# William Hurt - RIP at age 71 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [March 13, 2022, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-hurt-rip-at-age-71/960992 "2022-03-13T21:46:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2022, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-hurt-rip-at-age-71/960992/1 "2022-03-13T21:46:23Z")
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. > **[William Hurt, Oscar-Winning Actor for ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman,’ Dies at 71](https://variety.com/2022/film/news/william-hurt-dead-kiss-of-the-spider-woman-1235203576/)** > > William Hurt, who became a top leading man in the 1980s, winning an Oscar for 1985’s “Kiss of the Spider Woman” and starring in “The Big Chill” and “Body Heat,&#… ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2022, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-hurt-rip-at-age-71/960992/2 "2022-03-13T21:49:12Z")
I am surprised he’s that old. Was that old. Damn. I remember him most from The Big Chill. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2022, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-hurt-rip-at-age-71/960992/3 "2022-03-13T21:51:16Z")
I mainly remember him from “Children of a Lesser God” and “Broadcast News”. Two of my favorite movies. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2022, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-hurt-rip-at-age-71/960992/4 "2022-03-13T21:53:43Z")
A great actor – most recently I remember him from a very entertaining legal drama show, “Goliath”. RIP. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2022, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-hurt-rip-at-age-71/960992/5 "2022-03-13T21:57:39Z")
I loved him in _The Doctor_ and _Gorky Park_. ---
**Author:** ![Dandan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@Dandan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandan)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2022, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-hurt-rip-at-age-71/960992/6 "2022-03-13T22:02:49Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2022, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-hurt-rip-at-age-71/960992/7 "2022-03-13T22:03:44Z")
What happened was he hurt? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2022, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-hurt-rip-at-age-71/960992/8 "2022-03-13T22:04:21Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > most recently I remember him from a very entertaining legal drama show, “Goliath”. RIP. Yes! His Donald Cooperman portrayal was amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2022, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-hurt-rip-at-age-71/960992/9 "2022-03-13T22:10:47Z")
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?!” ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2022, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-hurt-rip-at-age-71/960992/10 "2022-03-13T22:49:14Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > What happened was he hurt? HuffPost article says he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2022, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-hurt-rip-at-age-71/960992/11 "2022-03-13T22:49:52Z")
He was a terrific actor. I can’t think of any movie with him that I didn’t like. RIP William Hurt. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2022, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-hurt-rip-at-age-71/960992/12 "2022-03-13T22:53:26Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0XNVQ4ILPBA/hqdefault.jpg "Altered States (1980) - Trailer HD 1080p") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XNVQ4ILPBA) ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2022, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-hurt-rip-at-age-71/960992/13 "2022-03-13T23:41:39Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2022, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-hurt-rip-at-age-71/960992/14 "2022-03-13T23:50:50Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2022, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-hurt-rip-at-age-71/960992/15 "2022-03-13T23:58:14Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2022, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-hurt-rip-at-age-71/960992/16 "2022-03-13T23:58:20Z")
**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. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/zfFWBWKwQT8/maxresdefault.jpg "Until The End Of The World Trailer (1991) - William Hurt Movie HD") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfFWBWKwQT8) ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2022, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-hurt-rip-at-age-71/960992/17 "2022-03-13T23:59:42Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-hurt-rip-at-age-71/960992/18 "2022-03-14T00:05:30Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-hurt-rip-at-age-71/960992/19 "2022-03-14T00:08:34Z")
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.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_the_Malheur_National_Wildlife_Refuge)d ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-hurt-rip-at-age-71/960992/20 "2022-03-14T00:08:40Z")
**The Big Chill** is my William Hurt touchpoint, but I think **Kiss of the Spider Woman** should not go without mention. mmm [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-hurt-rip-at-age-71/960992.md?page=2)