John Hurt Biography: Age, Net Worth, Movies, Children, Height, Parents, TV Shows, Awards, Wife

John Vincent Hurt known as John Hurt is an acclaimed British actor renowned for his distinctive voice, intense screen presence, and remarkable versatility across a career spanning more than five decades.

He earned two Academy Award nominations and four BAFTA Awards, becoming one of Britain’s most respected character actors. He is best known for his iconic roles as the tormented Kane in Alien (1979), the deformed John Merrick in The Elephant Man (1980), Winston Smith in Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984), and Caligula in I, Claudius (1976).

Quick Facts

• Full Name: John Vincent Hurt
• Stage Name: John Hurt
• Born: January 22, 1940
• Died: January 25, 2017
• Birthplace: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England
• Nationality: British
• Ethnicity: British
• Occupation: Actor
• Height: 1.75 m
• Religion: Unknown
• Parents: Arnold Hurt and Phyllis Massey
• Siblings: Michael Hurt and Monica Hurt
• Spouse: Anwen Rees-Meyers (widow)
• Children: Two
• Relationship: Married (widower)
• Net Worth: $20 million USD

Early Life and Education

John Hurt was born on January 22, 1940, in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England, to parents Arnold Hurt, a Church of England vicar and mathematician, and Phyllis Massey, an engineer and amateur actress. He was the youngest of three children, with an older brother, Michael Hurt, and an older sister, Monica Hurt.

Raised in a strict Anglican household, he attended St Michael’s Preparatory School in Limpsfield, Surrey, and later Christ’s Hospital boarding school in Horsham, West Sussex. He initially studied art at the Grimsby School of Art and then at St Martin’s School of Art in London before training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), graduating in 1962. His ethnicity is British. His religion is unknown (raised Anglican).

Career

John Hurt began his professional career in the early 1960s with stage work at the Royal Shakespeare Company and small television roles. He gained critical attention with The Naked Civil Servant (1975, BAFTA win) and I, Claudius (1976). His breakthrough film role came as Kane in Alien (1979), followed by The Elephant Man (1980, Oscar nomination), Midnight Express (1978, Oscar nomination), and Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984).

He delivered memorable performances in The Hit (1984), Scandal (1989), Rob Roy (1995), V for Vendetta (2005), Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), and as Ollivander in the Harry Potter series. Later credits include Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), Only Lovers Left Alive (2013), and Jackie (2016). He also provided voice work in Watership Down (1978) and Dogville (2003). He continued acting until shortly before his death from pancreatic cancer on January 25, 2017.

Social Media

John Hurt does not have a social media account.

Personal Life

John Hurt, who passed away at 77 years old and 1.75 m tall, was married four times. His final marriage was to Anwen Rees-Meyers from 2005 until his death in 2017. He was previously married to actress Annette Robertson (1962–1964), Donna McKechnie (1971–1980), and Sarah Owens (1990–1996). He had two sons: Alexander John Hurt (born 1971 with Annette Robertson) and Nicholas Hurt (born 1990 with Sarah Owens). He kept his personal life relatively private despite his long public career.

Net Worth

John Hurt‘s net worth was estimated at $20 million USD at the time of his death. His income primarily came from acting roles in major films and television productions including Alien, The Elephant Man, Nineteen Eighty-Four, and the Harry Potter series; residuals from international distribution and streaming of his extensive body of work; theatre performances; voice-over narration; and awards and honors that sustained a high-profile career spanning over 50 years.

Filmography

• Midnight Express (1978)
• Watership Down (1978, voice)
• The Naked Civil Servant (1975, TV)
• I, Claudius (1976, TV miniseries)
• Alien (1979)
• The Elephant Man (1980)
• Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984)
• V for Vendetta (2005)
• Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 & 2 (2010–2011)
• Jackie (2016)