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PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 30 January 2017

John Hurt, Oscar nominated for “The Elephant Man” dies at 77

LINDSEY BAHR tas to Alan Parker’s 1978 mask was being applied
AP Film Writer film “Midnight Express,” for — usually raw eggs mixed
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The which he received a sup- in orange juice — and not
versatile actor Sir John Hurt, porting actor Oscar nomi- again until after midnight.
who could move audi- nation (he lost to Christo- “To be quite honest, the
ences to tears in “The Ele- pher Walken for “The Deer film was misery to make be-
phant Man,” terrify them in Hunter”) and an uneasy cause of the physical prob-
“Alien,” and spoof that very humor to Kane in Ridley lems, so if it’s working I’m
same scene in “Space- Scott’s “Alien,” immortal- jumping for joy,” Hurt said
balls,” has died. He was 77. ized by his disturbing death in a 1980 interview. Hurt did
Hurt, who battled pancre- scene, which Mel Brooks score a lead actor Oscar
atic cancer, died Friday in later poked fun at with nomination for the role, but
London according to his Hurt’s help in “Spaceballs.” lost out to Robert De Niro’s
agent Charles McDonald. “It was terribly sad today to performance in “Raging
Twice nominated for an learn of John Hurt’s pass- Bull.” Hurt was also a prolific
Oscar for playing the tor- ing,” Mel Brooks wrote on voice actor, appearing as This Oct. 6, 2015, file photo shows John Hurt posing for photog-
tured John Merrick in Da- Twitter. “He was a truly Hazel in the animated “Wa- raphers upon arrival at the BFI Luminous Gala Dinner in London.
vid Lynch’s “The Elephant magnificent talent.” tership Down,” and as Ara- Associated Press
Man” and for his role as the Hurt is unrecognizable in gorn in Ralph Bakshi’s “The
heroin addict Max in “Mid- perhaps his most memo- Lord of the Rings.” He also Alive” and “Snowpiercer.” “Jackie” as a priest who
night Express,” Hurt’s career rable role as the lead in voiced The Horned King in “We’re all just passing time, consoles and advises the
spanned over 50 years. Af- David Lynch’s “The Ele- “The Black Cauldron” and and occupy our chair very recently widowed first lady.
ter minor television and film phant Man.” He endured provided the narration for briefly,” Hurt said in a 2015 Hurt leaves behind a few in
appearances, his breakout eight hours in the makeup “Dogville.” interview while undergo- production credits, includ-
came in 1966 as Richard chair daily to transform into In the “Harry Potter” films, ing treatments for the early ing Joe Wright’s “Darkest
Rich in Fred Zinnemann’s John Merrick. The elabo- Hurt played the wand-mak- stage cancer. Hour” which is listed as still
“A Man For All Seasons,” rate mask prohibited him er Mr. Ollivander. In recent As prolific as ever, Hurt re- filming. Hurt plays Neville
followed by his portrayal of from sleeping lying down years, he appeared in no- cently appeared along- Chamberlain in the film
Caligula in the BBC minise- or even eating while it was table fare such as “Melan- side his “V for Vendetta” about Winston Churchill’s
ries “I, Claudius” in 1976. on. His would eat his last cholia,” ‘’Tinker Tailor Sol- co-star Natalie Portman in charge against Hitler. Gary
The wiry Hurt brought gravi- meal midmorning as the dier Spy,” ‘’Only Lovers Left the Oscar-nominated film Oldman plays Churchill.q