Oscar-nominated actor John Hurt dies at 77

Oscar-nominated actor John Hurt, known for The Elephant Man and Doctor Who, has passed away at age 77.

Legendary actor John Hurt has passed away at the age of 77 after battling pancreatic cancer.  The two-time Oscar-nominated actor was best known for his portrayal of John Merrick in The Elephant Man, but he has had a long and illustrious career on the big and small screen.

In 2012 Hurt was awarded a lifetime achievement award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, commemorating a six-decade career in film that includes such memorable films as Alien, Harry Potter, and 1979’s Midnight Express, for which he won a Golden Globe.

In Ridley Scott’s Alien, Hurt portrayed Kane, the first person to have an alien explode from his chest. Later, Hurt poked fun at the memorable movie moment in Mel Brooks’ Spaceballs. Younger generations will recall Hurt from his role as Mr. Ollivander in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone as well as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Part 2.

Hurt appeared in the 50th-anniversary episode of Doctor Who, appearing as the mysterious War Doctor, and he was thrilled to join the Doctor Who family despite initial concerns about exuberant fans in the Whovian fandom when he said, via The Guardian. “I was terrified of doing it because I thought they’d all be loonies, but they are absolutely, totally charming as anything.”

Most recently Hurt appeared in Jackie (2016) and The Journey (2016), as well as 2013’s Snowpiercer. He had just finished work on two films, That Good Night and My Name is Lenny and was set to start work on Joe Wright’s Darkest Hour as Neville Chamberlain.

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Hurt was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in July 2015, just a month after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife Anwen Rees-Myers and his sons Alexander and Nicholas.