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William Hurt
Age
63
Birthday
Mar. 20th, 1950
Born in
Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Height
6' 2"
Twenty years ago, William Hurt seemed destined for a career as a screen legend, as one of those actors like Spencer Tracy, Marlon Brando, and Jack Nicholson who were movie stars who could also act. Though he won a Best Actor Oscar for Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985) and appeared in many interesting films in the 1980s, Hurt never lived up to his promise.
Unable or unwilling to consolidate his claim as a leading-man, he failed to establish himself as either a character-lead or a character actor. After eight years of building up an A-List career, from his appearance in Ken Russell (I)/Paddy Chayefsky's Altered States (1980) through The Accidental Tourist (1988), his light failed.
He had three straight Best Actor nominations from 1986 through 1988, winning on his first nod for "Spider Woman," then racking up kudos for Children of a Lesser God (1986) and Broadcast News (1987). Eighteen years passed before he got another Oscar nomination, for Best Supporting Actor for a small character role in A History of Violence (2005).
TRIVIA:
- Lived with _Children of a Lesser God (1986)_ (qv) actress 'Marlee Matlin' (qv) for some years in the 80's.
- His ex-wife, Heidi, is the daughter of 'Skitch Henderson' (qv).
- Turned down lead role in _Misery (1990)_ (qv)
- Godfather of actress 'Meghan Glennon' (qv).
- He is the stepson of Henry Luce III, son of "Time" magazine founder Henry Luce and writer 'Clare Boothe Luce' (qv).
- On May 25, 2005, he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Fine Arts by Tufts University.
- Recipient of the first Spencer Tracy Award in 1988 for outstanding screen performances.
- Is the uncle of Oliver Hurt.





