Legendary actor William Hurt has passed away. He was 71 years old, and just one week away from his 72nd Birthday.
The Oscar-winning star enjoyed a long and successful career that spanned decades, and appeared in dozens of critically acclaimed movies throughout the years.
Hurt took on roles in several 80's classics, including Altered States, Body Heat, and The Big Chill, before winning an Oscar for his performance in Kiss of the Spider Woman in 1985. Later, appearances in Lost in Space, Dark City, and the Sci-Fi channel mini-series adaptation of Dune would enshrine him as a cult science fiction icon.
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In 2008, Hurt joined the budding Marvel Cinematic Universe as Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross in The Incredible Hulk. He would return to role several years later as a recurring character across Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Black Widow.
Deadline reports that Hurt was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer in 2018. The news of his passing was announced by his son, Will.
"It is with great sadness that the Hurt family mourns the passing of William Hurt, beloved father and Oscar winning actor, on March 13, 2022, one week before his 72nd birthday," the statement read. "He died peacefully, among family, of natural causes. The family requests privacy at this time."
Tributes to Hurt have been pouring in from friends, colleagues, and peers who remember him as one of the all-time greats.
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"I’m so sad to hear of the passing of William Hurt," wrote director M. Night Shyamalan. "I had the privilege of directing him in The Village. He was a master of his acting craft. Every take was new and revealing."
Actor Russel Crowe added: "William Hurt has passed. On Robin Hood, I was aware of his reputation for asking character based questions, so I had compiled a file on the life of William Marshall. He sought me out when he arrived on set. I handed him the stack. Not sure if I’ve ever seen a bigger smile. RIP."
Fellow MCU alum Mark Ruffalo lamented the "major loss to the acting community", and praised Hurt's "great mind", while Antonio Banderas said simply: "a great actor has left us".
Hurt will undoubtedly forever be remembered as one of the finest actors of our time, and deservedly so. Long may his legacy continue.
Topics: Marvel, TV And Film