JH
Photo of John Hurt

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.

Movies & Shows on Plex

  • Melancholia
  • The Proposition
  • New York, I Love You
  • The Oxford Murders
  • The Hit
  • The Osterman Weekend
  • The Plague Dogs
  • A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures
  • The Shout
  • Jim Henson's The Storyteller
  • Jayne Mansfield's Car
  • All the Little Animals
  • Masters of Science Fiction
  • Miranda
  • An Englishman in New York
  • That Good Night
  • A Monkey's Tale
  • Vincent
  • Lou
  • Picture Windows
  • Whistle and I'll Come to You

Known For

  • V for Vendetta
  • Alien
  • The Elephant Man
  • Snowpiercer
  • Hellboy
  • Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
  • 1984
  • Contact
  • Hercules
  • Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
  • Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
  • Dogville
  • Watership Down
  • Hellboy II: The Golden Army
  • The Skeleton Key
  • Immortals
  • Human Planet
  • Melancholia
  • Midnight Express
  • Jackie
  • Outlander
  • Only Lovers Left Alive
  • Rob Roy
  • The Oxford Murders

Featured Videos

    Filmography

    2019
    Simon Marsden's Haunted Life In Pictures · as Narrator - Edgar Allan Poe
    2017
    Damascus Cover · as Miki
    2017
    2017
    My Name Is Lenny · as Leslie Salmon
    2016
    The Journey · as Harry Patterson
    2016
    ChickLit · as Francis Bonar
    2016
    Jackie · as The Priest
    2015
    The Last Panthers (TV Series) · as Tom
    2015
    2015
    A.K.A Nadia · as 347
    2015
    Break · as Jack
    2014
    Hercules · as Cotys
    2013
    2013
    The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot · as The War Doctor (archive Voice)
    2013
    2013
    2013
    Only Lovers Left Alive · as Christopher Marlowe
    2013
    Charlie Countryman · as Narrator
    2013
    Snowpiercer · as Gilliam
    2013
    2012
    Jayne Mansfield's Car · as Kingsley Bedford
    2012
    Sightseers · as Jerusalem Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
    2012
    Labyrinth (TV Series) · as Audric Baillard
    2012
    More Than Honey · as Narrator (english Voice)
    2012
    Planet Dinosaur: Ultimate Killers · as Narrator (voice)
    2012
    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
    2011
    Planet Dinosaur (TV Series) · as Narrator
    2011
    2011
    2011
    The Confession · as Priest
    2011
    The Confession (TV Series) · as Priest
    2011
    Human Planet (TV Series) · as Narrator (voice)
    2010
    2010
    2010
    2010
    Love at First Sight · as Arthur
    2010
    Brighton Rock · as Phil Corkery
    2010
    2010
    Lou · as Doyle
    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
    2009
    2008
    Lezione 21 · as Mondrian Kilroy
    2008
    Merlin (TV Series) · as Kilgharrah (voice)
    2008
    2008
    2008
    Outlander · as Rothgar
    2008
    Hellboy II: The Golden Army · as Trevor Bruttenholm
    2008
    Strictly Courtroom · as Timothy John Evans
    2008
    Recount · as Warren Christopher
    2008
    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
    The Proposition · as Jellon Lamb
    2005
    Once Upon a Halloween · as The Horned King
    2005
    Hiroshima · as Narrator (voice)
    2005
    The Skeleton Key · as Ben Devereaux
    2005
    Valiant · as Felix (voice)
    2005
    Manderlay · as Narrator (voice)
    2005
    Doctor Who (2005) (TV Series) · as The Doctor
    2005
    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
    2002
    Bait · as Jack Blake
    2002
    The 'Alien' Saga · as Narrator (voice)
    2002
    Miranda · as Christian
    2002
    Crime and Punishment · as Porfiry, Chief Investigator
    2002
    Edge of the Universe (TV Series) · as Narrator (voice)
    2001
    2001
    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
    Universe (1999) (TV Series) · as Narrator
    1999
    You're Dead... · as Maitland
    1999
    If... Dog... Rabbit · as Sean Cooper
    1999
    Watership Down (TV Series) · as General Woundwort
    1999
    A Monkey's Tale · as Sebastian
    1998
    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
    1996
    Tender Loving Care · as Dr. Turner
    1995
    Dead Man · as John Scholfield
    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
    Performance (TV Series) · as The Father
    1991
    Lapse of Memory · as Conrad Farmer
    1991
    Eurythmics: Greatest Hits · as Winston (segment "sexcrime")
    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
    1990
    Hollywood Mavericks · as John Merrick
    1990
    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
    Vincent · as (voice)
    1987
    1987
    Aria · as The Actor
    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
    Monolith · as Narrator (voice)
    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
    The Hit · as Braddock
    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
    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
    1978
    The Shout · as Anthony Fielding
    1978
    1977
    The Disappearance · as Atkinson
    1977
    1977
    Three Dangerous Ladies · as Lt. George Simmonds
    1977
    Spectre · as Mitri Cyon
    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
    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
    1969
    Sinful Davey · as Davey Haggart
    1969
    ITV Saturday Night Theatre (TV Series) · as Bob
    1968
    Before Winter Comes · as Lieutenant Pilkington
    1967
    Omnibus (1967) (TV Series) · as Nijinsky
    1967
    ITV Playhouse (TV Series) · as Guy Beresford
    1967
    1966
    A Man for All Seasons · as Richard Rich
    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
    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

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