Hollywood legend John Hurt dead: Two-time Oscar nominee and Elephant Man actor passes away aged 77 after battling cancer and suffering intestinal complaint
Daily Mail
By Rachael Burford, JJ Nattrass, Anthony Joseph
27 January 2017
The Elephant Man star had a career which spanned more than six decades
He is survived by his wife of 12 years Anwen Rees-Myers
Hurt had recently starred in the Oscar nominated biopic, Jackie
The actor's website, Facebook and Twitter accounts have all been closed down
Sir John Hurt, the two-time Oscar nominated star of the Elephant Man, has died aged 77 after battling cancer.
The four-time married, Derbyshire-born star has been an enigmatic and much-beloved presence on the screen for more than six decades.
The Harry Potter actor had recently battled pancreatic cancer but in October 2015 was given the all clear.
At the time he said: 'I am overjoyed, I am thrilled. It all looks great for the future, it's fantastic.'
Despite the all-clear Sir John continued to endure periods of ill health. He suffered intestinal complaints and last July he was forced to pull out of a West End production of The Entertainer on medical advice.
Speaking to the Radio Times he was matter-of-fact about his mortality. 'I can't say I worry about mortality, but it's impossible to get to my age and not have a little contemplation of it,' he said.
In July 2015 he received a knighthood, and said he wished his parents had been alive to see him presented with the honour.
He added: 'It does make one inordinately proud.'
Hurt is survived by his wife of 12 years Anwen Rees-Myers.
The son of a clergyman, Hurt rose to fame in A Man For All Seasons in 1966 and then stared in Hollywood blockbusters such as Alien, the adaptation of George Orwell's 1984 and found a new generation of fans in the Harry Potter franchise.
The double Oscar nominee also had prominent TV roles in Doctor Who, the Naked Civil Servant and The Gruffalo.
Hurt recently starred in the Oscar-nominated biopic of President John F. Kennedy's widow, Jackie, which is currently showing in cinemas.
I n his early years he was notorious for his wild lifestyle and once describe his career as not bad 'for an old drunk'.
After cutting down on his drinking, Hurt poured his energies into his acting work.
In 2012 the British Academy of Film and Television Arts honoured him with a lifetime achievement award.
The actor's official website and Facebook and Twitter accounts have been closed down.
HURT, John (John Vincent Hurt)
Born: 1/22/1940, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England, U.K.
Died: 1/27/2017, England, U.K.
John Hurt’s westerns – actor:
Heaven’s Gate – 1980 (William C. Irvine)
Even Cowgirls Get The Blues – 1993 (The Countess)
Dead Man – 1995 (John Schofield)
Wild Bill – 1995 (Charley Prince)
The Proposition – 2005 (Jellon Lamb)