I will actually first think of him as Leto I on the Scifi channel’s Dune miniseries. I know others will go to other roles first, but that is my biggest memory of him.
Edit: Forgot to add a link.
I am surprised he’s that old. Was that old. Damn. I remember him most from The Big Chill.
I mainly remember him from “Children of a Lesser God” and “Broadcast News”. Two of my favorite movies.
A great actor – most recently I remember him from a very entertaining legal drama show, “Goliath”. RIP.
I loved him in The Doctor and Gorky Park.
In the early '2000s, I was a construction gang boss on “Tuck Everlasting”, which I think we were all proud of. I do recommend watching this, and paying attention to the interior detail of the Tuck family’s cabin - I had my hands all over that!
But don’t just watch it for the scenery - this was an adaptation of a prize-winning novel, and a very sweet story.
Dan
What happened was he hurt?
Yes! His Donald Cooperman portrayal was amazing.
A great actor. He was one of those who, for me, disappear into their roles. Just like with Gary Oldman, I several times I wasn’t aware he was in a movie until I checked out the closing credits and went “that was William Hurt?!”
HuffPost article says he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018.
He was a terrific actor. I can’t think of any movie with him that I didn’t like.
RIP William Hurt.
It was always a pleasure to see him show up, unexpectedly, in a small but oh-so significant supporting role in recent years, long after his “A-list” status had dimmed. He always took what he was given and made it great.
One of his best was Smoke, which, like The Last Picture Show and Make Way for Tomorrow, are great movies about ordinary lives; which Ken Loach and Yasujiro Ozu made into an art form but are sadly a rarity in the US.
I remember I used to commonly see folks bashing Hurt’s acting ability, but I’ve always been a fan. If properly cast I think he was great. In particular he played emotionally constricted very well.
So sorry to see him go this “young.” He wasn’t of course, but 71 is well below the average. It’s a bit depressing honestly.
RIP.
Until the End of the World is one of my top five movies of all time. I was really saddened to hear about this today. He had one of those careers that I imagine most actors dream of: forty+ years of stage, screen and teevee, with both big-budget Hollywood projects mixed with smaller personal work; working with all sorts of directors, both journeyman and auteur; a few films that became iconic. Couldn’t ask for more than that.
This was shocking. Like others I’d have guessed William Hurt a few years younger, but even so, 71 is too young.
His fans shouldn’t miss the 2007 Mr. Brooks, among other great roles. 1981’s Body Heat is another essential.
Condolences to his family and friends.
Accidental Tourist. He’s a damaged soul who’s content with his constricted existence, until Geena Davis comes along to bust him out of it. Good work for both of them, and Bill Pullman had a breakout role too.
His departure form the “A-list” in the '90s was rather sudden and seemingly unexplained as I recall. One moment he was playing the leads in Oscar-bait projects and next he was doing supporting roles. I see now from the linked article he had problems with substance abuse which probably resulted in his lower profile.
Also, in an interview on “Fresh Air” a few years ago, he mentioned he had moved out to southeast Oregon which is probably one of the more remote and sparsely populated areas in the continental U.S. It was in the vicinity of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge which is where there was a stand-off between far right activists and federal agents in 2016.d
The Big Chill is my William Hurt touchpoint, but I think Kiss of the Spider Woman should not go without mention.
mmm