British actor John Hurt, star of 'The Elephant Man', dead at 77

By Thomas Newey

 

Actor John Hurt arrives for the European premiere of the film "The Imitation Game" at the BFI opening night gala at Leicester Square in London October 8, 2014. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett/Files

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Veteran British actor Sir John Hurt, Oscar-nominated for his star turn in "The Elephant Man" and his supporting role in "Midnight Express", has died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, a representative said on Saturday. He was 77.

Hurt, who had starred in more than 200 films and television series over a career spanning six decades, revealed in 2015 that he was suffering from the early stages of pancreatic cancer and that he was receiving treatment.

His death was confirmed to Reuters via email by Charles McDonald, a British-based representative for the actor's Los Angeles talent manager, John Crosby. The BBC, citing the actor's agent, also reported that Hurt had died. Further details of the circumstances of his death were not immediately available.

Hurt said at the time of his cancer diagnosis that he intended to continue working. He most recently starred in the Sundance TV crime series "The Last Panthers" and in the Oscar-nominated film "Jackie", playing a priest who consoled the newly widowed wife of slain U.S. President John F. Kennedy.

Hurt, a native of Derbyshire in England, garnered his first Academy Award nomination for his supporting role as Max, an inmate who befriends the imprisoned drug smuggler Billy inside a Turkish jail in the gripping 1978 drama "Midnight Express".

He earned greater acclaim, and an Oscar nomination as best lead actor, for his memorable portrayal of John Merrick, a grossly disfigured Victorian-era man struggling to project his humanity while enduring the indignities of life as a side-show freak. With his face obscured behind the character's deformity, Hurt's performance rested largely on the expression of the actor's signature raspy voice.

His roles in both "The Elephant Man" and "Midnight Express" won him Britain's top film award, the BAFTA. He was bestowed an honorary BAFTA in 2012 for his outstanding contribution to cinema.

Hurt also played a key role in the original 1979 sci-fi thriller "Alien". His character, Kane, became the first member of a space merchant vessel crew to fall victim to a fearsome life form, encountered on a distant moon, when a deadly parasitic creature burst from his chest.

Other notable credits include supporting parts as a village doctor in Greece whose daughter falls in love with an Italian military officer during World War Two in the 2001 film "Captain Corelli's Mandolin", and as the eccentric wand-maker Mr. Ollivander in the "Harry Potter" movie franchise.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-01-28

 

Of all his films I remember his character in 1984 the most. Great actor that probably achieved less recognition than he deserved.

Another of my generation's heroes gone.

RIP.

For once any RIP's and praising an artist would be justified, one of the most gifted actors of his generation. Caligula, Quentin Crisp, Richard Rich, Tim Evans and the Elephant man to name a few, brilliant artist who will be much missed. 

Edited January 28, 20179 yr by thai3

I very rarely say much about the passing of the greats. I did enjoy many of his films though.

Elephant Man, The Naked Civil Servant were two of his best, for me anyway. Two movies to teach tolerance.

This man was a giant. An actor of epic proportions. A master of his craft. He owned the films he was in. His ability to get into the skin of his characters was legandary. He will be sorely missed. His performances were a thing of beauty. Only lovers left alive, tinker tailor soldier spy, v for vendetta, dead man, wild bill, rob roy, the osterman weekend, heavens gate, the elephant man, midnight express, etc. All amazing performances. May he rest in peace. He deserves it. He gave us so much joy. 

Edited January 28, 20179 yr by spidermike007

His performance as Max, the heroin junkie in Midnight Express was truly outstanding, in an unforgettable film.

Funnily enough, i saw that movie when it came out in the English cinema in Munich. The cinema was pretty much right on the main train station's front door (well a couple of hundred yards away). The first people you saw when you walked out the door were... Turks....

And the list goes on.  Another fine actor bites the dust.  RIP

A good actor,with a very nice voice,wonder who is going to replace

these character actors ?

regards Worgeordie
 

Always felt like I knew him like my next-door neighbour. A rare quality of ordinary-blokishness in one of the greatest actors.

No mention of his performance in "Shooting Dogs".  That movie, and his part in it, made a deep impression on me.  

Very sad to see him go.

20 minutes ago, Jangot said:

No mention of his performance in "Shooting Dogs".  That movie, and his part in it, made a deep impression on me.  

Very sad to see him go.

 

Probably because it was generally known as  Beyond the Gates

However sadly missed, at the age of 77 I think we have to accept that, in general it's natural to pass around that number.

It's probably so that in our generation we saw so many more true actors and not boxoffice movie stars riddled with sixpacks, and they made an impression, which we miss when they leave us...perhaps also a reminder of what awaits...still, he was an understated cool man! 

Edited January 28, 20179 yr by currynamnam
Swedish spelling program, darn!

1 minute ago, currynamnam said:

However sadly missed, at the age of 77 I think we have to accept that, in general it's natural to pass around that nummer.

Will he be issued with a Pass Certificate?

A great actor.   RIP.

I remember an early role in 10 Rillington Place as the poor bastard who was hung, whilst John Christie (Richard Attenborough) avoided punishment, in the short term. He was also great as Caligula in I, Claudius. All the performances listed above were also top notch.

Great actor. I loved his role in Rob Roy, a very underrated film.

1984 still echoes. So many good films mentioned. Another often forgotten, strange in the day,  was Cry of the Penguins. Fantastic footage from Antarctica. Great actor.

One of my faves.  When I saw Midnight Express I thought he was a guy they found at The Pudding Shop. 

So many films, always did a good turn, even as the psychotic Caligula.

 

 

19 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

tinker tailor soldier spy

 

Man, I so disliked that re-make even Hurt's presence fell out of my memory.  Great book, great mini-series with Alec Guinness as Smiley. 

 

 

I recall being so saddened by the movie Elephant Man, and that we made a spectacle of such a person, yet it was less than 20 years prior when I saw pygmies, and people with gross deformities myself, in traveling side shows.

 

Fortunately we've matured as people, I think partly because travel is within the reach of many more, and our curiosity no longer needs to be satisfied by such degrading displays.

 

Great British actor.

Just watching Nineteen Eight-Four. Don't think I've ever seen an actor give as much of himself. The Oscar that year went to F. Murray Abraham in Amadeus - what a travesty.

Great talent. Awful disease. Sad news. Besides all his great roles, the dining scene in Alien always pops into memory. 

John Hurt portrays Eric Lomax in a BBC production of the Railway Man back in 1995

 

RIP

just the other day, one thought I was experiencing a Mandella Effect moment...

 

Back in Jan this year, the news had come about of the passing of John Hurt

 

 

 

 

and now, with the very recent passing of yet another well known actor, an American this time - John Heard

 

 

The Tabloids are currently mixing up the identities of the respective late John H's

 

It is all as if John Hurt has passed twice...

 

(just go ahead and Google each of the names)

 

check the dates for John Hurt

check the dates for John Heard

 

check the Wiki info for each actor, and you can see it is all mixed up!!

 

 

Edited July 25, 20178 yr by tifino

On 1/28/2017 at 3:57 PM, Cats4ever said:

I remember an early role in 10 Rillington Place as the poor bastard who was hung, whilst John Christie (Richard Attenborough) avoided punishment

 

Indeed, even though it's been decades since I saw that I still get the creeps when hearing people whistling.

And then it reminded me of my teenage crush on Judy Geeson....

 

 

1 hour ago, tifino said:

check the dates for John Hurt

check the dates for John Heard

 

There were three, even the critics tended to confuse the names.  The third is William Hurt.