A Look Back At The Oscar-Winning Actor William Hurt’s Career

The world lost another talented actor with a decades long career on March 13. William Hurt is a face many would recognize but might forget all of the films and Broadway performances he brought to fans across the globe.

He’s worked with many leading men and women in Hollywood with over 100 credits to his name and was nominated for four Academy Awards, wining for Best Actor in his leading role in 1986’s Kiss of the Spider Woman. Hurt has also spent considerable time on the Broadway stage with more than 50 productions ranging from Henry V to My Life. He also lent his voice to numerous documentaries, radio and recordings over the years.

The 72-year-old had a storied personal life but looking back at a career full of talent and ambition, fans would say he’s made an indelible mark on Hollywood history.

Preparing for Success

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Born in Washington D.C., Hurt was born to Alfred and Claire along with two brothers. After the two divorced, Claire went on to remarry Henry Luce III, whose father founded Time magazine according to Celebrity Net Worth.

As a high school student, Hurt served as vice president of the Dramatics Club and was even dubbed in the school yearbook, the one most likely seen on Broadway in the future. He attended Tufts University and then Juilliard alongside Robin Williams and Christopher Reeve in an effort to study acting.

Break Out Star – Kiss of the Spider Woman

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Hurt began landing small parts on televisions Kojak and The Best of Families. Movie roles began coming his way with parts in 1983’s The Big Chill and Gorky Park, but it wasn’t until 1985’s role as Luis Alberto Molina in Kiss of the Spider Woman that the world took notice.

His one and only Oscar is credited to the film, along with several nominations. The very next year, he was nominated again for Children of a Lesser God and then again in Broadcast News.

Method Actor

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Hurt had a reputation among his peers for digging deep into a character and asking specific questions to encourage others to do so as well. Actor Russell Crowe remembered Hurt upon his death as one who sought him out on the set of Robin Hood and when Crowe presented a file on the life of William Marshall, he’d “never seen a bigger smile.”

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Cemented in Hollywood

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As the 90’s and 2000’s wore on, Hurt continued to star in a mix of roles from Mr. Wonderful to Jane Eyre, always testing his talent and abilities. He appeared in Steven Spielberg’s A.I. Artificial Intelligence and earned a fourth Academy Award nomination for his turn in 2005’s A History of Violence.

In recent years, Hurt held the role of Thaddeus Ross in Marvel’s Incredible Hulk and reprised that role in the blockbusters that followed; Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame and Black Widow.

On the Broadway Stage

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Hurt was never against going back to his roots with Broadway performances spanning decades in between Hollywood hits. He was a member of Circle Repertory Company from 1977 to 1989 and received an Obie Award for his role in Corrine Jacker’s My Life. He also won a Theatre World Award for his spot in Fifth of July, Ulysses in Traction and Lulu. He also received his first Tony nomination in Broadway’s Hurlyburly in 1985.

A Voice for Radio

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According to IMDb, Hurt recorded numerous radio and documentary specials: The Polar Express, The Sun Also Rises and To Speak the Unspeakable. He was the first to earn a Spencer Tracy award from UCLA in 1988.

Net Worth

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As a private celebrity, Hurt’s net worth is a bit hazy. While some estimate it’s upwards of $20 million, others believe it’s around $8 million. Hollywood’s Magazine reported Hurt as saying he has the right to be private and due to his belief, he’s been able to keep much of his personal life a moving target.

It’s Personal

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Hurt married actress Mary Beth Supinger in 1971 and they divorced in 1982, after he began an affair with Sandra Jennings. She gave birth to his first son Alex in 1983. The two were in a common-law marriage, though New York didn’t recognize common-law marriages at the time and Hurt won a lawsuit by Jennings. He then married Heidi Henderson in 1989 and they welcomed two more sons, Samuel and William before divorcing in 1993. In 1994 his one and only daughter was born with partner Sandrine Bonnaire.

The actor was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer in 2018 and succumbed to the disease in March of 2022.

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Sources: Celebrity Net Worth, IMDb, Hollywood’s Magazine

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