Actor Bernard Hill, who played roles in Lord Of The Rings and Titanic, has died aged 79, his agent has confirmed.

Hill also featured as Yosser Hughes in the iconic drama series Boys In The Blackstuff.

He was given a number of awards for his role as King Theoden in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and played Captain Edward Smith in the 1997 Oscar-winning film Titanic.

The actor was born in Blackley, Manchester, in 1944 and graduated with a diploma in theatre in 1970.

He was married to fellow actor Marianna Hill, with whom he shared a son.

His agent Lou Coulson said he died in the early hours of Sunday.

Fans have already started to pay tribute to him on social media.

Scottish musician Barbara Dickson wrote of their time working together: “It’s with great sadness that I note the death of Bernard Hill. We worked together in John Paul George Ringo and Bert, Willy Russell marvellous show 1974-1975.

“A really marvellous actor. It was a privilege to have crossed paths with him. RIP Benny x.”

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

Related posts:

UK reports another 40 coronavirus deaths and 2,678 cases Prioritising COVID booster jabs over vaccinating children will ‘reduce deaths and hospitalisations’ Nearly 200 people fall ill with salmonella poisoning linked to pork scratching factory BBC journalist Amol Rajan apologises for ‘rude and immature’ comments about royals Stranded British travellers face spending Christmas in COVID quarantine hotels ‘The system is so unjust’: Police should be compelled to tell truth by law, bereaved families say Rishi Sunak asks PM to refer him to adviser on ministers’ interests Migrant crossings double as more than 8,000 have made it to UK this year England’s all-time record women’s goalscorer announces her retirement CCTV shows thieves snatch £60,000 diamond ring then flee in getaway car Cancer patients face worsening treatment delays due to lack of staff, report finds 13 tonnes of canisters collected after Notting Hill carnival as nitrous oxide to be illegal by end of the year