inside CERN Narrator Super Hit Similar →
2016 Golden Years Arthur Average Similar →
2016 Bloody Queens: Elizabeth and Mary Narrator Hit Similar →
2012 Reflections on Titanic Self Hit Similar →
2012 ParaNorman Judge Hopkins (voice) Hit Similar →
2012 Titanic: The Final Word with James Cameron Captain EJ Smith Super Hit Similar →
2010 The Kid Uncle David Average Similar →
2008 Valkyrie General - Desert Sequence Hit Similar →
2008 Franklyn Esser Average Similar →
2008 Titus: The Gorilla King Narrator Super Hit Similar →
2006 JFK's Women: The Scandals Revealed Self - Narrator (voice) Hit Similar →
2006 Ocean Odyssey Narrator (voice) Hit Similar →
2005 A Very Social Secretary David Blunkett Average Similar →
2005 The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse King William III Average Similar →
2004 Wimbledon Edward Colt Average Similar →
2004 The Making of 'The Return of the King' Self Super Hit Similar →
2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Théoden Super Hit Similar →
2003 Gothika Phil Parsons Average Similar →
2003 The Making of 'The Two Towers' - Super Hit Similar →
2002 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Théoden Super Hit Similar →
2000 Going Off Big Time Murray Average Similar →
1999 A Midsummer Night's Dream Egeus Average Similar →
1999 Great Expectations Abel Magwitch Average Similar →
1999 True Crime Warden Luther Plunkitt Hit Similar →
1999 The Titanic Chronicles (voice) Hit Similar →
1997 Titanic Captain Smith Super Hit Similar →
1997 The Mill on the Floss Edward Tulliver Average Similar →
1996 The Ghost and the Darkness Dr. David Hawthorne Hit Similar →
1995 First Knight Knight (uncredited) Average Similar →
1993 Olly's Prison Mike Super Hit Similar →
1990 From Moscow to Pietushki Readings (voice) Super Hit Similar →
1990 Mountains of the Moon Dr. Livingstone Hit Similar →
1989 Shirley Valentine Joe Bradshaw Average Similar →
1988 Drowning by Numbers Madgett Hit Similar →
1987 Bellman and True Hiller Average Similar →
1985 No Surrender Bernard Hit Similar →
1985 Restless Natives Will's father Hit Similar →
1984 The Chain Nick Hit Similar →
1984 The Bounty William Cole Hit Similar →
1983 The Tragedy of Richard III First Murderer Average Similar →
1983 Henry VI Part 3 Duke of York Hit Similar →
1983 Henry VI Part 2 Duke of York Hit Similar →
1983 Henry VI Part 1 Duke of York / Master Gunner Of Orleans Super Hit Similar →
1982 Gandhi Sergeant Putnam Super Hit Similar →
1981 Say No to Strangers Teresa's Dad Hit Similar →
1980 The Black Stuff Yosser Hughes Hit Similar →
1978 She Fell Among Thieves Carson Hit Similar →
1977 Professional Foul Broadbent Average Similar →
1976 Trial by Combat Blind Freddie Super Hit Similar →
1973 Hard Labour Edward Thornley Hit Similar →

Bernard Hill - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Bernard Hill?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Bernard Hill is "Titus: The Gorilla King" with a rating of 9.0/10.

How many movies has Bernard Hill acted in?

Bernard Hill has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Bernard Hill?

Other notable films include "Olly's Prison", "The Making of 'The Two Towers'", and "The Making of 'The Return of the King'".