Seven years ago today John Hurt passed away at the age of 77.
Sir John Vincent Hurt CBE was born on the 22nd of January 1940 in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England.
He was an English actor whose career spanned over five decades. He featured in more than 130 films and dozens of television roles. Hurt is widely regarded as one of the finest British actors who has ever lived.
Legendary film director David Lynch described him as “simply the greatest actor in the world".
John began acting in films in 1962 but his breakthrough role came in 1966 playing Richard Rich in the film “A Man for All Seasons”. The fact he stood out in that cast is particularly remarkable considering the film also featured; Paul Scofield, Leo McKern, Robert Shaw and Orson Welles.
For the BBC in 1975 John played the lead role in the landmark film “The Naked Civil Servant” the biographical comedy/ drama based on the life of Quentin Crisp. Adapted from Crisp’s biography of the same name. This dramatisation is now seen as a significant work that fundamentally changed the social discourse surrounding the LBGTQ+ community in the media in the UK. Before this, any portrayal of gay or queer men would be as a joke or cruel punchline. Hurt’s nuanced and sensitive performance as Crisp showed everyone Gay men were actual humans with thoughts and feelings and who, just to be who they are have had to be courageous.
In 1976 Hurt played Caligula in the critically acclaimed darkly comic historical drama
“I, Claudius”. This BBC mini-series is set amongst the web of corruption, deceit and lust for power among the ruling families of the Roman Empire from 10 BCE. - 54 CE. This limited series is legendary and still holds up to this day.
The following year he was cast as Max an English junkie in a Turkish prison in the Alan Parker film “Midnight Express” (1978) which landed Hurt his first Oscar nomination for Actor in a supporting role. On the night he lost to Christopher Walken for his performance in “The Deerhunter”.
In 1979 John took on the role which would imprint him into the minds of every sci-fi fan for the last 40+ years and probably the next when he appeared in Ridley Scott’s masterpiece “Alien” as Kane the unfortunate Nostromo crew member who is implanted with the parasitic embryo of the Xenomorph that erupts from his chest in one of the most iconic scenes in genre cinema. He later hilariously reprised the scene for Mel Brooks in his 1987 spoof comedy “Spaceballs” delivering the line “Oh No! Not Again!”.
Right after Alien John landed one of the most challenging film roles I think there has ever been when he took on portraying Joseph Merrick aka The Elephant Man in the 1980 film directed by David Lynch “The Elephant Man”. Hurt's performance is remarkable and secured him his second Oscar nomination this time for Leading actor. Unfortunately on the night he lost but it was to Robert De Nerio for Raging Bull so kind of understandable but still… what’s an English actor got to do!! Out of the first 54 leading actors Oscars only 6% were won by British actors even though a Brit was nominated most years.
John was 22 when he first appeared in a film and he was acting right up to the year of his death at 77.
Other notable films that starred or featured John Hurt,
Watership Down (1978) Hazel (voice)
Lord of the Rings (1978) Aragorn (voice)
The Black Cauldron (1985) The Horned King (voice)
1984 (1984)
Dead Man (1995)
Love and Death on Long Island (1997)
Dogville (2003)
Hellboy (2004)
The Proposition (2005)
V for Vendetta (2005)
Hellboy 2 (2008)
44-inch Chest (2009)
Melancholia (2011)
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
Sightseers (2012)
Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
Jackie (2016)
He was also one of the brilliant English actors who got decent pay days appearing in those boy wizard movies over the years.
He also became the 9th Doctor in the long-running TV sci-fi series Dr Who.
He acted in the film “Damascus Cover” (2017) just before his death.
John Hurt died of Pancreatic cancer.
He passed away at home in Cromer, Norfolk, on 25 January 2017,
three days after his 77th birthday.
Rest in Peace Mr Hurt your work will live forever.
