John Hurt: 1940-2017: A Life in Entertainment

On January 25th, two-time Academy Award and British acting legend nominee John Hurt died at the age of 77. In a career that spanned six decades, Hurt rose to acclaim on stage and screen for his portrayals of decent men stuck in unbelievable situations. Among his most iconic roles were that of Caligula in the BBC’s I Claudius, a doomed “space trucker” in Ridley Scott‘s Alien (a performance which he later spoofed in Mel Brooks’ 1987 comedy Spaceballs), Joseph Merrick in David Lynch’s haunting The Elephant Man, and Winston in the 1984 film adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984. Having worked steadily his entire career, recent years found Hurt playing a variety of high-profile roles in productions like V for Vendetta, Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull, the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special, the Harry Potter film series and Snowpiercer. Always the consummate professional, Hurt never gave a sub-par performance, even in films where the material was beneath him. He will be remembered as a gentle soul and a captivating actor whose mastery of his craft will continue to enchant and inspire.