William Hurt
William Hurt broke through as the leading man of Body Heat (1981), then won the 1986 Best Actor Oscar for playing imprisoned window-dresser Molina in Kiss of the Spider Woman. That role, which also took the Cannes and BAFTA best-actor prizes, established him as one of the most cerebral stars of the decade.
A Theatrical Foundation
William McChord Hurt trained at Juilliard and built his early reputation on the New York stage. His film career began with the trippy sci-fi drama Altered States in 1980.
The Defining Decade
The 1980s belonged to Hurt, who earned three straight Best Actor nominations and won for Kiss of the Spider Woman. His thoughtful, restrained style made him a critical favorite.
Later Years and Legacy
He continued working steadily, drawing an Oscar nod for A History of Violence and finding a new generation of fans in the Marvel films. He died in 2022 of complications from prostate cancer at 71.
Career Timeline
- 1980Film debut in Ken Russell's Altered States
- 1981Stars in steamy noir thriller Body Heat
- 1985Kiss of the Spider Woman premieres at Cannes
- 1986Wins Best Actor Oscar for Spider Woman
- 1987Oscar-nominated for Children of a Lesser God
- 1988Third straight Oscar nod for Broadcast News
- 1991Plays a dying man in The Doctor
- 2005Oscar-nominated for A History of Violence
- 2008Joins the Marvel films as General Ross
- 2018Diagnosed with prostate cancer
- 2022Dies at age 71 in Portland, Oregon
Biggest Hits
- He was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar three years running, for Spider Woman, Children of a Lesser God, and Broadcast News.
- Late in life he reached new audiences as General Thunderbolt Ross in Marvel's Avengers films.
Portrait: Tony Shek · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons