John Hurt

Where to watch John Hurt

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's StoneMovie · 2001

Biography

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.

Filmography

1. 2016Jackieas The Priest
2. 2015Doctor Who: The Husbands of River Songas The Doctor (War) (picture) (uncredited)
3. 2014Herculesas Cotys
4. 2013Only Lovers Left Aliveas Christopher Marlowe
5. 2013Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctoras The War Doctor
6. 2013Snowpierceras Gilliam
7. 2012Sightseersas Jerusalem Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
8. 2011Immortalsas Old Zeus
9. 2011Tinker Tailor Soldier Spyas Control
10. 2011Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2as Ollivander
11. 2011Melancholiaas Dexter
12. 2011Human Planetas Narrator (voice) · 8 episodes
13. 2010Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movieas Carnak
14. 2010Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1as Ollivander
15. 2010A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventuresas Grandpa Sammy (voice)
16. 2009The Gruffaloas Owl (voice)
17. 2009The Limits of Controlas Guitar
18. 2008Merlinas Kilgharrah (voice) · 65 episodes
19. 2008New York, I Love Youas Bellhop
20. 2008Hellboy II: The Golden Armyas Trevor Bruttenholm
21. 2008Recountas Warren Christopher
22. 2008Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skullas Professor Harold Oxley
23. 2008Outlanderas Rothgar
24. 2008The Oxford Murdersas Arthur Seldom
25. 2006Perfume: The Story of a Murdereras Narrator (voice)
26. 2006V for Vendettaas Adam Sutler
27. 2005The Propositionas Jellon Lamb
28. 2005The Skeleton Keyas Ben Devereaux
29. 2005Manderlayas Narrator (voice)
30. 2005Doctor Whoas The Doctor · 1 episode
31. 2005Valiantas Felix (voice)
32. 2004Hellboyas Prof. Trevor 'Broom' Bruttenholm
33. 2003Dogvilleas Narrator (voice)
34. 2003Owning Mahownyas Victor Foss
35. 2001Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stoneas Mr Ollivander
36. 2001Captain Corelli's Mandolinas Dr. Iannis
37. 2000Lost Soulsas Father Lareaux
38. 2000The Tigger Movieas Narrator (voice)
39. 1997Contactas S. R. Hadden
40. 1995Dead Manas John Scholfield
41. 1995Wild Billas Charley Prince
42. 1995Rob Royas John Graham
43. 1994Thumbelinaas Mr. Mole (voice)
44. 1991King Ralphas Graves
45. 1988The Storytelleras The Storyteller · 9 episodes
46. 1987Spaceballsas John Hurt
47. 1985The Black Cauldronas The Horned King (voice)
48. 1984Nineteen Eighty-Fouras Winston Smith
49. 1984The Hitas Braddock
50. 1983The Osterman Weekendas Lawrence Fassett
51. 1982The Plague Dogsas Snitter (voice)
52. 1981History of the World: Part Ias Jesus - The Roman Empire
53. 1980Heaven's Gateas Billy Irvine
54. 1980The Elephant Manas John Merrick
55. 1979Alienas Kane
56. 1978The Lord of the Ringsas Aragorn (voice)
57. 1978Watership Downas Hazel (voice)
58. 1978Midnight Expressas Max
59. 197110 Rillington Placeas Timothy Evans
60. 1966A Man for All Seasonsas Richard Rich