Oscar-winning actor William Hurt dies at 71; starred in 'Body Heat' and 'Broadcast News'
He was not on the list.
William Hurt, the Oscar-winning star of "Kiss of the Spider Woman," "Broadcast News" and "Children of a Lesser God," has died. He was 71.
Hurt’s son, Will, said in a statement to The Associated Press that Hurt died Sunday of natural causes. He said Hurt died peacefully, among family. Will Hurt told The Hollywood Reporter his father died at his home in Portland, Oregon. Hurt was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer that had spread to his bones in 2018.
Hurt, a four-time Oscar-nominated actor, was one of the most acclaimed stars and bankable leading men of the 1980s, starring as Vietnam veteran Nick Carlton in the all-star ensemble playing college friends reuniting in 1983's "The Big Chill."
Hurt earned Oscar nominations in three consecutive years – for his role as a prisoner in a Brazilian jail in 1985's "Kiss of the Spider Woman," 1986's drama "Children of a Lesser God" (alongside "CODA" star Marlee Matlin) and portraying a slick but lightweight TV anchor in 1987's "Broadcast News."
'Too young to be saying goodbye': Mark Ruffalo, Stephen King, Albert Brooks mourn William Hurt
Hurt was also nominated for his supporting role in director David Cronenberg's 2005 thriller "A History of Violence." He played cold-hearted gangster Richie Cusack, who has about eight minutes of screen time before being killed by his heroic brother (Viggo Mortensen).
Although his first credited role was on CBS' detective series "Kojak," Hurt, a Juilliard School actor, made his film debut in 1980, as a psychopathologist studying schizophrenia and experimenting with sensory deprivation in the science-fiction thriller "Altered States."
Hurt's true star breakout came the next year in the thriller "Body Heat," as small-town lawyer Ned Racine, who is seduced into committing murder by Kathleen Turner's Matty Walker.
In "Children of a Lesser God," it was his co-star, Matlin, who took the Oscar for her performance as a custodian at a school for the deaf. Hurt played a speech teacher. Hurt and Matlin's romance bloomed off-screen as well – but it wasn’t Hurt’s first experience with notoriety.
Actor William Hurt, a four-time Oscar nominee who won for his role in 1985's "Kiss of the Spider Woman," died March 13 at 71 of natural causes, his son, Will, said. He had also been diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer in 2018.
After graduating from the Juilliard School, Hurt got his start in theater, but his film career, starting with "Altered States" and his breakout role in "Body Heat," led to four Oscar nominations, including for "Children of a Lesser God" and "Broadcast News."
Hurt first married Mary Beth Hurt in 1971. During that 11-year marriage, he began a relationship with Sandra Jennings, whose pregnancy with their son precipitated Hurt’s divorce. In a high-profile court case six years later, Jennings claimed she had been Hurt’s common-law wife under South Carolina law and thus entitled to a share of his earnings. A New York court ruled in Hurt’s favor, but the actor continued to have a strained relationship with fame.
In her 2009 memoir, Matlin detailed physical abuse and drug abuse during their relationship. Hurt issued an apology, saying: "My own recollection is that we both apologized and both did a great deal to heal our lives."
For a younger generation, Hurt was known for his Marvel Cinematic Universe work as Hulk nemesis Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross. He first appeared in 2008's "The Incredible Hulk" alongside Edward Norton's Bruce Banner. He reprised the role in 2016's "Captain America: Civil War" (as Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross), "Avengers: Infinity War," "Avengers: Endgame" and 2021's "Black Widow."
Hurt starred alongside Billy Bob Thornton in Amazon's legal series "Goliath" from 2016 to 2021 as reclusive lawyer Donald Cooperman.
The actor was born in Washington, D.C., on March 20, 1950, the son of a State Department official, and is survived by four children. His acting career began on stage, and his theater career continued, including a 1984 Broadway production of "Hurly Burly," with a cast that included Christopher Walken, Harvey Keitel, Jerry Stiller, Sigourney Weaver and Cynthia Nixon.
William Hurt, the Oscar-winning actor, died March 13 at 71. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018. Hurt was nominated for three best actor Academy Awards back-to-back in the mid-80s, for "Broadcast News," "Children of a Lesser God" and "Kiss of the Spider Woman," and won for the latter film.
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
1981 Eyewitness Daryll Deever Peter Yates
Body Heat Ned Racine Lawrence Kasdan
1983 The Big Chill Nick Carlton Lawrence Kasdan
Gorky Park Arkady Renko Michael Apted
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
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
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
1988 A Time of Destiny Martin Larraneta Gregory Nava
The Accidental Tourist Macon Leary Lawrence Kasdan Golden Horse Award for Best Foreign Actor
1990 I Love You to Death Harlan James Lawrence Kasdan
Alice Doug Tate Woody Allen
1991 Until the End of the World Sam Farber, alias Trevor McPhee Wim Wenders
The Doctor Dr. Jack MacKee Randa Haines Nominated – Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
1992 The Plague Doctor Bernard Rieux Luis Puenzo
1993 Mr. Wonderful Tom Anthony Minghella
1994 Second Best Graham Holt Chris Menges
Trial by Jury Tommy Vesey Heywood Gould
1995 Smoke Paul Benjamin Wayne Wang
1996 A Couch in New York Henry Harriston Chantal Akerman
Michael Frank Quinlan Nora Ephron
Jane Eyre Edward Fairfax Rochester Franco Zeffirelli
1997 Loved K.D. Dietrickson Erin Dignam
1998 Lost in Space Professor John Robinson Stephen Hopkins
Dark City Inspector Frank Bumstead Alex Proyas
One True Thing George Gulden Carl Franklin
1999 The 4th Floor Greg Harrison Josh Klausner
Sunshine Andor Knorr István Szabó Nominated – Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
The Big Brass Ring William Blake Pellarin George Hickenlooper
Do Not Disturb Walter Richmond Dick Maas a.k.a. Silent Witness
2000 Contaminated Man David R. Whitman Anthony Hickox
The Miracle Maker Jairus (voice) Derek W. Hayes and Stanislav Sokolov
2001 Rare Birds Restaurateur Sturla Gunnarsson
A.I. Artificial Intelligence Professor Allen Hobby Steven Spielberg
The Simian Line Edward Linda Yellen
2002 Tuck Everlasting Angus Tuck Jay Russell
Changing Lanes Doyle Gipson's AA Sponsor Roger Michell
Nearest to Heaven Matt Tonie Marshall
2004 The Blue Butterfly Alan Osborne Léa Pool
The Village Edward Walker M. Night Shyamalan
2005 The King David Sandow James Marsh
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
Neverwas Dr. Peter Reed Joshua Michael Stern
Syriana Stan Goff Stephen Gaghan
2006 The Good Shepherd CIA Director Philip Allen Robert De Niro
The Legend of Sasquatch John Davis (voice) Thomas Callicoat Also co-producer
2007 Mr. Brooks Marshall Bruce A. Evans
Beautiful Ohio Simon Messerman Chad Lowe
Noise Mayor Schneer Henry Bean
Into the Wild Walt McCandless Sean Penn Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2008 Vantage Point President Harry Ashton Pete Travis
The Incredible Hulk Thaddeus Ross Louis Leterrier
2009 The Countess György Thurzó Julie Delpy
2010 The Yellow Handkerchief Brett Hanson Udayan Prasad
Robin Hood William Marshal Ridley Scott
2011 The River Why Henning Hale-Orviston Matthew Leutwyler
Late Bloomers Adam Julie Gavras
Hellgate Warren Mills John Penney
2012 J'enrage de son absence Jacques Sandrine Bonnaire
2013 The Host Jeb Stryder Andrew Niccol
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby Julian Rigby Ned Benson
Fire in the Blood Narrator (voice) Dylan Mohan Gray Documentary
Days and Nights Herb Christian Camargo
2014 Winter's Tale Isaac Penn Akiva Goldsman
2016 Race Jeremiah Mahoney Stephen Hopkins
Captain America: Civil War Thaddeus Ross Anthony and Joe Russo
2018 The Miracle Season Ernie Found Sean McNamara
Avengers: Infinity War Thaddeus Ross Anthony and Joe Russo Cameo
2019 Avengers: Endgame
The Last Full Measure Tom Tulley Todd Robinson
2021 Black Widow Thaddeus Ross Cate Shortland
2022 The King's Daughter Père La Chaise Sean McNamara
Television
Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
1977 The Best of Families James Lathrop Miniseries
Kojak Jake 2 episodes
1978 Verna: USO Girl Walter Television movie
1989 Saturday Night Live Himself Episode: "Glenn Close/Gipsy Kings"
1998 Lee Marvin: A Personal Portrait by John Boorman Himself Documentary
2000 Frank Herbert's Dune Duke Leto I Atreides 3 episodes
2001 The Flamingo Rising Turner Knight Television movie
Varian's War Varian Fry Television movie
Nominated for Satellite Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film
2002 The King of Queens Dr. Taber Episode: "Shrink Wrap"
Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story Robert Hanssen Television movie
2004 Frankenstein Professor Waldman Television movie
2006 Nightmares & Dreamscapes Jason Renshaw Episode: "Battleground"
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
Endgame Willie Esterhuyse Television movie
Nominated for Satellite Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film
2011 Moby Dick Captain Ahab 2 episodes
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
2013 Bonnie & Clyde Frank Hamer 2 episodes
Nominated for Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film
The Challenger Disaster Richard Feynman Television movie
2015 Humans George Millican 7 episodes
2016 Beowulf Hrothgar 5 episodes
2016–21 Goliath[48] Donald Cooperman 14 episodes
2018–20 Condor Bob Partridge[49] 11 episodes
2021 Mythic Quest Peter Cromwell Episode: "Peter"
TBA Pantheon Stephen Holstrom (voice) Filming; Posthumous release
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