Veteran British actor John Hurt dies

Oscar-nominated British actor John Hurt, known for his roles in “Elephant Man” and “Harry Potter”, has died aged 77 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, his wife said yesterday, reports AFP.
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, according to wife Anwen Rees 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 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. Hurt’s death was confirmed by his widow Anwen.
“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,” she 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.

 

Veteran British actor John Hurt dies

Oscar-nominated British actor John Hurt, known for his roles in Elephant Man and Harry Potter, has died aged 77 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, his wife said yesterday, reports AFP. The versatile actor, who played Mr Ollivander in Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone and in two other films in the series, passed away in Norfolk, eastern England, on Wednesday, according to wife Anwen Rees Meyers. He starred in the movie adaptation of George Orwells 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 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. Hurts death was confirmed by his widow Anwen. 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, she 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.