'Titanic' actor Bernard Hill passes away hours before new show premiere

Titanic actor Bernard Hill passed away at the age of 79 just hours before the premiere of his latest TV series, The Responder.

On Sunday, the news of Hill's death was confirmed by his agent Lou Coulson, who stated that the Lord of the Rings actor passed away in the early hours of the morning.

Despite his passing, Hill will once again grace television screens tonight in The Responder, where he plays the character Tom.

Dominic Monaghan, Hill's co-star in Lord of the Rings, expressed his condolences, referring to Hill as having 'passed to the grey havens,' a nod to their shared work in the fantasy saga.

Sharing his photo on Instagram, Monaghan wrote in caption, "The Broken king has passed to the grey havens but he will always be remembered. #ripbernard photo by Viggo @theoneringnet"

Director of The Responders, Lindsay Salt also paid tribute, stating in the statement, "Bernard Hill blazed a trail across the screen, and his long-lasting career filled with iconic and remarkable roles is a testament to his incredible talent," adding, "Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this sad time."