Sir John Hurt has died aged 77

Incredibly sad news in that legendary English actor, Sir John Hurt, has died at the age of 77. Hurt was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015, but continued to work whilst receiving treatment; he announced that his cancer was in remission in October of the same year. He died in London yesterday, 5 days after his 77th birthday, although no cause of death has yet been given.

Hurt will be best remembered for his role in Alien – his character’s death in the film (in which an alien bursts out of his chest) having been voted one of film’s most memorable moments – and his leading role of John Merrick in David Lynch’s biopic The Elephant Man. He starred as Mr Ollivander in the Harry Potter film series. He also appeared in the BBC series Doctor Who as the War Doctor.

He was given the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award at the 65th British Academy Film Awards on 12 February 2012. And in 2015 was knighted for his services to drama.

He is survived by his wife of 12 years, Anwen Rees-Myers, and two sons, Alexander “Sasha” John Vincent Hurt and Nicholas “Nick” Hurt, from his third marriage to Joan Dalton.