John Hurt
Born January 22, 1940 · Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England, UK
5
Films reviewed
8.1
Avg. rating
Alien
Best-reviewed
1979–2011
Years active
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.
On theIReview.com
Films featuring John Hurtthat we've reviewed.
★ 8.1Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
as Garrick Ollivander: A wandmaker abducted by the Death Eaters.
David Yates · 2011
RT 96%
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
as Garrick Ollivander: A wandmaker abducted by the Death Eaters.
David Yates · 2010
V for Vendetta
as Adam Sutler
James McTeigue · 2006
★ 8.2The Elephant Man
as John Merrick, an intelligent, friendly, kind-hearted man who is shunned by society due to his severe deformity.
David Lynch · 1980
RT 91%
★ 8.5Alien
as Kane, the executive officer who becomes the host for the alien. Hurt was Scott's first choice for the role, but he was contracted on a film in South Africa during Aliens filming dates, so Jon Finch was cast as Kane, instead. However, Finch became ill during the first day of shooting and was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, which had also exacerbated a case of bronchitis. Hurt was in London by this time, his South African project having fallen through, and he quickly replaced Finch. His performance earned him a nomination for a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
Ridley Scott · 1979
RT 93%
Review Highlights
AI-summarized critic and audience reaction, pulled from the Fan & Critic Buzz on their highest-rated films with us.
“The movie "Alien" is widely praised for its horror and sci-fi elements, with many reviewers noting that it sets a new standard for the genre. The film's claustrophobic setting and iconic alien design have become synonymous with fear and suspense. A strong cast, including Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, and Yaphet Kotto, has been praised for their performances. Despite being described as not eventful or entertaining in some reviews, "Alien" is still regarded as a classic horror movie that continues to thrill audiences today.”
From the Fan & Critic Buzz on Alien →
“The public reaction to "The Elephant Man" is generally positive, with reviewers praising Anthony Hopkins' performance as Joseph Merrick. The film's themes and portrayal have resonated deeply with audiences, including those who saw it in theaters or at home. The movie has been remembered fondly by many viewers since its release, with some sharing their own emotional connections to the film.”
From the Fan & Critic Buzz on The Elephant Man →
Selected Filmography
- Saturday Night Live(1975)TV Series · 1 epas March Hare
- Doctor Who(2005)TV Series · 1 epas The Doctor
- NOVA(1974)TV Series · 1 epas Narrator
- Great Performances(1971)TV Series · 1 epas Narrator
- Play for Today(1970)TV Series · 1 epas Alec Cassell
- Golden Globe Awards(1944)TV Series · 1 epas Self - Nominee
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone(2001)as Mr Ollivander
- Merlin(2008)TV Series · 65 epsas Kilgharrah (voice)
- Natural World(1983)TV Series · 2 epsas Narrator
- Screen Two(1985)TV Series · 1 epas Jack Lee
- ITV Playhouse(1967)TV Series · 1 epas Guy Beresford
- GMTV(1993)TV Series · 1 epas Self
- Film '72(1971)TV Series · 2 epsas Self
- Parkinson(1998)TV Series · 1 epas Self
- ScreenPlay(1986)TV Series · 1 epas Alfred
- ITV Saturday Night Theatre(1969)TV Series · 1 epas Bob
- Performance(1991)TV Series · 1 epas The Father
- Who Do You Think You Are?(2004)TV Series · 1 epas Self
- The Sweeney(1975)TV Series · 1 epas Tony Grey
- Thursday Theatre(1964)TV Series · 1 epas Orpheus