William Hurt, whose laconic charisma and self-assured subtlety as an actor made him one of the 1980s foremost leading men in movies such as Broadcast News, The Big Chill, and Children of a Lesser God, has died. He was 71.
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Hurt's son, Will, said in a statement that Hurt died Sunday of natural causes. Hurt died peacefully, among family, his son said. The Hollywood Reporter said he died at his home in Portland, Oregon. Deadline first reported Hurt's death. Hurt was previously diagnosed with prostate cancer that had spread to the bone in 2018.
In a long-running career, Hurt was four times nominated for an Academy Award, winning for 1985's Kiss of the Spider Woman. After his breakthrough in 1980's Paddy Chayefsky-scripted Altered States as a psychopathologist studying schizophrenia and experimenting with sensory deprivation, Hurt quickly emerged as a mainstay of the '80s.
"RIP William Hurt. So sad to hear this news. Working with him on Broadcast News was amazing. He will be greatly missed," Albert Brooks tweeted.
Actor Mark Ruffalo wrote, "Wow, another major loss to the acting community. Great actor. Great mind. RIP."
Marvel Entertainment tweeted. "Rest In Peace to an amazing talent William Hurt, beloved Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross in our Marvel Cinematic Universe."
