William Hurt, Oscar Winner For Kiss Of The Spider-Man And MCU Actor , Dies At 71
William Hurt has died at the age of 71.
The Oscar-winning actor — who was best known for his roles in Body Heat and The Big Chill — passed away on Sunday (Mar 13), surrounded by his family.
In a statement, his son Will said: "It is with great sadness that the Hurt family mourns the passing of William Hurt, beloved father and Oscar-winning actor, on March 13, 2022, one week before his 72nd birthday.
"He died peacefully, among family, of natural causes. The family requests privacy at this time."
Hurt emerged as one of the leading men in Hollywood during the 1980s and he received three Oscar nominations — for Children of a Lesser God, Broadcast News, A History of Violence — and won the Best Actor gong for 1985's Kiss of the Spider Woman.
In recent years, he's better known to a younger generation of moviegoers for his role as General Thaddeus Ross in Marvel movies, starting with 2008's The Incredible Hulk and more recently, Black Widow.
However, Hurt never really embraced his celebrity status and once admitted to craving more privacy in his life.
He said in a 1989 New York Times interview: "It’s not right that my privacy is invaded to the extent that it is. I’m a very private man, and I have the right to be. I never said that because I was an actor you can have my privacy, you can steal my soul. You can’t."
Hurt also struggled with drugs and alcohol, and he even some spent time in rehab in a bid to overcome his issues.
He explained in a 1989 Washington Times piece: "I was utterly miserable and, finally, I had been miserable enough, long enough, and I said, ‘I’m finished, I can’t hack it, can’t do it.'"
Hurt's career slowed down during the '90s, when he rejected a number of high-profile roles, including the opportunity to star in Jurassic Park.
Hurt was married to the actress Mary Beth Hurt from 1971 to 1982 and was married to Heidi Henderson from 1989 to 1991. Per Deadline, he is survived by four children.— BANG SHOWBIZ
Photo: TPG News/Click Photos
