Bernard Hill, a renowned actor famed for his noteworthy depiction of Yosser Hughes on stage, television, and film, has passed away at 79. Known widely for his role as the emblematic character uttering the famous line “gizza job” in Alan Bleasdale’s Boys from the Blackstuff BBC series from 1982, Hill’s career skyrocketed. Other significant roles included the captain of the Titanic in James Cameron’s 1997 film, and Théoden, the king of Rohan, in Peter Jackson’s series of the Lord of the Rings films.
Lou Coulson, Hill’s representative, affirmed his passing in the early Sunday hours. Among the first to express appreciation was singer Barbara Dickson, who collaborated with Hill in Willy Russell’s 1974 stage production John, Paul, George, Ringo … and Bert. Dickson stated on X, “A truly exceptional actor. It was an honour to have interacted with him. Rest in peace, Benny x.”
In the said musical, Hill portrayed John Lennon, another character from Merseyside that established him as a prominent actor. His most distinguising role was Yosser Hughes, a unemployed and desparate father of three, symbolic of the hardships faced during Thatcher’s reign in Britain. The character was known to constantly plead for a job, resorting to physical violence when circumstances became dire.
This depiction of mental breakdown was touching yet occasionally humorous. Yosser, always in distress, confessed to a priest about his desperation, leading to a memorable exchange. “Call me Dan,” the priest offered, to which Yosser replied tearfully, “I’m desperate, Dan.”
Hill’s portrayal of Yosser earned him a nomination for a best television actor Bafta, though he was narrowly beaten by Alec Guinness for Smiley’s People. Bleasdale has extolled Hill’s performance as Yosser as “the superior, defining performance of his era”.
Bernard Hill, recognised for his compelling roles across film and television, once again graces British TV posthumously this weekend, playing Martin Freeman’s father in the BBC police drama The Responder, located in Liverpool. Hill, known for his character portrayal in movies such as Titanic and The Lord of the Rings, where he enjoyed a memorable role as Théoden, enjoyed a notable career in Hollywood without feeling the need to relocate to Los Angeles, unlike some of his British counterparts. One of his standout performances was in the film Shirley Valentine, featuring Pauline Collins, wherein he played Joe, the husband of the titular character, delivering a distinctive performance.
Beyond the glitz of Hollywood, Hill exhibited his affection for Liverpool. He shared a unique bond with the city, treated it as his second home due to the fact that he had even lived there for an extended period of time, and that it was the birthplace of his daughter. Despite Hollywood opportunities, Hill remained grounded, like in his role of friendly inventor Philos alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, in The Scorpion King, or when embodying the brutal San Quentin prison warden Luther Plunkitt in Clint Eastwood’s True Crime.
Acknowledging his contributions to the realm of performing arts, Lindsay Salt, the director of BBC Drama, commended Hill for his iconic performances that spanned diverse roles and settings: from Boys from the Blackstuff, to Wolf Hall, and The Responder. She reflected that his impactful career was reflective of his extraordinary talent.
Additionally, Hill was known for his roles in television, such as playing David Blunkett in Channel 4’s A Very Social Secretary which earned him a Bafta nomination, but lost to Mark Rylance for The Government Inspector. In an unfortunate turn of events, Hill was due to attend Comic Con in Liverpool, the event organisers expressed their sorrow at his passing and their condolences extend to Hill’s family in these trying times.
In the 2015 BBC portrayal of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall, he assumed the role of the Duke of Norfolk. Hill’s theatrical contributions include performances in Macbeth at the Leicester Haymarket in 1985, a role as Lopakhin in The Cherry Orchard in London’s west end in 1989, and his portrayal of Sir Chiffley Lockheart in Ben Elton’s initial play titled “Gasping” staged at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 1990. Hill hailed from a modest background, born in 1944 to parents of the working class. He pursued a higher education in Rusholme, followed by training in quantity surveying as he harboured dreams of acting. His aspirations went unfulfilled after failing a drama school audition, at which point he considered training to be a teacher. However, Mike Leigh, a part-time tutor Hill encountered at university, impelled him to stay the course with his acting pursuits. In 1973, Hill bagged one of his maiden roles in Leigh’s premiere TV drama, “Hard Labour”, where he played Liz Smith’s son, a character resigned to a tiresome life of mundane household tasks. – Guardian