John Hurt (1940-2017)
Friends and fellow movie buffs, it is with sorrow that I bring you the news that English actor Sir John Hurt died of pancreatic cancer on 25 January 2017 at age 77. He was a well-known actor notable for his smooth, distinctive voice and his film roles in "Alien," "The Elephant Man," "V for Vendetta," and series such as "Hellboy" and "Harry Potter." His acting profession spanned over five decades, starting in 1962 with his first movie, "The Wild and the Willing." Four years later, Hurt landed his first role in the big-screen adaptation of "A Man for All Seasons." In 1971, he played a neighbour accused of murder in "10 Rillington Place," starring opposite Richard Attenborough. Hurt's performance eventually earned him a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. While continuing his film career, Hurt starred in television dramas, including his portrayal of Quentin Crisp in the play "The Naked Civil Servant." It earned him his first British Academy Television Award, establishing him as a prominent figure in the acting world. Hurt delivered another critically acclaimed performance in a BBC adaptation of "I, Claudius" the following year as Roman Emperor Caligula.
Not until 1978 was John Hurt recognised as the best character actor in the cinema when he starred in "Midnight Express," which earned him a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and an Academy Award nomination. During that same time, Hurt would record voice-overs for two animated films. Such roles include Aragorn in Ralph Bakshi's interpretation of "The Lord of the Rings" and Hazel in "Watership Down." His talent and fame would spread the word to director Ridley Scott, who cast him as the first victim of an extraterrestrial threat in a movie that proved to be terrifying space horror, in which no one could hear anyone scream. The feature was called "Alien," and the character's death was one of the most iconic scenes in film history. He would later reprise his role in the 1987 sci-fi parody "Spaceballs." After "Alien," Hurt starred in what was to be a hit and heart-wrenching biopic from up-and-coming Director David Lynch about a hideously deformed figure who was the title character of the movie known as "The Elephant Man."
Other roles that Hurt portrayed in movies and television include Winston Smith in "Nineteen Eighty Four," the demonic Horned King in "The Black Cauldron," "Bird" O'Donnell in "The Field" (again nominated for a BAFTA award), the wandmaker Olivander in "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (which he then reprised his role in "Deathly Hallows: Part 1" and "Part 2"), Professor Broom in "Hellboy" (while also reprised the role in "The Golden Army"), a leader of a dictatorship in "V for Vendetta," Harold Oxley in "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," and the War Doctor in "Doctor Who." In 2004, Hurt was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He was honoured with a BAFTA award for his outstanding contribution to the cinema in 2012. In 2015, Queen Elizabeth II knighted him as Sir John Hurt for his services.
Before his death, Hurt recently played a priest in "Jackie," and two of his final movies, "That Good Night" and "Darkest Hour," were scheduled for release soon. My condolences go to his family, and may you rest in peace, John Hurt.
No comments:
Post a Comment