The depiction of male vanity was one of his specialties: Hurt shaped cinema in the 1980s. Now he died in Portland, Oregon, just days before his 72nd birthday.
William Hurt at the world premiere of “Winter’s Tale”.
His career spanned almost five decades. And even if it burned on a smaller flame in the recent past: he was still noted by the public and the critics in every supporting role. David Cronenberg’s “A History of Violence” earned him a belated Oscar nomination in 2006 for his portrayal of an arrogant crime boss who, within just a few minutes of the film, transforms himself into a suffering monster and fearful victim. William Hurts always tapped into the full life story of his characters. Even in the smallest roles, he pushed the dimensions of his characters to their limits.