It’s easy to forget just what a big star William Hurt was in the 1980s.
He won an Oscar, was nominated for another two and starred in five best picture nominees. He was a leading man who avoided blockbusters and chose adult dramas over action movies. This week sees him in supporting mode, something he’s now become known for, in the fact-based drama Race, about the sprinter Jesse Owens.
Here are his finest big-screen moments:
Altered States
While most actors tend to start off on the sidelines before graduating to lead roles, Hurt flipped this route around: his first big-screen role was as the protagonist of Ken Russell’s barmy sci-fi thriller. The effects might have aged somewhat but it’s still a dazzling and audacious film, and Hurt is instantly comfortable as the slowly unravelling scientist.
Body Heat
A year later, Lawrence Kasdan’s noirish thriller gave Hurt another substantial lead role, this time as the pawn in the plan of Kathleen Turner’s femme fatale. The plot might essentially be an amalgamation of a number of 1940s potboilers but it feels fresh, thanks largely to the chemistry between the two stars.
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Showcasing his range yet again, Hurt took on the role of a flamboyant gay man sharing a cell with a macho revolutionary in this acclaimed 1986 drama. It was the first independent film to be nominated for best picture and Hurt won the best actor award for his work.
Broadcast News
While Holly Hunter and Albert Brooks have the more outwardly comical roles here, Hurt deserved credit in James L Brooks’s hit 1987 comedy for playing his part with enigmatic mystery. His character is a relatively simple man climbing the corporate ladder, and we’re never sure if his sincerity is real or not.
A History of Violence
As his career progressed, Hurt became a reliable character-actor and the move was duly noted by the Academy with a best supporting actor nomination for his role in David Cronenberg’s intense drama. He’s the callous brother of Viggo Mortensen, only cropping up near the end but bringing enough vicious laughs to make a big impression.
