Top Speculative Roles of Sir John Hurt

(Photo: Creative Commons - John Hurt photographed by Walterlan Papetti)

In 2017, the world lost a great actor and a mainstay of speculative fiction movies and television shows.

Sir John Hurt was a legendary dramatic actor and a pillar of the English stage, performing in Shakespearean plays like MacBeth and King Lear. His dramatic abilities stretched to Hollywood where he received acclaim for roles in Midnight Express (where he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor), I, Claudius on PBS, the movie adaptation of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, and most notably as John Merrick in The Elephant Man (where he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor.)

But, in my estimation, it was in speculative fiction that John Hurt left his most indelible mark. He brought a gravitas to every role, often elevating movies from campy to serious drama simply through his presence.

Below, in reverse order, are the ten best speculative fiction roles of John Hurt. These are all live action roles, and as a bonus at the bottom, I've included several notable voice acting roles he also performed.

The List

10. Rolghar in Outlander - In this time traveler movie starring Jim Caviezel, Hurt plays a Viking elder who must deal with the nuisance of the man claiming to be from the future.

9. Professor Oxley in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - As the object of Indy's mission, Oxley is a somewhat bumbling professor and mentor of Indy who is lost somewhere in the jungle. And he found aliens.

8. Ollivander in the Harry Potter series - A smaller role, Hurt's range shines through though he has very little screen time, showing both a mysterious, dangerous side to Ollivander as well as a fatherly, helpful side. A nuanced performance for such a minor character.

7. The War Doctor in Doctor Who - With his iconic visage and historic depth of performance, fans immediately understood the power of the War Doctor as soon has his face was shown. Hurt worked seamlessly alongside David Tennant and Matt Smith, often overshadowing them with a pure force of being.

6. Gilliam in Snowpiercer - An example of Hurt's performance elevating the tone and seriousness of a movie simply by being in it. As the wise counsel to Chris Evans' main character Curtis, Hurt's Gilliam mentors Curtis on the meaning of humanity.

5. Adam Sutler in V for Vendetta - Another minor role, but through it, he sets the entire overbearing fascist tone that Hugo Weaving's V fights against. An impressive hero needs an equally despicable villain, and Hurt provides it in spades.

4. S.R. Hadden in Contact - The character behind the scenes pulling all the strings, keeping everything in motion and everyone playing their parts. A realistic representation of an oligarch with so much money, he can focus his attention and wealth on flights of fancy, regardless of how that may impact the world.

3. Professor Trevor "Broom" Bruttenholm in Hellboy - A much more lovable Professor this time around, Broom is basically the father that Hellboy always had. A combination of wisdom, strength, virtue, and love, Broom is the kind of older mentor-figure we all wished we had in our lives.

2. Kane in Alien - Another incredibly impactful role given the limited amount of screen time, but Hurt excellently portrays the fear and duty Kane feels, having been chosen as the one to exit the Nostromo and investigate the crashed alien ship. And his scene at dinner that introduces one of the most iconic characters in sci-fi history, is in and of itself, also iconic. Hurt plays it perfectly as we viewers feel the terror of Kane. (And his reprisal of that scene in Spaceballs is <chef's kiss>. Oh no, not again!)

1. Winston Smith in 1984 - One of the roles that launched Hurt's career, his portrayal of Winston Smith in this classic dystopian film set the standard for all other sci-fi movies (and even books) to come. We feel along with Hurt's Smith as he struggles with independence and freedom of thought while under the constant surveillance of--and eventual torture by--the Thought Police. Aspects of this performance are clearly evident in other Hurt roles.

Voice Over Roles

Additionally, Sir John Hurt has lent his voice to many notable speculative fiction shows, including:

• Hazel in Watership Down

• The Dragon in Merlin

• Brother Carnak in Ultramarines (Warhammer)

• The Horned King in The Black Cauldron

• Aragon in The Lord of the Rings

Conclusion

Sir John Hurt was a seminal actor both generally and in speculative fiction, and his quality of work and mark on the genre will not be forgotten.

Have I missed any other John Hurt speculative fiction role that you enjoyed? Let me know in the comments.