John Hurt loses war with cancer, tributes pour in

London: Oscar-nominated British actor John Hurt, known for his roles in Elephant Man and Harry Potter, died aged 77 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, his wife said on Saturday.

The versatile actor, who played Mr Ollivander in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and in two other films in the series, passed away in Norfolk, eastern England, on Wednesday, said his wife Anwen 0Rees Meyers. He starred in the movie adaptation of George Orwell’s novel 1984 and played the role of Kane in Alien, who dies when the creature dramatically bursts from his chest in one of the most memorable death scenes in the movie history.

He was twice nominated for an Oscar, in the best supporting actor category for his performance in the 1978 film Midnight Express as Max, a British man imprisoned in Turkey, and for his starring role two years later in Elephant Man about a severely deformed man in 19th century London. He received a Bafta award for Midnight Express as well as a Golden Globe in the best actor in a supporting role category.

“It is with deep sadness that I have to confirm that my husband, John Vincent Hurt, died on Wednesday 25th January 2017 at home in Norfolk,” Meyers said in a statement released by publicist Charles McDonald. “John was the most sublime of actors and the most gentlemanly of gentlemen with the greatest of hearts and the most generosity of spirit. He touched all our lives with joy and magic and it will be a strange world without him.”

Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood paid tribute to the actor, tweeting: “Very sad to hear of John Hurt’s passing. It was such an honour to have watched you work, sir.” Among many other tributes to flood in, American actor Chris Evans described Hurt as “remarkable”. “John Hurt was one of the most powerful, giving and effortlessly real actors I’ve ever worked with Remarkable human being. U will be missed,” he tweeted.

Born on January 22, 1940, in Chesterfield, England, Hurt first began his career as a teacher of drawing. But he quickly moved to a life on camera and, after entering the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, he began his career in British film in the 1960s. It was at the end of the 1970s when his career definitively took off following back-to-back roles in Midnight Express and Alien. Hurt, who appeared in some 140 films, often playing supporting roles, also maintained a strong television presence, making appearances in cult British series Doctor Who among others.

He also showed a lighter side, playing a parody of his Kane character in spoof sci-fi comedy Spaceballs, directed by Mel Brooks. The veteran US comic posted on Twitter that he was “terribly sad today to learn of John Hurt’s passing. “No one could have played The Elephant Man more memorably,” he added. “He carried that film into cinematic immortality. He will be sorely missed.” The actor, who received a total of four Baftas, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2014.

His cancer was diagnosed the following year but he did not give up his profession. For his final role, he played Father Richard McSorley in the biopic Jackie, the story of the former American First Lady, which was released in December in the US.

Cinematic immortality

• The British actor was twice nominated for an Oscar, in the best supporting actor category
• John Hurt received a Bafta award for Midnight Express and also a Golden Globe for the best actor in a supporting role category
• He received four Baftas and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2014
• Hurt first began his career as a teacher