William Hurt's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Dune Duke Leto A… Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King Jason Renshaw Frankenstein Professor W…

Main Movie Roles 2010 - Robin Hood 2009 - The Countess 2009 - Endgame 2008 - The Incredible Hulk 2008 - Vantage Point 2007 - Mr. Brooks 2007 - Into the Wild 2006 - Beautiful Ohio 2006 - The Good Shepherd 2005 - Neverwas 2005 - Syriana 2005 - A History of Violence 2005 - The King 2004 - The Blue Butterfly 2004 - The Village 2002 - Changing Lanes 2002 - Tuck Everlasting 2001 - Artificial Intelligence: AI 2000 - Contaminated Man 1999 - Do Not Disturb 1999 - Sunshine 1998 - The Proposition 1998 - Dark City 1998 - Lost in Space 1996 - Un divan à New York 1996 - Michael 1996 - Jane Eyre 1995 - Smoke 1994 - Trial by Jury 1993 - Mr. Wonderful 1991 - The Doctor 1991 - Until the End of the World 1990 - I Love You to Death 1990 - Alice 1988 - The Accidental Tourist 1987 - Broadcast News 1986 - Children of a Lesser God 1985 - Kiss of the Spider Woman 1983 - Gorky Park 1983 - The Big Chill 1981 - Eyewitness 1981 - Body Heat 1980 - Altered States

BIOGRAPHY:

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.