William Hurt is an Academy Award-winning actor who transitioned from leading man roles to distinctive character roles. He made his screen debut in Altered States , and his other films included Body Heat , The Big Chill , Kiss of the Spider Woman , Children of a Lesser God , Broadcast News , and A History of Violence .

William Hurt

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William Hurt

Q: For which film did William Hurt win an Oscar?

William Hurt won an Academy Award for best actor in 1986 for his portrayal of a gay prisoner in Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985). Hurt also received Oscar nominations for Children of a Lesser God (1986), Broadcast News (1987), and A History of Violence (2005).

Q: Did William Hurt appear in any Marvel movies?

William Hurt portrayed the Marvel comic character Thaddeus (“Thunderbolt”) Ross in the films The Incredible Hulk (2008), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and Black Widow (2021).

American actor

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Nov 18, 2024 • Article History

Quick Facts

Born:: March 20, 1950, Washington, D.C., U.S.

Died:: March 13, 2022, Portland, Oregon

Also Known As:: William M. Hurt

Awards And Honors:: Academy Award (1986); Academy Award (1986): Actor in a Leading Role

Married To:: Heidi Henderson (1989–1993); Mary Beth Hurt (1971–1982)

Movies/Tv Shows (Acted In):: "Condor" (2018–2020); "The Last Full Measure" (2019); "Goliath" (2016–2019); "Avengers: Endgame" (2019); "Avengers: Infinity War" (2018); "The Miracle Season" (2018); "Captain America: Civil War" (2016); "Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands" (2016); "Race" (2016); "Humans" (2015); "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them" (2014); "Winter's Tale" (2014); "Days and Nights" (2014); "Bonnie & Clyde" (2013); "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her" (2013); "The Host" (2013); "J'enrage de son absence" (2012); "Hellgate" (2011); "Moby Dick" (2011); "Late Bloomers" (2011); "Robin Hood" (2010); "The River Why" (2010); "Damages" (2009); "The Countess" (2009); "Endgame" (2009); "The Incredible Hulk" (2008); "Vantage Point" (2008); "The Yellow Handkerchief" (2008); "Noise" (2007); "Into the Wild" (2007); "Mr. Brooks" (2007); "The Legend of Sasquatch" (2006); "The Good Shepherd" (2006); "Beautiful Ohio" (2006); "Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King" (2006); "Syriana" (2005); "Neverwas" (2005); "A History of Violence" (2005); "The King" (2005); "Frankenstein" (2004); "The Village" (2004); "The Blue Butterfly" (2004); "Tuck Everlasting" (2002); "Au plus près du paradis" (2002); "The King of Queens" (2002); "Changing Lanes" (2002); "Rivière-des-Jérémie" (2001); "Rare Birds" (2001); "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" (2001); "Dune" (2000); "Contaminated Man" (2000); "The Miracle Maker" (2000); "The Simian Line" (2000); "Do Not Disturb" (1999); "Sunshine" (1999); "The 4th Floor" (1999); "The Big Brass Ring" (1999); "One True Thing" (1998); "Lost in Space" (1998); "The Proposition" (1998); "Dark City" (1998); "Loved" (1997); "Michael" (1996); "Un divan à New York" (1996); "Jane Eyre" (1996); "Ispoved neznakomtsu" (1995); "Smoke" (1995); "Second Best" (1994); "Trial by Jury" (1994); "Mr. Wonderful" (1993); "La peste" (1992); "Bis ans Ende der Welt" (1991); "The Doctor" (1991); "American Masters" (1991); "Alice" (1990); "I Love You to Death" (1990); "The Accidental Tourist" (1988); "A Time of Destiny" (1988); "Broadcast News" (1987); "Children of a Lesser God" (1986); "Kiss of the Spider Woman" (1985); "Gorky Park" (1983); "The Big Chill" (1983); "Body Heat" (1981); "Eyewitness" (1981); "Altered States" (1980); "Great Performances" (1978); "The Best of Families" (1977); "Kojak" (1977)

Who is William Hurt?

For which film did William Hurt win an Oscar?

Did William Hurt appear in any Marvel movies?

William Hurt (born March 20, 1950, Washington, D.C., U.S.—died March 13, 2022, Portland, Oregon) was an American actor who transitioned from roles as a leading man to a series of distinctive character roles in the latter portion of his career.

Hurt acted in repertory companies before making his screen debut in Altered States (1980). He became a leading actor with Body Heat (1981), in which he played a lawyer who kills his lover’s husband. He then appeared in the ensemble drama The Big Chill (1983). In 1986 he won an Academy Award for best actor for his portrayal of a gay prisoner in Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985).

Hurt also received Oscar nominations for best actor for his roles in Children of a Lesser God (1986) and Broadcast News (1987) and a nod for best supporting actor in A History of Violence (2005). Other notable films included The Accidental Tourist (1988), Smoke (1995), Chantal Akerman’s A Couch in New York (1996), One True Thing (1998), Syriana (2005), Into the Wild (2007), Robin Hood (2010), Winter’s Tale (2014), Days and Nights (2014), and Race (2016). He portrayed the Marvel comic character Thaddeus (“Thunderbolt”) Ross in the films The Incredible Hulk (2008), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and Black Widow (2021).

Empty movie theater and blank screen (theatre, motion pictures, cinema).

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Oscar-Worthy Movie Trivia

On television Hurt appeared in the miniseries Dune (2000), Moby Dick (2011; as Captain Ahab), Bonnie and Clyde (2013), and Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands (2016). He made appearances in the TV movies Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story (2002) and Too Big to Fail (2011; as Henry Paulson) and had roles in the series Damages, Humans, Trial, Goliath, and Condor.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.