JH
John Hurt
Actor
Born January 22, 1940Died January 25, 2017 (77 years)
Sir John Vincent Hurt (January 22, 1940 – January 25, 2017) was an English actor whose career spanned over five decades. He came to prominence for his role as Richard Rich in the film A Man for All Seasons (1966) and gained BAFTA Award nominations for his portrayals of Timothy Evans in 10 Rillington Place (1971) and Quentin Crisp in television film The Naked Civil Servant (1975) – winning his first BAFTA for the latter. He played Caligula in the BBC TV series I, Claudius (1976). Hurt's performance in the prison drama Midnight Express (1978) brought him international renown and earned Golden Globe and BAFTA Awards, along with an Academy Award nomination. His BAFTA-nominated portrayal of astronaut Kane, in the science-fiction horror film Alien (1979), notably included a scene where an alien creature burst out of his chest, named by several publications as one of the most memorable moments in cinema history.
Hurt earned his third competitive BAFTA, along with his second Oscar and Golden Globe nominations, as Joseph Merrick in David Lynch's biopic The Elephant Man (1980). Other significant roles during the 1980s included Bob Champion in biopic Champions (1984), Mr. Braddock in the Stephen Frears drama The Hit (1984), Winston Smith in Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984) and Stephen Ward in the drama depicting the Profumo affair, Scandal (1989). Hurt was again BAFTA-nominated for his work in Irish drama The Field (1990) and played the primary villain, James Graham, in the epic adventure Rob Roy (1995). His later films include the Harry Potter film series (2001–11), the Hellboy films (2004 and 2008), supernatural thriller The Skeleton Key (2005), western The Proposition (2005), political thriller V for Vendetta (2005), action adventure Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), sci-fi action Outlander (2008) and the Cold War espionage film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011). Hurt reprised his role as Quentin Crisp in An Englishman in New York (2009), which brought his seventh BAFTA nomination. He portrayed the War Doctor in the BBC TV series Doctor Who's 50th anniversary special, "The Day of the Doctor", in 2013.
Hurt was regarded as one of Britain's finest actors; director David Lynch described him as "simply the greatest actor in the world". He possessed what was described as the "most distinctive voice in Britain", likened by The Observer to "nicotine sieved through dirty, moonlit gravel". His voice acting career encompassed films such as Watership Down (1978), The Lord of the Rings (1978), The Plague Dogs (1982), The Black Cauldron (1985), Dogville (2003) and Planet Dinosaur (2011) as well as BBC TV series Merlin (2008–2012). In 2012, he was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement BAFTA Award, in recognition of his "outstanding contribution to cinema". He was knighted in 2015 for his services to drama.
Hurt earned his third competitive BAFTA, along with his second Oscar and Golden Globe nominations, as Joseph Merrick in David Lynch's biopic The Elephant Man (1980). Other significant roles during the 1980s included Bob Champion in biopic Champions (1984), Mr. Braddock in the Stephen Frears drama The Hit (1984), Winston Smith in Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984) and Stephen Ward in the drama depicting the Profumo affair, Scandal (1989). Hurt was again BAFTA-nominated for his work in Irish drama The Field (1990) and played the primary villain, James Graham, in the epic adventure Rob Roy (1995). His later films include the Harry Potter film series (2001–11), the Hellboy films (2004 and 2008), supernatural thriller The Skeleton Key (2005), western The Proposition (2005), political thriller V for Vendetta (2005), action adventure Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), sci-fi action Outlander (2008) and the Cold War espionage film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011). Hurt reprised his role as Quentin Crisp in An Englishman in New York (2009), which brought his seventh BAFTA nomination. He portrayed the War Doctor in the BBC TV series Doctor Who's 50th anniversary special, "The Day of the Doctor", in 2013.
Hurt was regarded as one of Britain's finest actors; director David Lynch described him as "simply the greatest actor in the world". He possessed what was described as the "most distinctive voice in Britain", likened by The Observer to "nicotine sieved through dirty, moonlit gravel". His voice acting career encompassed films such as Watership Down (1978), The Lord of the Rings (1978), The Plague Dogs (1982), The Black Cauldron (1985), Dogville (2003) and Planet Dinosaur (2011) as well as BBC TV series Merlin (2008–2012). In 2012, he was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement BAFTA Award, in recognition of his "outstanding contribution to cinema". He was knighted in 2015 for his services to drama.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Known For
John Hurt Filmography
| 2025 | Tilda Swinton: The Wildcards · as Cast |
| 2025 | Doctor Who: Wish World & The Reality War · as The Doctor (archive Footage) (uncredited) |
| 2019 | Simon Marsden's Haunted Life In Pictures · as Narrator - Edgar Allan Poe |
| 2017 | Damascus Cover · as Miki |
| 2017 | That Good Night · as Ralph |
| 2017 | My Name Is Lenny · as Leslie Salmon |
| 2016 | The Journey · as Harry Patterson |
| 2016 | ChickLit · as Francis Bonar |
| 2016 | Jackie · as The Priest |
| 2016 | The Pity of War: The Loves and Lives of the War Poets · as Siegfried Sassoon |
| 2015 | Doctor Who: The Husbands of River Song · as The Doctor (war) (picture) (uncredited) |
| 2015 | The Last Panthers (TV Series) · as Tom |
| 2015 | Thomas & Friends: Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure · as Sailor John (voice) |
| 2015 | A.K.A Nadia · as 347 |
| 2015 | Break · as Jack |
| 2014 | Hercules · as Cotys |
| 2013 | Doctor Who: Farewell to Matt Smith · as War Doctor |
| 2013 | The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot · as The War Doctor (archive Voice) |
| 2013 | Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor · as The War Doctor |
| 2013 | Doctor Who: The Night of the Doctor · as The War Doctor |
| 2013 | Only Lovers Left Alive · as Christopher Marlowe |
| 2013 | Charlie Countryman · as Narrator |
| 2013 | Snowpiercer · as Gilliam |
| 2012 | Jayne Mansfield's Car · as Kingsley Bedford |
| 2012 | Sightseers · as Jerusalem Narrator (voice) (uncredited) |
| 2012 | Labyrinth (TV Series) · as Audric Baillard |
| 2012 | Trailer War · as Cast |
| 2012 | More Than Honey · as Narrator (english Voice) |
| 2012 | Planet Dinosaur: Ultimate Killers · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2012 | In Love with Alma Cogan · as Mc |
| 2012 | The Hollow Crown (TV Series) · as The Chorus |
| 2012 | The Snipist · as The Ministry |
| 2012 | Playhouse Presents (TV Series) · as The Ministry |
| 2011 | The Gruffalo's Child · as The Owl (voice) |
| 2011 | Immortals · as Old Zeus |
| 2011 | Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy · as Control |
| 2011 | Planet Dinosaur (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 2011 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 · as Ollivander |
| 2011 | Melancholia · as Dexter |
| 2011 | The Confession · as Priest |
| 2011 | The Confession (TV Series) · as Priest |
| 2011 | Human Planet (TV Series) · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2010 | Whistle and I'll Come to You · as James Parkin |
| 2010 | Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie · as Carnak |
| 2010 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 · as Ollivander |
| 2010 | Love at First Sight · as Arthur |
| 2010 | Brighton Rock · as Phil Corkery |
| 2010 | A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures · as Grandpa Sammy (voice) |
| 2010 | |
| 2009 | The Gruffalo · as Owl (voice) |
| 2009 | 44 Inch Chest · as Old Man Peanut |
| 2009 | Waking Sleeping Beauty · as The Horned King (voice) (archive Footage) |
| 2009 | The Limits of Control · as Guitar |
| 2009 | An Englishman in New York · as Quentin Crisp |
| 2008 | Lezione 21 · as Mondrian Kilroy |
| 2008 | Merlin (TV Series) · as Kilgharrah (voice) |
| 2008 | |
| 2008 | New York, I Love You · as Bellhop |
| 2008 | |
| 2008 | Hellboy II: The Golden Army · as Trevor Bruttenholm |
| 2008 | Strictly Courtroom · as Timothy John Evans |
| 2008 | Recount · as Warren Christopher |
| 2008 | Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull · as Professor Harold Oxley |
| 2008 | The Oxford Murders · as Arthur Seldom |
| 2007 | Masters of Science Fiction (TV Series) · as Samswope |
| 2007 | Boxes · as Fanny's Father |
| 2007 | Hellboy Animated: Blood and Iron · as Professor Trevor 'broom' Bruttenholm (voice) |
| 2006 | Perfume: The Story of a Murderer · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2005 | V for Vendetta · as Adam Sutler |
| 2005 | Shooting Dogs · as Christopher |
| 2005 | A Ghost Story for Christmas (TV Series) · as James Parkin |
| 2005 | The Proposition · as Jellon Lamb |
| 2005 | Once Upon a Halloween · as The Horned King (voice) (archive Sound) |
| 2005 | Hiroshima · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2005 | The Skeleton Key · as Ben Devereaux |
| 2005 | Manderlay · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2005 | Doctor Who (2005) (TV Series) · as The Doctor |
| 2005 | |
| 2005 | Valiant · as Felix (voice) |
| 2004 | Shadowing the Third Man · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2004 | Pride · as Harry (voice) |
| 2004 | Hellboy · as Prof. Trevor 'broom' Bruttenholm |
| 2004 | The Alan Clark Diaries (TV Series) · as Alan Clark |
| 2003 | Owning Mahowny · as Victor Foss |
| 2003 | Dogville · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2003 | Meeting Che Guevara & the Man from Maybury Hill · as Man From Maybury Hill |
| 2002 | Bait · as Jack Blake |
| 2002 | The 'Alien' Saga · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2002 | |
| 2002 | Crime and Punishment · as Porfiry, Chief Investigator |
| 2002 | Edge of the Universe (TV Series) · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2001 | Shaolin: Wheel of Life · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2001 | Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone · as Mr. Ollivander |
| 2001 | Captain Corelli's Mandolin · as Dr. Iannis |
| 2001 | The Hidden Wars of Desert Storm · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2001 | Tabloid · as Vince |
| 2000 | Lost Souls · as Father Lareaux |
| 2000 | |
| 2000 | Krapp's Last Tape · as Krapp |
| 2000 | The Tigger Movie · as Narrator (voice) |
| 1999 | New Blood · as Alan White |
| 1999 | You're Dead... · as Maitland |
| 1999 | If... Dog... Rabbit · as Sean Cooper |
| 1999 | Watership Down (TV Series) · as General Woundwort (voice) |
| 1999 | A Monkey's Tale · as Sebastian |
| 1998 | All the Little Animals · as Mr. Summers |
| 1998 | Night Train · as Michael Poole |
| 1998 | The Commissioner · as James Morton |
| 1997 | The Climb · as Chuck Langer |
| 1997 | Bandyta · as Babits |
| 1997 | Contact · as S. R. Hadden |
| 1997 | Love and Death on Long Island · as Giles De'ath |
| 1996 | Tender Loving Care · as Dr. Turner |
| 1995 | |
| 1995 | Wild Bill · as Charley Prince |
| 1995 | Rob Roy · as John Graham |
| 1994 | The World of Jim Henson · as The Storyteller (archive Footage) |
| 1994 | Picture Windows (TV Series) · as Marquis De Prey |
| 1994 | Second Best · as Uncle Turpin |
| 1994 | Förräderi · as Narrator |
| 1994 | Shades of Fear · as Rex Goodyear |
| 1994 | Thumbelina · as Mr. Mole (voice) |
| 1993 | Even Cowgirls Get the Blues · as The Countess |
| 1993 | Monolith · as Villano |
| 1992 | Dark at Noon · as Anthony / Le Marquis |
| 1991 | Red Fox (TV Series) · as Archie Carpenter |
| 1991 | Performance (TV Series) · as The Father |
| 1991 | Lapse of Memory · as Conrad Farmer |
| 1991 | Eurythmics: Greatest Hits · as Winston ") |
| 1991 | King Ralph · as Lord Percival Graves |
| 1990 | Journey to Knock · as Alfred |
| 1990 | Paul McCartney: Going Home · as Narrator (voice) |
| 1990 | The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson · as The Storyteller |
| 1990 | Frankenstein Unbound · as Dr. Joe Buchanan / Narrator (voice) |
| 1990 | The Field · as Bird' O'donnell |
| 1990 | Hollywood Mavericks · as John Merrick |
| 1990 | The Investigation: Inside a Terrorist Bombing · as Chris Mullin |
| 1990 | Romeo.Juliet · as La Dame Aux Chats / Mercutio (voice) |
| 1989 | Windprints · as Charles Rutherford |
| 1989 | Scandal · as Stephen Ward |
| 1988 | Little Sweetheart · as Robert Burger |
| 1988 | David Macaulay: Pyramid · as Khufu / Second French Explorer (voice) |
| 1988 | The Bengali Night · as Lucien Metz |
| 1988 | Deadline · as Granville Jones |
| 1987 | White Mischief · as Gilbert Colville |
| 1987 | |
| 1987 | The Jim Henson Hour (TV Series) |
| 1987 | MacHeath · as Sir John Fielding |
| 1987 | |
| 1987 | The Hunting of the Snark · as The Narrator (voice) |
| 1987 | From the Hip · as Douglas Benoit |
| 1987 | AIDS: Iceberg · as Narrator |
| 1987 | Jim Henson's The Storyteller (TV Series) · as The Storyteller |
| 1987 | AIDS: Monolith · as Narrator |
| 1986 | Rocinante · as Bill |
| 1986 | Screenplay (1986) (TV Series) · as Alfred |
| 1986 | Jake Speed · as Syd |
| 1985 | The Black Cauldron · as The Horned King (voice) |
| 1985 | After Darkness · as Peter Hunningford |
| 1984 | Screen Two (TV Series) · as Jack Lee |
| 1984 | 1984 · as Winston Smith |
| 1984 | |
| 1984 | Success Is the Best Revenge · as Dino Montecurva |
| 1984 | Champions · as Bob Champion |
| 1983 | Natural World (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 1983 | The Osterman Weekend · as Lawrence Fassett |
| 1983 | King Lear · as The Fool |
| 1982 | The Plague Dogs · as Snitter (voice) |
| 1982 | Partners · as Kerwin |
| 1982 | Night Crossing · as Peter Strelzyk |
| 1981 | History of the World: Part I · as Jesus - The Roman Empire |
| 1980 | Heaven's Gate · as Billy Irvine |
| 1980 | The Elephant Man · as John Merrick |
| 1980 | An Evening with Quentin Crisp · as Host |
| 1979 | Alien · as Kane |
| 1979 | Crime and Punishment (1979) (TV Series) · as Raskolnikov |
| 1978 | The Lord of the Rings · as Aragorn (voice) |
| 1978 | Watership Down · as Hazel (voice) |
| 1978 | Midnight Express · as Max |
| 1978 | |
| 1977 | The Disappearance · as Atkinson |
| 1977 | The Hollywood Greats (TV Series) |
| 1977 | Three Dangerous Ladies · as Lt. George Simmonds |
| 1977 | Spectre · as Mitri Cyon |
| 1977 | Everyman (TV Series) · as Eric Lomax |
| 1976 | East of Elephant Rock · as Nash |
| 1976 | I, Claudius (TV Series) · as Caligula |
| 1975 | The Naked Civil Servant · as Quentin Crisp |
| 1975 | Saturday Night Live (TV Series) · as March Hare |
| 1975 | The Ghoul · as Tom Rawlings |
| 1975 | The Sweeney (TV Series) · as Tony Grey |
| 1974 | Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs · as Malcolm Scrawdyke |
| 1974 | NOVA (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 1973 | Wessex Tales (TV Series) · as Joshua Harlborough |
| 1972 | The Pied Piper · as Franz |
| 1971 | A Ghost Story for Christmas (TV Series) · as James Parkin |
| 1971 | Cry of the Penguins · as Richard Forbush |
| 1971 | 10 Rillington Place · as Timothy Evans |
| 1971 | Great Performances (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 1970 | Play for Today (TV Series) · as Alec Cassell |
| 1969 | In Search of Gregory · as Daniel |
| 1969 | Sinful Davey · as Davey Haggart |
| 1969 | Before Winter Comes · as Lieutenant Pilkington |
| 1969 | ITV Saturday Night Theatre (TV Series) · as Bob |
| 1967 | Omnibus (1967) (TV Series) · as Nijinsky |
| 1967 | ITV Playhouse (TV Series) · as Guy Beresford |
| 1967 | The Sailor from Gibraltar · as John |
| 1966 | A Man for All Seasons · as Richard Rich |
| 1964 | NET Playhouse (TV Series) · as Peter Heywood |
| 1964 | Gideon C.I.D. (TV Series) · as Freddy Tisdale |
| 1964 | This Is My Street · as Charlie |
| 1963 | First Night (TV Series) · as Desmond |
| 1963 | Love Story (1963) (TV Series) · as Harry Eddows |
| 1963 | The Contact · as Cast |
| 1962 | Young and Willing · as Phil Corbett |
| 1962 | Z Cars (TV Series) · as James Hogan |
| 1961 | Drama 61-67 (TV Series) · as Private Briggs |
| 1959 | Probation Officer (TV Series) · as Johnny Seton |
| 1956 | Armchair Theatre (TV Series) · as Joe |
| 1955 | ITV Play of the Week (TV Series) · as Dave |
| 1955 | This is Your Life (UK) (TV Series) · as Filmed Tribute |
| 2024 | Henry Fonda for President · as Self |
| 2022 | Save our Seahorses · as Self - Narrator |
| 2022 | |
| 2021 | Hannibal Hopkins & Sir Anthony · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2019 | Memory: The Origins of Alien · as Self |
| 2017 | The 69th Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - In Memoriam |
| 2017 | The Oscars · as Self - In Memoriam Tribute |
| 2017 | 2017 EE British Academy Film Awards · as Self - In Memoriam |
| 2016 | The Final Reel · as Self - Narrator (voice) |
| 2014 | The Effects of 'Hercules' · as Self |
| 2014 | |
| 2013 | Muse of Fire · as Self |
| 2011 | On Borrowed Time · as Self |
| 2011 | The Jonathan Ross Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2009 | |
| 2009 | |
| 2009 | Merlin: Secrets & Magic (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2008 | The Big Fat Quiz of the Year · as Self |
| 2008 | The Story of the Costume Drama (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2008 | |
| 2007 | The Big Fat Quiz of the Year · as Self |
| 2007 | The McCartney Years · as Self |
| 2007 | British Film Forever (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2007 | Xposé (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2007 | Up Close with Carrie Keagan (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2006 | The ONE Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2006 | Whaledreamers · as Self |
| 2006 | 'V for Vendetta' Unmasked · as Self |
| 2006 | The King's Head: A Maverick in London · as Self |
| 2005 | The 100 Greatest Family Films · as Self |
| 2005 | 20 to One (TV Series) · as Self - Actor |
| 2005 | The Friday Night Project (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2004 | Who Do You Think You Are? (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2004 | The Paul O'Grady Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2004 | 'Hellboy': The Seeds of Creation · as Self |
| 2004 | Freedom2speak v2.0 · as Self - Actor, Great Britain |
| 2004 | |
| 2003 | The Beast Within: The Making of 'Alien' · as Self |
| 2003 | The Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2003 · as Self |
| 2003 | |
| 2003 | Check the Gate: Putting Beckett on Film · as Self |
| 2002 | Today with Des and Mel (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2002 | I Claudius: A Television Epic · as Self |
| 2002 | HypaSpace (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2001 | Richard & Judy (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2001 | Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2000 | BBC Breakfast (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1999 | Premiere Bond: The World Is Not Enough · as Self |
| 1996 | Whoever That Fails (TV Series) · as Self - Interviewee |
| 1994 | Cartelera (TV Series) · as Self - Interviewee |
| 1994 | Inside the Actors Studio (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1993 | GMTV (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1991 | Charlie Rose (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1990 | |
| 1990 | Resident Alien · as Self - Actor |
| 1989 | The Scandal Story · as Self |
| 1988 | This Morning (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1987 | Spaceballs · as John Hurt |
| 1985 | Live Aid · as Self |
| 1982 | Wogan (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1982 | Late Night With David Letterman (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1981 | The 53rd Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 1981 | The 38th Annual Golden Globe Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 1979 | The 51st Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 1976 | César Awards (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1975 | Arena (1975) (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1975 | Good Morning America (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1972 | Pebble Mill at One (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1971 | Film (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1971 | Parkinson (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1964 | Today at Wimbledon (TV Series) · as Self - Spectator |
| 1962 | The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1944 | Golden Globe Awards (TV Series) · as Self - Nominee |