John Hurt
Biography
Sir John Vincent Hurt was an English actor born on January 22, 1940, in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England. His career spanned over five decades, and he accumulated 277 known acting credits. Hurt came to prominence for his role as Richard Rich in the 1966 film A Man for All Seasons. He received BAFTA Award nominations for portraying Timothy Evans in the 1971 film 10 Rillington Place and Quentin Crisp in the 1975 television film The Naked Civil Servant, winning his first BAFTA for the latter. He subsequently played Caligula in the 1976 BBC television series I, Claudius. His performance in the prison drama Midnight Express brought him international renown, earning him Golden Globe and BAFTA awards, as well as an Academy Award nomination. Hurt died on January 25, 2017.
Career overview
John Hurt's acting career spanned over five decades, during which he gained prominence for his roles in various films and television productions. He initially came to notice for his portrayal of Richard Rich in the 1966 film A Man for All Seasons. This early success was followed by notable performances in 10 Rillington Place and The Naked Civil Servant, the latter of which earned him his first BAFTA Award.
Hurt's performance in the 1978 film Midnight Express brought him international recognition and earned him multiple awards, including a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award, as well as an Academy Award nomination. His portrayal of Caligula in the BBC TV series I, Claudius is also notable. Throughout his career, Hurt received BAFTA Award nominations for his performances in several films and television productions.
John Hurt's extensive body of work includes over 277 credits, showcasing his versatility as an actor. His contributions to the film and television industry have left a lasting impact, with his performances continuing to be recognized and celebrated.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- Doctor Who: Wish World & The Reality War (2025) as The Doctor (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Henry Fonda for President (2025) as Self (archive footage)
- Doctor Who at the Proms (2024) as The Doctor (War) (archive footage)
- Hannibal Hopkins & Sir Anthony (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- Ayamé (2018) as Narrator (voice)
- Damascus Cover (2017) as Miki
- That Good Night (2017) as Ralph
- My Name Is Lenny (2017) as Leslie Salmon
- The Journey (2017) as Harry Patterson
- Jackie (2016) as The Priest
- ChickLit (2016) as Francis Bonar
- The Final Reel (2016) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Back to Utopia (2016) as Professor Peter Panludic (voice)
- The Pity of War: The Loves and Lives of the War Poets (2016) as Siegfried Sassoon
- The Last Panthers (2015) as Tom
- Thomas & Friends: Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure: The Movie (2015) as Sailor John (voice)
- Doctor Who: The Husbands of River Song (2015) as The Doctor (War) (picture) (uncredited)
- The Alchemist's Letter (2015) as The Alchemist (voice)
- A.K.A Nadia (2015) as 347
- Break (2015) as Jack
- Dmitri Shostakovich: A Man of Many Faces (2015) as Narator
- Hercules (2014) as Cotys
- Wimbledon The Official Film 2014 (2014) as Narrator
- Richard Attenborough: A Life in Film (2014) as Self
- Snowpiercer (2013) as Gilliam
- Only Lovers Left Alive (2013) as Christopher Marlowe
- Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor (2013) as The War Doctor
- Jayne Mansfield's Car (2013) as Kingsley Bedford
- Muse of Fire (2013) as Self
- Doctor Who: The Night of the Doctor (2013) as The War Doctor
- The Day of the Doctor: Cinema Intro (2013) as The War Doctor
- The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot (2013) as The War Doctor (archive voice)
- Swan Lake 3D - Live from the Mariinsky Theatre (2013) as The Voice of the Winter Palace / Self
- Hello: A Portrait Of Leslie Phillips (2013) as Self / Stephen Ward
- Doctor Who Live: The Afterparty (2013) as Self
- Benjamin Britten: Peace and Conflict (2013) as Narrator (voice)
- Playhouse Presents (2012) as The Ministry (voice)
- The Hollow Crown (2012) as The Chorus
- Labyrinth (2012) as Audric Baillard
- Sightseers (2012) as Jerusalem Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- Planet Dinosaur: Ultimate Killers (2012) as Narrator (voice)
- More Than Honey (2012) as Narrator (english voice)
- The Snipist (2012) as The Ministry
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) as Ollivander
- Immortals (2011) as Old Zeus
- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) as Control
- Melancholia (2011) as Dexter
- The Confession (2011) as Priest
- The Gruffalo's Child (2011) as The Owl (voice)
- Planet Dinosaur (2011) as Narrator
- The Confession (2011) as Priest
- Human Planet (2011) as Narrator (voice)
- 23 Degrees, 5 Minutes (2011) as Professor Orit
- On Borrowed Time (2011) as Self
- In Love with Alma Cogan (2011) as MC
- Sailcloth (2011) as Man
- The Journey – Stories from the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa (2011) as Narrator
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010) as Ollivander
- A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures (2010) as Grandpa Sammy (voice)
- Lou (2010) as Doyle
- Brighton Rock (2010) as Phil Corkery
- Behind Jim Jarmusch (2010) as Self
- Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie (2010) as Carnak
- Love at First Sight (2010) as Arthur
- Whistle and I'll Come to You (2010) as James Parkin
- The Gruffalo (2009) as Owl (voice)
- Waking Sleeping Beauty (2009) as The Horned King (voice) (archive footage)
- Remembrance (2009) as Bellhop
- The Limits of Control (2009) as Guitar
- 44 Inch Chest (2009) as Old Man Peanut
- Ballybrando (2009) as Self
- An Englishman in New York (2009) as Quentin Crisp
- Centenary: The BP Story (2009) as Narrator (voice)
- Making History: Mel Brooks on Creating the World (2009) as Self (archive footage)
- Merlin (2008) as Kilgharrah (voice)
- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) as Professor Harold Oxley
- Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008) as Trevor Bruttenholm
- New York, I Love You (2008) as Bellhop
- Outlander (2008) as Rothgar
- The Oxford Murders (2008) as Arthur Seldom
- Lecture 21 (2008) as Mondrian Kilroy
- Verity Lambert: Drama Queen (2008)
- Recount (2008) as Warren Christopher
- Masters of Science Fiction (2007) as Samswope
- Hellboy Animated: Blood and Iron (2007) as Professor Trevor 'Broom' Bruttenholm (voice)
- Boxes (2007) as Fanny's father
- The 50 Greatest Television Dramas (2007) as Self
- Interview with John Hurt (2007) as Self
- Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006) as Narrator (voice)
- V for Vendetta (2006) as Adam Sutler
- Shooting Dogs (2006) as Christopher
- 'V for Vendetta' Unmasked (2006) as Adam Sutler
- Whaledreamers (2006) as Self
- The Plot Against Harold Wilson (2006) as Narrator (voice)
- Doctor Who (2005) as The Doctor
- The Skeleton Key (2005) as Ben Devereaux
- Valiant (2005) as Felix (voice)
- Manderlay (2005) as Narrator (voice)
- The Proposition (2005) as Jellon Lamb
- Short Order (2005) as Felix
- Once Upon a Halloween (2005) as The Horned King (voice) (archive sound)
- Hiroshima (2005) as Narrator (voice)
- Hiroshima: The First Weapon of Mass Destruction (2005) as Narrator
- Who Do You Think You Are? (2004) as Self
- Hellboy (2004) as Prof. Trevor 'Broom' Bruttenholm
- The Alan Clark Diaries (2004) as Alan Clark
- Pride (2004) as Harry (voice)
- Hellboy: The Seeds of Creation (2004) as Self
- Alpha to Omega: Exposing 'The Osterman Weekend' (2004) as Self
- Shadowing the Third Man (2004) as Narrator (voice)
- Dogville (2003) as Narrator (voice)
- Owning Mahowny (2003) as Victor Foss
- Check the Gate: Putting Beckett on Film (2003) as Self / Self - Krapp ("Krapp's Last Tape")
- The Beast Within: Making Alien (2003) as Self
- Meeting Che Guevara & the Man from Maybury Hill (2003) as Man from Maybury Hill
- HypaSpace (2002) as Self
- The Alien Saga (2002) as Narrator (voice)
- Crime and Punishment (2002) as Porfiry, chief investigator
- Bait (2002) as Jack Blake
- Miranda (2002) as Christian
- I, Claudius: A Television Epic (2002) as Self
- Edge of the Universe (2002) as Narrator (voice)
- The Twilight Hour: Visions of Ireland's Haunted Past (2002) as Self
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) as Mr. Ollivander
- Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001) as Dr. Iannis
- Tabloid (2001) as Vince
- Shaolin: Wheel of Life (2001) as Narrator (voice)
- The Hidden Wars of Desert Storm (2001) as Narrator (voice)
- The Terrible Elephant Man Revealed (2001) as Self
- The Tigger Movie (2000) as Narrator (voice)
- Krapp's Last Tape (2000) as Krapp
- Lost Souls (2000) as Father Lareaux
- Watership Down (1999) as General Woundwort (voice)
- You're Dead... (1999) as Maitland
- All the Little Animals (1999) as Mr. Summers
- If... Dog... Rabbit (1999) as Sean Cooper
- New Blood (1999) as Alan White
- Parkinson (1998) as Self
- The Commissioner (1998) as James morton
- The Climb (1998) as Chuck Langer
- Night Train (1998) as Michael Poole
- Love and Death on Long Island (1998) as Giles De'Ath
- Contact (1997) as S. R. Hadden
- Brute (1997) as Babits
- Tender Loving Care (1996) as Dr. Turner
- Picture Windows: Two Nudes Bathing (1995) as Marquis de Prey
- Dead Man (1995) as John Scholfield
- Rob Roy (1995) as John Graham
- Saigon Baby (1995) as Jack Lee
- Wild Bill (1995) as Charley Prince
- Picture Windows (1995) as Marquis de Prey
- On Jupiter (1995) as Narrator (voice)
- Thumbelina (1994) as Mr. Mole (voice)
- The World of Jim Henson (1994) as The Storyteller (archive footage)
- Second Best (1994) as Uncle Turpin
- Inside the Actors Studio (1994) as Self
- Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1994) as The Countess
- Great Moments in Aviation (1994) as Rex Goodyear
- Rabbit Ears - Aladdin and the Magic Lamp (1994) as Narrator (voice)
- GMTV (1993) as Self
- Monolith (1993) as Villano
- Dark at Noon (1992) as Anthony / Le Marquis
- Six Characters in Search of An Author (1992) as The Father
- Performance (1991) as The Father
- King Ralph (1991) as Lord Percival Graves
- I Dreamt I Woke Up (1991) as Boorman's Alter Ego
- Lapse of Memory (1991) as Conrad Farmer
- Journey to Knock (1991) as Alfred
- Red Fox (1991) as Archie Carpenter
- Frankenstein Unbound (1990) as Dr. Joe Buchanan / Narrator (voice)
- Romeo.Juliet (1990) as La Dame aux Chats / Mercutio (voice)
- The Field (1990) as Bird' O'Donnell
- Who Bombed Birmingham? (1990) as Chris Mullin
- Resident Alien (1990) as Self - Actor
- Paul McCartney: From Rio to Liverpool (1990) as Narrator (voice)
- Jonathan Ross Presents for One Week Only: David Lynch (1990) as Self
- Windprints (1990) as Charles Rutherford
- The Jim Henson Hour (1989) as The Storyteller (archive footage)
- David Macaulay: Pyramid (1989) as Khufu / Second French Explorer (voice)
- Poison Candy (1989) as Robert Burger
- Scandal (1989) as Stephen Ward
- The Storyteller (1988) as The Storyteller
- The Bengali Night (1988) as Lucien Metz
- A Dinner of Herbs (1988) as Verse Reader
- The Storyteller: Sapsorrow (1988) as The Storyteller
- The Storyteller: The Heartless Giant (1988) as The Storyteller
- The Storyteller: The True Bride (1988) as The Storyteller
- The Storyteller: Fearnot (1988) as The Storyteller
- The Storyteller: Hans My Hedgehog (1988) as The Storyteller
- The Storyteller: The Luck Child (1988) as The Storyteller
- The Storyteller: A Story Short (1988) as The Storyteller
- The Storyteller: The Soldier and Death (1988) as The Storyteller
- Deadline (1988) as Granville Jones
- Spaceballs (1987) as John Hurt
- White Mischief (1987) as Gilbert Colville
- Vincent (1987) as (voice)
- Aria (1987) as The Actor
- Iceberg (1987) as Narrator (voice)
- Monolith (1987) as Narrator (voice)
- The Hunting of the Snark (1987) as The Narrator (voice)
- From the Hip (1987) as Douglas Benoit
- Frightmares (1987)
- ScreenPlay (1986) as Alfred
- Jake Speed (1986) as Syd
- Rocinante (1986) as Bill
- Thames Film (1986) as Narrator
- Screen Two (1985) as Rex Goodyear
- Screen Two (1985) as Jack Lee
- The Black Cauldron (1985) as The Horned King (voice)
- Live Aid (1985) as Self
- After Darkness (1985) as Peter Hunningford
- The Strange Case of Yukio Mishima (1985) as Narrator (voice)
- Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984) as Winston Smith
- The Hit (1984) as Braddock
- Champions (1984) as Bob Champion
- Success Is the Best Revenge (1984) as Dino Montecurva
- Sunset People (1984) as Self
- Natural World (1983) as Narrator
- The Osterman Weekend (1983) as Lawrence Fassett
- King Lear (1983) as The Fool
- Night Crossing (1982) as Peter Strelzyk
- The Plague Dogs (1982) as Snitter (voice)
- Partners (1982) as Kerwin
- Paul McCartney - Take It Away (1982) as Self
- History of the World: Part I (1981) as Jesus - The Roman Empire
- The Elephant Man (1980) as John Merrick
- Heaven's Gate (1980) as Billy Irvine
- An Evening with Quentin Crisp (1980) as Host
- Alien (1979) as Kane
- Crime and Punishment (1979) as Rodion Raskolnikov
- Midnight Express (1978) as Max
- The Lord of the Rings (1978) as Aragorn (voice)
- Watership Down (1978) as Hazel (voice)
- The Shout (1978) as Anthony Fielding
- The Sunday Drama (1977) as Dave
- The Hollywood Greats (1977)
- The Disappearance (1977) as Atkinson
- East of Elephant Rock (1977) as Nash
- Three Dangerous Ladies (1977) as Lt. George Simmonds
- Spectre (1977) as Mitri Cyon
- I, Claudius (1976) as Caligula
- The Peddler (1976) as Alec Cassell
- Stream Line (1976) as Chandler
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as March Hare
- The Sweeney (1975) as Tony Grey
- The Naked Civil Servant (1975) as Quentin Crisp
- Shades of Greene (1975) as Fred
- Ten from the Twenties (1975) as Philip
- The Ghoul (1975) as Tom Rawlings
- NOVA (1974) as Narrator
- Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs (1974) as Malcolm Scrawdyke
- The Playboy of the Western World (1974) as Christopher Mahon (Christy Mahon)
- Wessex Tales (1973) as Joshua Harlborough
- The Pied Piper (1972) as Franz
- Great Performances (1971) as Narrator
- Film '72 (1971) as Self
- A Ghost Story for Christmas (1971) as James Parkin
- 10 Rillington Place (1971) as Timothy Evans
- Mr. Forbush and the Penguins (1971) as Richard Forbush
- Green Julia (1971) as Bob
- Play for Today (1970) as Alec Cassell
- ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969) as Bob
- Before Winter Comes (1969) as Lieutenant Pilkington
- Sinful Davey (1969) as Davey Haggart
- In Search of Gregory (1969) as Daniel
- ITV Playhouse (1967) as Guy Beresford
- The Sailor from Gibraltar (1967) as John
- NET Playhouse (1966) as Peter Heywood
- A Man for All Seasons (1966) as Richard Rich
- Gideon's Way (1965) as Freddy Tisdale
- Thursday Theatre (1964) as Orpheus
- This Is My Street (1964) as Charlie
- First Night (1963) as Garry
- The Wild and the Willing (1962) as Phil Corbett
- Drama 61-67 (1961) as Private Briggs
- Drama 61-67 (1961) as Tom
- Armchair Theatre (1956) as Joe
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee