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  3. John Hurt's Most Memorable Roles

John Hurt's Most Memorable Roles

John Hurt has died at age 77. Here's a look back at some of his best performances.
By EW Staff Updated January 28, 2017 at 03:18 PM EST
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
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John Hurt (1940-2017)

alien
Credit: 20th Century Fox

John Hurt died Wednesday at the age of 77. The English actor, shown here in the 1979 sci-fi classic Alien, had more than 200 acting credits to his name. Here's a look back at some of his most memorable performances, in film and on television.

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Before Winter Comes (1969)

BEFORE WINTER COMES, John Hurt, 1969
Credit: Everett Collection

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In Search of Gregory (1969)

IN SEARCH OF GREGORY, from left, Julie Christie, John Hurt, 1969
Credit: Everett Collection

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Sinful Davey (1969)

SINFUL DAVEY, from left: Fidelma Murphy, Ronald Fraser, John Hurt, 1969
Credit: Everett Collection

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10 Rillington Place (1971)

10, RILLINGTON PLACE
Credit: Everett Collection

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I, Claudius (1976)

I, CLAUDIUS, John Hurt, 1976
Credit: Everett Collection

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East of Elephant Rock (1978)

EAST OF ELEPHANT ROCK, John Hurt, 1977
Credit: Everett Collection

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Midnight Express (1978)

MIDNIGHT EXPRESS, John Hurt, 1978, ©Columbia/Courtesy: Everett Collection
Credit: Everett Collection

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Heaven's Gate (1980)

HEAVEN'S GATE
Credit: Everett Collection

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The Elephant Man (1980)

THE ELEPHANT MAN, Anthony Hopkins, 1980, © Paramount/courtesy Everett Collection
Credit: Everett Collection

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Night Crossing (1982)

NIGHT CROSSING, from left: Jane Alexander, John Hurt, 1982, © Buena Vista/courtesy Everett Collectio
Credit: Everett Collection

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Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984)

1984, Richard Burton, John Hurt, 1984, (c) Atlantic Releasing/courtesy Everett Collection
Credit: Everett Collection

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Roger Corman's Frankenstein Unbound (1990)

FRANKENSTEIN UNBOUND, John Hurt, 1990.
Credit: Everett Collection

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The Field (1990)

THE FIELD, John Hurt, 1990, (c) Avenue Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection
Credit: Everett Collection

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Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, 1993

EVEN COWGIRLS GET THE BLUES, John Hurt, Angie Dickinson, 1993, (c)Fine Line Features/courtesy Everet
Credit: Everett Collection

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Rob Roy (1995)

ROB ROY, John Hurt, Tim Roth, 1995, (c)United Artists/courtesy Everett Collection
Credit: Everett Collection

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Love and Death on Long Island, 1997

LOVE AND DEATH ON LONG ISLAND, John Hurt, Jason Priestley, 1997.
Credit: Everett Collection

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You're Dead... (1999)

YOU'RE DEAD..., John Hurt, 1999, ©Trident Releasing/courtesy Everett Collection
Credit: Everett Collection

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

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Credit: Peter Mountain

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Hellboy (2004)

HELLBOY, Doug Jones, John Hurt, 2004, (c) Columbia/courtesy Everett Collection
Credit: Everett Collection

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The Proposition (2005)

THE PROPOSITION, John Hurt, Danny Huston, 2005, ©First Look Features/Everett Collection
Credit: Everett Collection

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V for Vendetta (2005)

V FOR VENDETTA, Hugo Weaving, John Hurt, 2006, (c) Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection
Credit: Everett Collection

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Beyond the Gates (2005)

SHOOTING DOGS, (aka IN EVERY HUMAN HEART, aka BEYOND THE GATES), John Hurt, 2005. ©IFC Films/courtes
Credit: Everett Collection

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The Oxford Murders (2008)

THE OXFORD MURDERS, Elijah Wood, John Hurt, 2008. ©Think Film/courtesy Everett Collection
Credit: Everett Collection

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Immortals (2011)

IMMORTALS, John Hurt, 2011, ph: Jan Thijs/©Relativity Media/courtesy Everett Collection
Credit: Everett Collection

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Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY, John Hurt, 2011. ph: Jack English/©Focus Features/Courtesy Everett Collec
Credit: Everett Collection

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Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor (2013)

DOCTOR WHO: THE DAY OF THE DOCTOR 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL, l-r: Matt Smith, David Tennant, John
Credit: Everett Collection

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The Last Panthers (2015)

THE LAST PANTHERS, John Hurt, (Season 1, ep. 104, aired May 4, 2016). photo: Stephane Remael
Credit: Everett Collection

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Jackie (2016)

JACKIE (2016) John Hurt, Natalie Portman CR: Bruno Calvo
Credit: Bruno Calvo

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    Everything in This Slideshow

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    1 of 29 John Hurt (1940-2017)
    2 of 29 Before Winter Comes (1969)
    3 of 29 In Search of Gregory (1969)
    4 of 29 Sinful Davey (1969)
    5 of 29 10 Rillington Place (1971)
    6 of 29 I, Claudius (1976)
    7 of 29 East of Elephant Rock (1978)
    8 of 29 Midnight Express (1978)
    9 of 29 Heaven's Gate (1980)
    10 of 29 The Elephant Man (1980)
    11 of 29 Night Crossing (1982)
    12 of 29 Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984)
    13 of 29 Roger Corman's Frankenstein Unbound (1990)
    14 of 29 The Field (1990)
    15 of 29 Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, 1993
    16 of 29 Rob Roy (1995)
    17 of 29 Love and Death on Long Island, 1997
    18 of 29 You're Dead... (1999)
    19 of 29 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
    20 of 29 Hellboy (2004)
    21 of 29 The Proposition (2005)
    22 of 29 V for Vendetta (2005)
    23 of 29 Beyond the Gates (2005)
    24 of 29 The Oxford Murders (2008)
    25 of 29 Immortals (2011)
    26 of 29 Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
    27 of 29 Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor (2013)
    28 of 29 The Last Panthers (2015)
    29 of 29 Jackie (2016)

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