RIP John Hurt

[aeolium]

A great loss of a terrific actor, on TV, film and radio. I will particularly remember The Naked Civil Servant, I Claudius, 10 Rillington Place and 1984 on TV and film, and his wonderful performance of the title role in Richard II on radio.

RIP

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

WHAT?! Oh god lord, this is very sad news. Terrific actor, great loss.

[BBMmk2]

Another top person has been taken away from us. What an actor Sir Joh was! Can't believe he's gone. RIP

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38778145

[aeolium]

His versatility was shown by how effectively he performed the roles of victim/outsider (Winston Smith in 1984, Quentin Crisp in The Naked Civil Servant, Timothy Evans in 10 Rillington Place e.g.) as well as capricious, vain, authoritarian leader (Caligula in I, Claudius, Chancellor Sutler in V for Vendetta, Richard II), as well as of course a myriad of other roles. And what a voice - the most distinctive male voice of his generation.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

And what a voice - the most distinctive male voice of his generation.

Yes - as illustrated by the "voice-overs" he did (Watership Down, the Dragon in Merlin, the AIDS "adverts"): instantly recognisable, but also remarkably flexible in tone and resonance.

(And a very good Doctor, of course.)

Very, very sad news.

[Lat-Literal]

I would have to mention his tremendous acting in The Elephant Man. At the time that film represented how far society had come. Afterwards in some comedy, in newspapers and via the internet it went backwards to enjoyment of Victorian style freak shows. This has been especially true since the late 1990s. With each new generation, it tends to worsen.

RIP John Hurt.

[Stanley Stewart]

Another case of "...a glooming peace this morning with it brings, the sun for sorrow will not show its head...(R & J closing speech); deeply personal, too, as John Hurt was a colleague at the RADA, in the early 60s. An enduring memory will always be of John, kneeling by a table in the refectory, as he intensively pursued a rehearsal problem which preoccupied him. His efforts are now widely acknowledged as one of our foremost actors - and a truly gracious man - I shall let things be with a further Shakespearian quote, "Goodnight, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest." RIP, John.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

And like so many great actors, he was in the Harry Potter films - as wand-maker, Ollivander

[Beef Oven!]

[johncorrigan]

And like so many great actors, he was in the Harry Potter films - as wand-maker, Ollivander

My son texted me this morning, Eine, to tell me that Olivander was gone. He was a favourite of the Harry Potter generation. John Hurt also did a wonderful job a couple of years back as the Last Doctor on Dr Who. I am most saddened to hear of the passing of this very fine actor and his very wonderful voice.

[aeolium]

I should also have recalled John Hurt's performance as Prince Bolkonsky in the R4 all-day production of War and Peace on New Year's Day 2015:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02fpxgz

And fittingly he received an Outstanding Contribution award in the BBC Audio Drama awards in early 2016.

[Serial_Apologist]

For me it has to be his total occupation of the hapless Timothy Evans character in that chilling film 10 Rillington Place

R.I.P. Pete

[gurnemanz]

We saw the film, Jackie, yesterday and he appeared in a small but important role as her priest/confessor. It was very poignant, especially since we were not expecting it, not knowing he was in it. Fine film, incidentally.

[Nick Armstrong]

For me it has to be his total occupation of the hapless Timothy Evans character in that chilling film 10 Rillington Place

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