John Hurt
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- January 22, 1940
- Died
- January 25, 2017
- Birthplace
- Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England, UK
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.
Filmography
Doctor Who: Wish World & The Reality War 2025
as The Doctor (archive footage) (uncredited)
Henry Fonda for President 2025
as Self (archive footage)
Doctor Who at the Proms 2024
as The Doctor (War) (archive footage)
Hannibal Hopkins & Sir Anthony 2021
as Self (archive footage)
Ayamé 2018
as Narrator (voice)
Damascus Cover 2017
as Miki
That Good Night 2017
as Ralph
My Name Is Lenny 2017
as Leslie Salmon
The Journey 2017
as Harry Patterson
Jackie 2016
as The Priest
- The Pity of War: The Loves and Lives of the War Poets
The Pity of War: The Loves and Lives of the War Poets 2016
as Siegfried Sassoon
Back to Utopia 2016
as Professor Peter Panludic (voice)
The Final Reel 2016
as Self - Narrator (voice)
ChickLit 2016
as Francis Bonar
Doctor Who: The Husbands of River Song 2015
as The Doctor (War) (picture) (uncredited)
Thomas & Friends: Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure: The Movie 2015
as Sailor John (voice)
A.K.A Nadia 2015
as 347
Break 2015
as Jack
The Alchemist's Letter 2015
as The Alchemist (voice)
Dmitri Shostakovich: A Man of Many Faces 2015
as Narator
Wimbledon The Official Film 2014 2014
as Narrator
Richard Attenborough: A Life in Film 2014
as Self
Hercules 2014
as Cotys
Only Lovers Left Alive 2013
as Christopher Marlowe
The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot 2013
as The War Doctor (archive voice)
Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor 2013
as The War Doctor
The Day of the Doctor: Cinema Intro 2013
as The War Doctor
Doctor Who Live: The Afterparty 2013
as Self
Doctor Who: The Night of the Doctor 2013
as The War Doctor
Hello: A Portrait Of Leslie Phillips 2013
as Self / Stephen Ward
Muse of Fire 2013
as Self
Doctor Who at the Proms 2013
as The War Doctor (archive footage) (uncredited)
Snowpiercer 2013
as Gilliam
Jayne Mansfield's Car 2013
as Kingsley Bedford
Swan Lake 3D - Live from the Mariinsky Theatre 2013
as The Voice of the Winter Palace / Self
Benjamin Britten: Peace and Conflict 2013
as Narrator (voice)
Sightseers 2012
as Jerusalem Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Planet Dinosaur: Ultimate Killers 2012
as Narrator (voice)
More Than Honey 2012
as Narrator (english voice)
The Snipist 2012
as The Ministry
The Gruffalo's Child 2011
as The Owl (voice)
Immortals 2011
as Old Zeus
On Borrowed Time 2011
as Self
In Love with Alma Cogan 2011
as MC
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy 2011
as Control
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 2011
as Ollivander
23 Degrees, 5 Minutes 2011
as Professor Orit
The Journey – Stories from the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa 2011
as Narrator
The Confession 2011
as Priest
Melancholia 2011
as Dexter
Sailcloth 2011
as Man
Whistle and I'll Come to You 2010
as James Parkin
Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie 2010
as Carnak
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 2010
as Ollivander
Love at First Sight 2010
as Arthur
Brighton Rock 2010
as Phil Corkery
- Behind Jim Jarmusch
Behind Jim Jarmusch 2010
as Self
A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures 2010
as Grandpa Sammy (voice)
Lou 2010
as Doyle
Waking Sleeping Beauty 2010
as The Horned King (voice) (archive footage)
The Gruffalo 2009
as Owl (voice)
Making History: Mel Brooks on Creating the World 2009
as Self (archive footage)
Ballybrando 2009
as Self
44 Inch Chest 2009
as Old Man Peanut
- Remembrance
Remembrance 2009
as Bellhop
The Limits of Control 2009
as Guitar
An Englishman in New York 2009
as Quentin Crisp
Centenary: The BP Story 2009
as Narrator (voice)
Lecture 21 2008
as Mondrian Kilroy
New York, I Love You 2008
as Bellhop
Hellboy II: The Golden Army 2008
as Trevor Bruttenholm
Recount 2008
as Warren Christopher
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull 2008
as Professor Harold Oxley
Outlander 2008
as Rothgar
Verity Lambert: Drama Queen 2008
Actor
The Oxford Murders 2008
as Arthur Seldom
Boxes 2007
as Fanny's father
Hellboy Animated: Blood and Iron 2007
as Professor Trevor 'Broom' Bruttenholm (voice)
The 50 Greatest Television Dramas 2007
as Self
Interview with John Hurt 2007
as Self
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer 2006
as Narrator (voice)
Whaledreamers 2006
as Self
V for Vendetta: Unmasked 2006
Actor
The Plot Against Harold Wilson 2006
as Narrator (voice)
Shooting Dogs 2006
as Christopher
V for Vendetta 2006
as Adam Sutler
The Proposition 2005
as Jellon Lamb
Once Upon a Halloween 2005
as The Horned King (voice) (archive sound)
Hiroshima 2005
as Narrator (voice)
The Skeleton Key 2005
as Ben Devereaux
Manderlay 2005
as Narrator (voice)
Valiant 2005
as Felix (voice)
Short Order 2005
as Felix
Shadowing the Third Man 2004
as Narrator (voice)
Hellboy: The Seeds of Creation 2004
as Self
Pride 2004
as Harry (voice)
Hellboy 2004
as Prof. Trevor 'Broom' Bruttenholm
Alpha to Omega: Exposing 'The Osterman Weekend' 2004
as Self
The Beast Within: Making Alien 2003
as Self
Dogville 2003
as Narrator (voice)
Meeting Che Guevara & the Man from Maybury Hill 2003
as Man from Maybury Hill
Owning Mahowny 2003
as Victor Foss
Check the Gate: Putting Beckett on Film 2003
as Self / Self - Krapp ("Krapp's Last Tape")
The Alien Saga 2002
as Narrator (voice)
- The Twilight Hour: Visions of Ireland's Haunted Past
The Twilight Hour: Visions of Ireland's Haunted Past 2002
as Self
I, Claudius: A Television Epic 2002
as Self
Crime and Punishment 2002
as Porfiry, chief investigator
Bait 2002
as Jack Blake
Miranda 2002
as Christian
The Terrible Elephant Man Revealed 2001
as Self
Shaolin: Wheel of Life 2001
as Narrator (voice)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone 2001
as Mr Ollivander
Captain Corelli's Mandolin 2001
as Dr. Iannis
Hidden Wars of Desert Storm 2001
as Narrator (voice)
Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged 2001
as Self
Tabloid 2001
as Vince
Lost Souls 2000
as Father Lareaux
Krapp's Last Tape 2000
as Krapp
The Tigger Movie 2000
as Narrator (voice)
New Blood 1999
as Alan White
You're Dead... 1999
as Maitland
If... Dog... Rabbit 1999
as Sean Cooper
All the Little Animals 1999
as Mr. Summers
The Climb 1998
as Chuck Langer
Love and Death on Long Island 1998
as Giles De'Ath
The Commissioner 1998
as James morton
Night Train 1998
as Michael Poole
Brute 1997
as Babits
Contact 1997
as S. R. Hadden
Tender Loving Care 1996
as Dr. Turner
Dead Man 1995
as John Scholfield
- Saigon Baby
Saigon Baby 1995
as Jack Lee
Wild Bill 1995
as Charley Prince
- On Jupiter
On Jupiter 1995
as Narrator (voice)
Rob Roy 1995
as John Graham
Picture Windows: Two Nudes Bathing 1995
as Marquis de Prey
The World of Jim Henson 1994
as The Storyteller (archive footage)
Second Best 1994
as Uncle Turpin
Rabbit Ears - Aladdin and the Magic Lamp 1994
as Narrator (voice)
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues 1994
as The Countess
Great Moments in Aviation 1994
as Rex Goodyear
Thumbelina 1994
as Mr. Mole (voice)
Monolith 1993
as Villano
Six Characters in Search of An Author 1992
as The Father
Dark at Noon 1992
as Anthony / Le Marquis
Red Fox 1991
as Archie Carpenter
I Dreamt I Woke Up 1991
as Boorman's Alter Ego
- Journey to Knock
Journey to Knock 1991
as Alfred
Lapse of Memory 1991
as Conrad Farmer
King Ralph 1991
as Graves
Paul McCartney: From Rio to Liverpool 1990
as Narrator (voice)
Frankenstein Unbound 1990
as Dr. Joe Buchanan / Narrator (voice)
Jonathan Ross Presents for One Week Only: David Lynch 1990
as Self
The Field 1990
as Bird' O'Donnell
Resident Alien 1990
as Self - Actor
Windprints 1990
as Charles Rutherford
Who Bombed Birmingham? 1990
as Chris Mullin
Romeo.Juliet 1990
as La Dame aux Chats / Mercutio (voice)
Poison Candy 1989
as Robert Burger
Scandal 1989
as Stephen Ward
David Macaulay: Pyramid 1989
as Khufu / Second French Explorer (voice)
The Bengali Night 1988
as Lucien Metz
A Dinner of Herbs 1988
as Verse Reader
The Storyteller: The True Bride 1988
as The Storyteller
The Storyteller: Sapsorrow 1988
as The Storyteller
The Storyteller: The Three Ravens 1988
as The Storyteller
The Storyteller: Hans My Hedgehog 1988
as The Storyteller
The Storyteller: A Story Short 1988
as The Storyteller
The Storyteller: The Luck Child 1988
as The Storyteller
The Storyteller: Fearnot 1988
as The Storyteller
Deadline 1988
as Granville Jones
White Mischief 1987
as Gilbert Colville
Vincent 1987
as Vincent Van Gogh (voice)
Spaceballs 1987
as John Hurt
Aria 1987
as The Actor
The Hunting of the Snark 1987
as The Narrator
From the Hip 1987
as Douglas Benoit
- Frightmares
Frightmares 1987
Actor
Iceberg 1987
as Narrator (voice)
Monolith 1987
as Narrator (voice)
- Rocinante
Rocinante 1986
as Bill
Thames Film 1986
as Narrator
Jake Speed 1986
as Syd
The Strange Case of Yukio Mishima 1985
as Narrator (voice)
The Black Cauldron 1985
as The Horned King (voice)
Live Aid 1985
as Self
After Darkness 1985
as Peter Hunningford
Nineteen Eighty-Four 1984
as Winston Smith
The Hit 1984
as Braddock
Success Is the Best Revenge 1984
as Dino Montecurva
Champions 1984
as Bob Champion
Sunset People 1984
as Self
The Osterman Weekend 1983
as Lawrence Fassett
King Lear 1983
as The Fool
The Plague Dogs 1982
as Snitter (voice)
- Paul McCartney - Take It Away
Paul McCartney - Take It Away 1982
as Self
Partners 1982
as Kerwin
Night Crossing 1982
as Peter Strelzyk
History of the World: Part I 1981
as Jesus - The Roman Empire
Heaven's Gate 1980
as Billy Irvine
The Elephant Man 1980
as John Merrick
- An Evening with Quentin Crisp
An Evening with Quentin Crisp 1980
as Host
Alien 1979
as Kane
The Lord of the Rings 1978
as Aragorn (voice)
Watership Down 1978
as Hazel (voice)
Midnight Express 1978
as Max
The Shout 1978
as Anthony Fielding
The Disappearance 1977
as Atkinson
East of Elephant Rock 1977
as Nash
Three Dangerous Ladies 1977
as Lt. George Simmonds
Spectre 1977
as Mitri Cyon
- The Island
The Island 1976
as Captain Simmonds
Stream Line 1976
as Chandler
The Peddler 1976
as Alec Cassell
The Naked Civil Servant 1975
as Quentin Crisp
The Ghoul 1975
as Tom Rawlings
Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs 1974
as Malcolm Scrawdyke
- The Playboy of the Western World
The Playboy of the Western World 1974
as Christopher Mahon (Christy Mahon)
The Pied Piper 1972
as Franz
- Green Julia
Green Julia 1971
as Bob
Mr. Forbush and the Penguins 1971
as Richard Forbush
10 Rillington Place 1971
as Timothy Evans
In Search of Gregory 1969
as Daniel
Sinful Davey 1969
as Davey Haggart
Before Winter Comes 1969
as Lieutenant Pilkington
The Sailor from Gibraltar 1967
as John
A Man for All Seasons 1966
as Richard Rich
This Is My Street 1964
as Charlie
The Wild and the Willing 1962
as Phil Corbett
Credits from TMDB.