WILLIAM HURT 

William Hurt was working on three movies and a TV series at the time of his unexpected death at 71. His bland good looks and splendid voice got him lots of work. He had an incredible run of good films in the 80's and lots of winners after that.

Though not technically his first big role, Body Heat (1981) certainly got him noticed and plenty of parts. Hurt plays Ned Racine, a young attorney in way over his head with the sultry seductress Matty Walker (Kathleen Turner).  Hopelessly besotted with Matty, Ned suggests they murder her wealthy husband Edmund (Richard Crenna). Plot complications include a Matty lookalike. Most, but not all, of the birds come home to roost. Forty-plus years ago this film was extremely steamy and banned in lots of places. Which, of course, increased business. 

Of all the movies based on college friends getting together some years later, one stands out: The Big Chill (1983) is still beloved by many. The complicated plot revealing almost everyone’s secret hang-ups keeps the interest up. This movie was a springboard not only for William Hurt, but also for Tom Berrenger, Glenn Close, Mary Kay Place, Kevin Kline, Jeff Goldblum, Meg Tilly, and JoBeth Williams. You never see the face of the dead friend whose suicide led to this get together- can you guess him? 

In Gorky Park (1983) Hurt gets to stretch his acting chops as he plays a Russian military investigator (Arkady Renko). He does a credible job with the accent. The plot is labyrinthine and begins when three dead bodies are found near the Gorky Park skating rink. Their faces and fingertips have been removed. The KGB wants no part of the investigation and dumps it in Renko’s lap. Lee Marvin and Brian Dennehy are on hand as reliably bad guys. The fairly unknown Joanna Pacula is good as the gradual love interest. 

William Hurt won his first, and only, Oscar as Luis Molina in the claustrophobic but excellent Kiss Of The Spider Woman (1985). Luis is in a Brazilian prison. His crime is being a gay man. His cellmate is  political prisoner Valentin (Raul Julia). They gradually reach an accommodation after a very sketchy start. Luis regales Valentin and us with made-up movie plots and his life as a department store window dresser. The Spider Woman is a dream-like persona who appears periodically. This film later became a hit Broadway musical that won the Tony.

Children Of A Lesser God (1986) takes place at a school for the deaf where James Leeds (William Hurt) takes a teaching job. The film is perhaps best remembered for the Oscar-winning performance of Marlee Matlin (who is actually deaf). Their acquaintance inevitably leads to romance. Hurt was also nominated for an Oscar, but this time he lost to Michael Caine for Hannah And Her Sisters. 

All of the movies in this article are available on DVD.  All are for adults. 

Mr. Movie is just getting started on William Hurt movies. More next time!