William Hurt

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

William Hurt
File:History of Violence 002 (7271227040).jpg
Hurt signing autographs at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival
Born William McChord Hurt
(1950-03-20)March 20, 1950
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Died Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist.
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Nationality American
Education Middlesex School
Alma mater Tufts University (BA)
Juilliard School (GrDip)
Occupation Actor
Years active 1977–2022
Spouse(s) Mary Beth Hurt
(m. 1971; div. 1982)
Heidi Henderson
(m. 1989; div. 1992)
Partner(s) Sandra Jennings
(1981–1984)
Marlee Matlin
(1985–1986)
Sandrine Bonnaire
(1992–1997)
Children 4

William McChord Hurt[1][2] (March 20, 1950 – March 13, 2022) was an American actor. He studied at the Juilliard School and began acting on stage in the 1970s. Hurt made his film debut in 1980 as a troubled scientist in Ken Russell's science-fiction feature Altered States, for which he received a Golden Globe nomination for New Star of the Year. In 1981 he played a leading role, as a lawyer who succumbs to the temptations of a married woman played by Kathleen Turner, in the neo-noir Body Heat. He played another leading role, as Arkady Renko, in Gorky Park (1983).

Hurt garnered three consecutive nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actor, for Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985), Children of a Lesser God (1986), and Broadcast News (1987), winning for the first of these. Hurt remained an active stage actor throughout the 1980s, appearing in Off-Broadway productions including Henry V, Fifth of July, Richard II and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Hurt received his first Tony Award nomination in 1985 for the Broadway production of Hurlyburly.

After a variety of character roles in the following decade, Hurt earned his fourth Academy Award nomination for his supporting performance in David Cronenberg's crime thriller A History of Violence (2005). His later career films roles include turns in A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001), The Village (2004), Syriana (2005), The Good Shepherd (2006), Mr. Brooks (2007), Into the Wild (2007), Robin Hood (2010), and the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, in which he portrayed Thaddeus Ross.[3]

Early life and education

Hurt was born March 20, 1950, in Washington, D.C., the son of Claire Isabel (née McGill; 1923–1971),[4] who worked at Time Inc., and Alfred McChord Hurt (1910–1996), who worked for the United States Agency for International Development and the U.S. State Department.[5][6] He had two brothers.[7] With his father, he lived in Lahore, Mogadishu, and Khartoum.[8] His parents divorced and in 1960, his mother married Henry Luce III (1925–2005), a son of publisher Henry Luce.[9]

Hurt attended the Middlesex School, where he was vice president of the Dramatics Club and had the lead role in several school plays. He graduated in 1968 and his yearbook predicted, "you might even see him on Broadway." Hurt attended Tufts University and studied theology,[10] but turned instead to acting and joined the Juilliard School (Drama Division Group 5: 1972–1976).[11] Two of his classmates there were Christopher Reeve and Robin Williams.

Career

Hurt began his career in stage productions, only later acting in films. From 1977 to 1989, he was a member of the acting company at Circle Repertory Company. He won an Obie Award for his debut appearance there in Corinne Jacker's My Life, and won a 1978 Theatre World Award for his performances in Fifth of July, Ulysses in Traction, and Lulu. In 1979, Hurt played Hamlet under the direction of Marshall W. Mason opposite Lindsay Crouse and Beatrice Straight. His first major film role was in the science-fiction film Altered States where his performance as an obsessed scientist gained him wide recognition. His performance with Richard Crenna, Ted Danson and newcomer Kathleen Turner in Lawrence Kasdan's neo-noir classic Body Heat elevated Hurt to stardom, and he later also co-starred in Kasdan’s The Big Chill (1983). He appeared in the thriller Gorky Park opposite Lee Marvin. He received the Best Male Performance Prize at the Cannes Film Festival and the Academy Award for Best Actor for Kiss of the Spider Woman in 1985. He received three additional Oscar nominations: Best Actor for Children of a Lesser God (1986) and Broadcast News (1987; he was thus nominated for Best Actor for three consecutive years) and Best Supporting Actor for A History Of Violence (2005). Hurt also starred in Tuck Everlasting as Angus Tuck.

Often cast as an intellectual, Hurt starred in films such as Lost in Space, but was also been effective in other kinds of role, as in I Love You to Death and David Cronenberg's psychological drama A History of Violence (2005), where in less than 10 minutes of screen time he plays the creepy mob boss, Richie Cusack. Also in 2005, Hurt played a mysterious government operative in Stephen Gaghan's ensemble drama about the politics of big oil, Syriana.[citation needed]

Hurt was in the miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's Nightmares and Dreamscapes, in a piece entitled Battleground (also notable for its complete lack of dialogue). He plays Renshaw, a hitman who receives a package from the widow of a toymaker he had killed, unaware of what is waiting inside for him. He appeared in the cast of Vanya, an adaptation of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, at the Artists Repertory Theatre in Portland, Oregon.[12]

In June 2007, Marvel Studios announced that Hurt would portray General Thaddeus Ross in the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk alongside Edward Norton, Liv Tyler and Tim Roth.[13] Hurt reprised his role in Captain America: Civil War (2016),[14] Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and Black Widow (2021).

He appeared in Sean Penn's film Into the Wild, the true story of Christopher McCandless. He appeared as President Henry Ashton in the 2008 action-thriller Vantage Point. Hurt also played Mr. Brooks's alter ego in Mr. Brooks, which starred Kevin Costner.

In 2009, Hurt became a series regular on the FX series Damages playing a corporate whistleblower opposite Glenn Close and Marcia Gay Harden. For his role in the series, he earned a 2009 Primetime Emmy Award nomination in the "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series" category. Hurt's 2009 Sundance film The Yellow Handkerchief was released in theaters on February 26, 2010, by Samuel Goldwyn Films. He was in the Thailand-based 2011 thriller Hellgate alongside Cary Elwes and Paula Taylor, directed by John Penney.[15]

In September 2010, Hurt played United States Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson in the HBO film Too Big to Fail, an adaptation of Andrew Ross Sorkin's book. He also starred as Captain Ahab in the 2011 television adaptation of Herman Melville's novel Moby-Dick.

In 2018, he was cast as the lead in The Coldest Game (2019), but after he was injured in an off-set accident, he was replaced by Bill Pullman.[16]

Personal life

Hurt was married to Mary Beth Hurt from 1971 to 1982.[17] In the 1980s he was involved in a lawsuit with Sandra Jennings.[18] While he was still married, Hurt and Jennings had begun a relationship in Saratoga Springs, New York, in 1981.[18] Jennings became pregnant in the spring of 1982, which precipitated Hurt's divorce from Mary Beth Hurt, after which Hurt and Jennings relocated to South Carolina, a state that recognized common-law marriages.[18]

Hurt and Jennings remained officially unmarried and later separated. Jennings sued him in New York, seeking recognition of their relationship as a common-law marriage under South Carolina law.[18] The New York court did not recognize common-law marriage, was reluctant to recognize a common-law marriage originating in South Carolina, and found in Hurt's favor that no common-law marriage existed.[18]

Hurt dated Marlee Matlin for one year, and they cohabited for two years.[19] In 1986, after Matlin won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Children of a Lesser God, Hurt reportedly asked her to consider what it meant to win the Oscar after just one film, when others won only after many years of hard work. "What makes you think you deserved it, Marlee?" Hurt allegedly asked her in the limousine after the ceremony.[20] In her 2009 autobiography I'll Scream Later, Matlin said that their relationship involved considerable drug abuse and physical abuse by Hurt.[21] In response to the accusations aired on CNN on April 13, 2009, Hurt's agent declined to respond, but Hurt issued a statement the following day, which said: "My own recollection is that we both apologized and both did a great deal to heal our lives. Of course, I did and do apologize for any pain I caused. And I know we have both grown. I wish Marlee and her family nothing but good."[22]

Hurt had four children: one with Jennings, two with Heidi Henderson, and one with French actress, film director and screenwriter Sandrine Bonnaire.[17]

Hurt was a private pilot and owner of a Beechcraft Bonanza.[23] He was fluent in French and maintained a home outside Paris.[17]

It was announced in May 2018 that Hurt had terminal prostate cancer that had already metastasized to the bones.[24] Hurt died on March 13, 2022, at the age of 71, in his adopted hometown of Portland, Oregon.[25]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Director Notes Ref(s)
1980 Altered States Professor Edward Jessup Ken Russell Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best New Actor – Motion Picture [26]
1981 Eyewitness Daryll Deever Peter Yates [26]
Body Heat Ned Racine Lawrence Kasdan [26]
1983 The Big Chill Nick Carlton Lawrence Kasdan [26]
Gorky Park Arkady Renko Michael Apted [26]
1985 Kiss of the Spider Woman Luis Alberto Molina Héctor Babenco Academy Award for Best Actor
BAFTA Award for Best Film Actor in a Leading Role
Cannes Film Festival – Best Male Interpretation
David di Donatello Award for Best Foreign Actor
London Film Critics Circle Award for Actor of the Year
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
National Board of Review Award for Best Actor (tied with Raul Julia)
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Nominated – National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor
Nominated – New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor		 [26]
1986 Children of a Lesser God James Leeds Randa Haines Nominated – Academy Award for Best Actor
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama		 [26]
1987 Broadcast News Tom Grunick James L. Brooks Nominated – Academy Award for Best Actor
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Nominated – New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor		 [26]
1988 A Time of Destiny Martin Larraneta Gregory Nava [26]
The Accidental Tourist Macon Leary Lawrence Kasdan Golden Horse Award for Best Foreign Actor [26]
1990 I Love You to Death Harlan James Lawrence Kasdan [26]
Alice Doug Tate Woody Allen [26]
1991 Until the End of the World Sam Farber, alias Trevor McPhee Wim Wenders [26]
The Doctor Dr. Jack MacKee Randa Haines Nominated – Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor [26]
1992 The Plague Doctor Bernard Rieux Luis Puenzo [26]
1993 Mr. Wonderful Tom Anthony Minghella [26]
1994 Second Best Graham Holt Chris Menges [26]
Trial by Jury Tommy Vesey Heywood Gould [26]
1995 Smoke Paul Benjamin Wayne Wang [26]
1996 A Couch in New York Henry Harriston Chantal Akerman [26]
Michael Frank Quinlan Nora Ephron [26]
Jane Eyre Edward Fairfax Rochester Franco Zeffirelli [26]
1997 Loved K.D. Dietrickson Erin Dignam [26]
1998 Lost in Space Professor John Robinson Stephen Hopkins [26]
Dark City Inspector Frank Bumstead Alex Proyas [26]
One True Thing George Gulden Carl Franklin [26]
1999 The 4th Floor Greg Harrison Josh Klausner [26]
Sunshine Andor Knorr István Szabó Nominated – Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role [26]
The Big Brass Ring William Blake Pellarin George Hickenlooper [26]
Do Not Disturb Walter Richmond Dick Maas a.k.a. Silent Witness [26]
2000 Contaminated Man David R. Whitman Anthony Hickox [26]
The Miracle Maker Jairus (voice) Derek W. Hayes and Stanislav Sokolov [26]
2001 Rare Birds Restaurateur Sturla Gunnarsson [26]
A.I. Artificial Intelligence Professor Allen Hobby Steven Spielberg [26]
The Simian Line Edward Linda Yellen [26]
2002 Tuck Everlasting Angus Tuck Jay Russell [26]
Changing Lanes Doyle Gipson's AA Sponsor Roger Michell [26]
Nearest to Heaven Matt Tonie Marshall [26]
2004 The Blue Butterfly Alan Osborne Léa Pool [26]
The Village Edward Walker M. Night Shyamalan [26]
2005 The King David Sandow James Marsh [26]
A History of Violence Richie Cusack David Cronenberg Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor
North Texas Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
Utah Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated – Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated – International Cinephile Society Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated – Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor		 [26]
Neverwas Dr. Peter Reed Joshua Michael Stern [26]
Syriana Stan Goff Stephen Gaghan [26]
2006 The Good Shepherd CIA Director Philip Allen Robert De Niro [26]
The Legend of Sasquatch John Davis (voice) Thomas Callicoat Also co-producer [27]
2007 Mr. Brooks Marshall Bruce A. Evans [26]
Beautiful Ohio Simon Messerman Chad Lowe [26]
Noise Mayor Schneer Henry Bean [26]
Into the Wild Walt McCandless Sean Penn Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture [26]
2008 Vantage Point President Harry Ashton Pete Travis [26]
The Incredible Hulk Thaddeus Ross Louis Leterrier [26]
2009 The Countess György Thurzó Julie Delpy [26]
2010 The Yellow Handkerchief Brett Hanson Udayan Prasad [26]
Robin Hood William Marshal Ridley Scott [26]
2011 The River Why Henning Hale-Orviston Matthew Leutwyler [26]
Late Bloomers Adam Julie Gavras [28]
Hellgate Warren Mills John Penney [29]
2013 The Host Jeb Stryder Andrew Niccol [26]
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby Julian Rigby Ned Benson [30]
Fire in the Blood Narrator (voice) Dylan Mohan Gray Documentary [31]
Days and Nights Herb Christian Camargo [32]
2014 Winter's Tale Isaac Penn Akiva Goldsman [26]
2016 Race Jeremiah Mahoney Stephen Hopkins [26]
Captain America: Civil War Thaddeus Ross Anthony and Joe Russo [26]
2018 The Miracle Season Ernie Found Sean McNamara [33]
Avengers: Infinity War Thaddeus Ross Anthony and Joe Russo Cameo [26]
2019 Avengers: Endgame [26]
The Last Full Measure Tom Tulley Todd Robinson [34]
2021 Black Widow Thaddeus Ross Cate Shortland [35]
2022 The King's Daughter Père La Chaise Sean McNamara [36]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
1977 The Best of Families James Lathrop Miniseries [27]
Kojak Jake 2 episodes [27]
1978 Verna: USO Girl Walter Television movie [26]
1989 Saturday Night Live Himself Episode: "Glenn Close/Gipsy Kings" [37]
1998 Lee Marvin: A Personal Portrait by John Boorman Himself Documentary [26]
2000 Frank Herbert's Dune Duke Leto I Atreides[38] 3 episodes [26]
2001 The Flamingo Rising Turner Knight Television movie [26]
Varian's War Varian Fry Television movie
Nominated for Satellite Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film		 [26]
2002 The King of Queens Dr. Taber Episode: "Shrink Wrap" [27]
Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story Robert Hanssen Television movie [39]
2004 Frankenstein Professor Waldman Television movie [26]
2006 Nightmares & Dreamscapes Jason Renshaw Episode: "Battleground" [26]
2009 Damages Daniel Purcell 10 episodes
Nominated for Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film
Nominated for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor – Drama Series		 [26]
Endgame Willie Esterhuyse Television movie
Nominated for Satellite Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film		 [26]
2011 Moby Dick Captain Ahab 2 episodes [26]
Too Big to Fail Henry Paulson Television movie
Nominated for Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film
Nominated for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
Nominated for Satellite Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film		 [40]
2013 Bonnie & Clyde Frank Hamer 2 episodes
Nominated for Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film		 [27]
The Challenger Disaster Richard Feynman Television movie [41]
2015 Humans George Millican 7 episodes [26]
2016 Beowulf Hrothgar 5 episodes [26]
2016–21 Goliath[42] Donald Cooperman 14 episodes [36]
2018–20 Condor Bob Partridge[43] 11 episodes [36]
2021 Mythic Quest Peter Cromwell Episode: "Peter" [44]
TBA Pantheon Stephen Holstrom (voice) Filming; Posthumous release [45]

Audiobook narration

Year Book Role Notes Ref(s)
1989 The Polar Express Narrator Cassette tape only [46][47]
2006 The Sun Also Rises [48]

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

Cite error: Invalid <references> tag; parameter "group" is allowed only.

Use <references />, or <references group="..." />

External links

Script error: The function "top" does not exist.

Script error: The function "bottom" does not exist.

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

  1. ↑ Obituary "Survivors include two sons from his first marriage, the actor William McChord Hurt and James Harlan Hurt, both of New York; and five grandchildren"
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1989/01/25/the-intensity-of-being-william-hurt/7208586c-27b8-4e9f-8c25-79e30cd5d525/
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 Jennings v. Hurt, N.Y.L.J., October 4, 1989, at 24 (Sup. Ct. N.Y. County), aff'd, 554 N.Y.S.2d 220 (App. Div. 1990), appeal denied, 568 N.Y.S.2d 347 (N.Y. 1991)
  19. ↑ Matlin, Marlee. I'll Scream Later. (2009)
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ "Marlee Matlin: Baby sitter's abuse led to life of drugs, violence." CNN. April 14, 2009
  22. ↑ Grossberg, Josh. "William Hurt to Marlee Matlin: "I Apologize for Any Pain I Caused"." E!. April 14, 2009
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Actor William Hurt vouches for side effect-free cancer therapy at unveiling
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ 26.00 26.01 26.02 26.03 26.04 26.05 26.06 26.07 26.08 26.09 26.10 26.11 26.12 26.13 26.14 26.15 26.16 26.17 26.18 26.19 26.20 26.21 26.22 26.23 26.24 26.25 26.26 26.27 26.28 26.29 26.30 26.31 26.32 26.33 26.34 26.35 26.36 26.37 26.38 26.39 26.40 26.41 26.42 26.43 26.44 26.45 26.46 26.47 26.48 26.49 26.50 26.51 26.52 26.53 26.54 26.55 26.56 26.57 26.58 26.59 26.60 26.61 26.62 26.63 26.64 26.65 26.66 26.67 26.68 26.69 26.70 26.71 26.72 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=William_Hurt&oldid=726332564"