John Hurt

John Hurt
Name	John Hurt
Caption	Hurt at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2013
Birth name	John Vincent Hurt
Birth date	22 January 1940
Birth place	Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England
Death date	25 January 2017
Death place	Cromer, Norfolk, England
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1962–2017
Spouse	Annette Robertson (1962–1964), Donna Peacock (1984–1990), Joan Dalton (1990–1996), Anwen Rees-Myers (2005–2017)
Awards	Knighted (2015), BAFTA (1976, 1979), Golden Globe Award (1979)

John Hurt. Sir John Vincent Hurt was an acclaimed English actor whose career spanned over five decades, renowned for his distinctive voice and ability to portray complex, often tormented characters. He received numerous accolades including two BAFTA Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and was appointed a Knight Bachelor in 2015 for his services to drama. Hurt remains celebrated for iconic roles in films such as The Elephant Man, Alien, and the ''Harry Potter'' film series.

Early life and education

Born in Chesterfield, he was the son of a Church of England clergyman and spent part of his childhood in Woodville. Hurt initially pursued painting, studying at the Grimsby School of Art before receiving a scholarship to attend the Saint Martin's School of Art in London. However, he soon turned to acting, winning a scholarship to the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art where he trained alongside contemporaries like Ian McShane.

Career

Hurt's early professional work included stage performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company and a film debut in The Wild and the Willing (1962). His breakthrough came with his harrowing portrayal of Timothy Evans in 10 Rillington Place (1971), earning widespread critical praise. He achieved international fame for his visceral performance as Kane in Ridley Scott's Alien (1979), a role forever remembered for its shocking demise. That same year, he delivered a celebrated performance as the heroin-addicted writer Max in The Shout. His defining cinematic achievement was his profoundly moving portrayal of Joseph Merrick in David Lynch's The Elephant Man (1980), which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he delivered memorable performances in projects like The Hit (1984), 1984, and as Winston Smith in the television adaptation of George Orwell's novel. He later gained a new generation of fans playing Mr. Ollivander in the ''Harry Potter'' film series and The War Doctor in the BBC series Doctor Who. His final roles included parts in ''Jackie'' and the television series The Last Panthers.

Personal life

Hurt was married four times: to actresses Annette Robertson and Donna Peacock, then to production assistant Joan Dalton, and finally to Anwen Rees-Myers, a philanthropist and former airline stewardess, whom he married in 2005. He had two sons, Alexander and Nicholas. In 2015, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer but continued to work extensively. He was a longtime resident of Norfolk and was a committed supporter of the Labour Party.

Filmography

A selective list of his extensive filmography includes: * A Man for All Seasons (1966) * 10 Rillington Place (1971) * The Naked Civil Servant (1975) – television film * Alien (1979) * The Elephant Man (1980) * The Hit (1984) * 1984 (1984) * The Field (1990) * Rob Roy (1995) * Contact (1997) * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) * V for Vendetta (2005) * Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) * Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) * Jackie (2016)

Awards and nominations

Hurt's awards include two BAFTA TV Awards for Best Actor for The Naked Civil Servant and The Elephant Man, and a BAFTA for Midnight Express. He won a Golden Globe Award for The Elephant Man and received Academy Award nominations for the same film and for Midnight Express. He was also nominated for multiple Primetime Emmy Awards and Saturn Awards. In the 2015 Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Knight Bachelor by Queen Elizabeth II.

Death and legacy

John Hurt died from pancreatic cancer at his home in Cromer, Norfolk, on 25 January 2017, three days after his 77th birthday. His death was met with an outpouring of tributes from across the film industry and from fans worldwide. He is remembered as one of Britain's finest and most versatile character actors, whose profound contributions to cinema and television left an indelible mark. A memorial service was held at St Martin-in-the-Fields in London, attended by numerous colleagues including Ralph Fiennes and Richard E. Grant.

Category:English male film actors Category:Knights Bachelor Category:1940 births Category:2017 deaths