LONDON – British actor Bernard Hill, best known for his supporting roles in Titanic and The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, died on May 5, aged 79, his agent announced.

He played Edward Smith, the captain who stayed on the sinking ship until the end in the Oscar-winning 1997 epic romance film Titanic.

He also earned worldwide recognition playing Theoden, King of Rohan, in two of the three The Lord Of The Rings films (2002 and 2003) directed by Peter Jackson.

Hill’s agent Lou Coulson confirmed his death in the early hours of May 5 to British media outlets.

Early in his career, Hill featured in the BBC’s 1982 acclaimed drama Boys From The Blackstuff, which won numerous awards and is still lauded as one of the finest examples of its genre from the era.

He is set to return to television screens in series two of a contemporary BBC drama, The Responder, starring Martin Freeman, which begins airing in the UK later on May 5.

According to Screen Rant, Hill is the only actor to have starred in two movies that won 11 Oscars.

Titanic and The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King each won 11 trophies at the Academy Awards. AFP