One of my favourite actors and near neighbours has gone.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-hurt-dead-elephant-man-809521
John Hurt RIP
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Musings on the byways of popular culture
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No!!!
He was like the Bowie of actors.
Sad…another good man gone. Saw him only a couple of weeks ago in Only Lovers Left Alive, in which he died. :-<
Ironically saw him twice last night, in the film Jackie, and superb as Caligula in the “finally getting around to watching 41 years later” I, Claudius.
An amazing career – 10 Rillington Place, The Naked Civil Servant, Midnight Express, The Elephant Man, Alien, 1984 and Scandal, plus a key role in Doctor Who, to name just a few of his most memorable achievements, and demonstrating enormous range. A huge talent gone.
As well as being a great actor with a knack for choosing good films, I always thought he had a great look in his sixties and seventies. Athletically slim, short thick hair, goatee and great taste in clothes; he didn’t look like someone trying to appear young, he just looked effortlessly well cool.
Like I said. Bowie.
I remember studying 1984 for A level GCE in 1983, before I even knew the film was being made and it was John Hurt in my minds eye for Winston Smith straight away.
When it is a cliche to talk about gravelly voices, he had the gravel voice, instantly recognisable, delivering class to any vehicle he was involved in.
Years back, when a student, I was down at the med school sports ground. Some mates were in the cricket team playing, I think, London Actors, one of the many odd teams that then and maybe still existed. Quit little chap in the pavilion, speaking to no-one, undistinguished and indistinguishable, chain smoking and getting quietly very very pissed. But that voice, o that voice, when he asked for a drink or a light.
He used to joke he was booked for voice work when people couldn’t afford or get Ian McKellen or Patrick Stewart. His first impression on my life was Hazel in Watership Down
Only those with hearts of stone etc
God I love that book/film. Excuse me, there’s something in my eye.
Indeed sad news. Even in a minor role, as Richard Rich in A man for all seasons, he stood out. I am pleased to hear the Guardian film critic praised his role in Scandal. He was superb as Stephen Ward. Like James Mason, he will be known for a truly distinctive voice.
I think we may have become inured.
I hope to God his death wasn’t due to hardening of the arteries. Mrs F passed him the salt in the bar at Nottingham Playhouse in 1978. She’ll be mortified.
That’s fucking Crass. Show some respect or fuck off from here forever.
I think he died of pancreatic cancer, @Fintinlimbim, so your wife is in the clear. Besides, I’m not sure 77 counts as a premature death.
And, bri, as you pointed out above, we are getting inured. He was a great actor, no doubt about it. His body of work is deserving of respect but please cut Fin a bit of slack. No need for personal abuse.
Why is it ‘personal abuse’ from me, but we mustn’t hurt the “jokester’s feelings”?
Quentin says: “Have I offended you gentlemen in some way?”
I’m assuming you were a bit upset when you typed that, Bri.
I’m sure Mr Hurt wouldn’t have been the least bit offended by Fin’s joke.
Really?
He never struck me as a man who worried overmuch about being taken seriously.
An inveterate self-doubter like Sir Alec Guinness would not have liked it at all.
JH would have wheezed out a hearty chuckle at Fin’s sparkly little josh.
Yeah if he wasn’t dead.
John Hurt goes pop – almost.
Bit disquieting to realise I am now the same age George Martin was when he appeared in this.
All the old heroes of stage, screen, record etc. are now of an age.
A great actor whose presence will be missed.
I’ll never buy another wand now.
I should lighten up eh?
A very sad loss.
I just took a look at his IMDB page: his body or work is remarkable. There are four films as yet unreleased. Not a chap to sit around twiddling his thumbs.
John Sessions falling out of a taxi in Stella Street.
“Oh FARRRRKING HELLLLLLL….”
How many fingers am I holding up???