British actor Bernard Hill has died at the age of 79.
Hill passed away early on Sunday morning, his agent Lou Coulson confirmed to the BBC.
He rose to fame in Alan Bleasdale's acclaimed 1982 BBC TV drama Boys from the Blackstuff, in which he memorably played Jimmy 'Yosser' Hughes - a character struggling to find a job amid chronic unemployment in Liverpool.
The series was a huge hit, with Yosser's story resonated with audiences at a time when areas like Liverpool were struggling with high unemployment. It is often listed as one of the best British TV dramas ever made.
Later in his career Hill went on to play Captain Edward Smith in James Cameron's Oscar-winning film Titanic, and King Theoden in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy. Other roles included parts in The Scorpion King, and alongside Tom Cruise in Valkyrie.
Hill is survived by his wife, the actress Marianna Hill, with whom he had a son, Gabriel.
