In Memory Of John Hurt: 5 Things To Watch To Honor His Memory

John Hurt was a legend, and he will be sorely missed. If you’re mourning John Hurt today, here’s some of his best work to watch and appreciate.

We lost a great actor this week, and his contribution to the sci-fi canon cannot be overstated. Of course we know him as the iconic War Doctor and Ollivander from the Harry Potter franchise, but he’s had a long career outside of these beloved roles.

Here’s some things you can watch when you want to remember what an incredible badass John Hurt was.

Spaceballs (1987)

So many of us remember the exact moment the alien came bursting out of Hurt’s chest in the 1979 classic, Alien. It’s probably one of the most iconic death scenes in all of movie history. However, being the good sport that he was, Hurt reprised his role for Mel Brooks’ parody Spaceballs. It’s rare when an actor doesn’t mind having a laugh at his own expense.

The Elephant Man (1980)

At times hard to watch, The Elephant Man is the the emotional story of Joseph Merrick who suffered a debilitating and horribly disfiguring deformity. Hurt played Merrick and starred opposite Anthony Hopkins who appeared as the compassionate Dr. Fredrick Treves. Hurt won both an Oscar and a Golden Globe for his gripping performance.

1984 (1984)

Hurt played Winston Smith, a man living in a dystopian future, run by a controlling and oppressive government. Come for the chilling portrayal by Hurt, but stay for the cautionary tale about allowing too much governmental interference in our lives. It’s based on the George Orwell novel of the same name and also features Richard Burton.

Hellboy (2004)

Hurt was the father figure, Professor Bloom, to Hellboy across the two comic book adaptations. This was among his later work, but he was proud of the role. Telling The MarySue, “Hellboy one was a very good script, truly! Funny. And all those sort of human things that are really great. Inventive and visually fantastic.”

Snowpiercer (2013)

Snowpiercer featured Hurt as the character of Gilliam, the spiritual leader of a group of humans that were the last of humanity. The film is another dystopian look at a bleak future, but Hurt’s character was among the most compassionate of what was left of the human race. He was a giving humanitarian, yet shadowy in his own right.

Although this list doesn’t come close to addressing all the highlights of his work, it’s a good way to spend the day if you want to honor one of our favorite actors. If you get through all of the above and still want more, here a few more you might like.

Honorable Mentions:

“The Name Of The Doctor” – Doctor Who (2013)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Parts 1 and 2 (2010, 2011)

Beyond The Gates (2005)

And if I left out your favorite, tell me about it in the comments below. Today is a good day to share the love a little.