John Hurt, ‘Harry Potter’ & ‘Doctor Who’ Star, Dies At 77

Oscar-nominated British actor John Hurt died Wednesday after a long bout of pancreatic cancer.

Hurt was well-renowned for his role in David Lynch’s The Elephant Man and what is likely the most widely viewed adaptation of Orwell’s 1984.

The actor also starred in the Harry Potter movies as Mr. Ollivander, V for Vendetta, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and Doctor Who as the War Doctor. Hurt played a key role in the original 1979 sci-fi thriller Alien.

He most recently appeared in Jackie, a biopic about Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and completed filming on several projects that will be released posthumously.

Hurt also voiced characters in such well-known animated features as The Lord of the Rings and Watership Down.

Hurt was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015. He said at the time of his cancer diagnosis that he intended to continue working. His representative announced his death on Saturday. Further details of the circumstances of his death were not immediately available.

“John was the most sublime of actors and the most gentlemanly of gentlemen with the greatest of hearts and the most generosity of spirit,” Hurt’s wife, Anwen Hurt, said.

Writer J.K. Rowling tweeted about his death: “So very sad to hear that the immensely talented and deeply beloved John Hurt has died. My thoughts are with his family and friends.”

“Very sad to hear of John Hurt’s passing. It was such an honor to have watched you work, sir.”, Lord of the Rings actor Elijah Wood tweeted.