Hollywood legend John Hurt has passed away aged 77 after battling cancer and suffering intestinal complaint. The two-time Oscar nominee had a career that spanned more than six decades. He beat pancreatic cancer in 2015, but continued to suffer from health problems. Hurt is survived by wife Anwen Rees-Myers and his two sons Sasha and Nick. He was two-time Oscar nominee; he won a Golden Globe and four Bafta awards. He was known for his portrayals of the famously misunderstood and roles ranged from a mad Roman emperor to a pimp on the road to stardom. Hurt was infamous for his wild lifestyle in earlier years and married four times.
The English actor was born in Derbyshire and became a critical and commercial success in films like Midnight Express, Alien and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Hurt first rose to fame in A Man For All Seasons in 1966 and later clinched a BAFTA for best supporting actor, along with an Oscar nomination, for playing a drug addict in Midnight Express. Hurt picked up yet another BAFTA just two years later in 1980 – this time as a leading actor in David Lynch’s Elephant Man. He also received his second Oscar nomination for his performance, which many extolled as Hurt’s best. The actor also enjoyed immense commercial success, playing Kane in the 1979 blockbuster Alien. The iconic scene in which an alien bursts from his chest won the actor a place in film history. He later reprised the role in Mel Brooks’ parody Spaceballs.
The star later found a new generation of fans by taking on the role of Garrick Ollivander in the Harry Potter franchise. Hurt was also known for his work as a voice actor and took his talents to the small screen, where he played a prominent role in Doctor Who, The Naked Civil Servant, and I, Claudius. Hurt most recently starred in the Oscar-nominated biopic of President John F. Kennedy’s widow, Jackie, which is currently showing in cinemas. He was knighted in 2015 for his services to drama.