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Sir John Hurt

(1940-2017), Actor

Sitter in 12 portraits
A prolific actor whose career has stretched from Chekov and Pinter on stage, to Hollywood blockbusters on screen. Claimed attention in television productions such as The Naked Civil Servant (1975) and I Claudius (1976), but best known for a series of 'victim-hero' roles in films such as 10 Rillington Place (1971), The Elephant Man (1980, BAFTA Award, 1981) and Champions (1984). Hurt appeared in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) and gave a poignant and typically rich vocal performance as the narrator in Lars Van Trier's Dogville (2003). He reprised the role of Quentin Crisp in An Englishman in New York (2009).

Watch a film clip on the sitter recorded for the Gallery in the Media section below

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Sir John Hurt, by Lewis Morley - NPG P512(11)

Sir John Hurt

by Lewis Morley
bromide print, 1967
NPG P512(11)

Sir John Hurt, by Lord Snowdon - NPG P1887

Sir John Hurt

by Lord Snowdon
gelatin silver print, 5 March 1980
NPG P1887

Sir John Hurt, by Stuart Pearson Wright - NPG 6541

Sir John Hurt

by Stuart Pearson Wright
oil on gesso on oak panel, 2000
NPG 6541

Sir John Hurt, by Graham Keen - NPG x199760

Sir John Hurt

by Graham Keen
modern bromide print from original negative, 9 February 1966
NPG x199760

Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs (Rodney Bewes; Tim Preece; Sir John Hurt; Kenneth Colley), by Lewis Morley - NPG x38950

Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs (Rodney Bewes; Tim Preece; Sir John Hurt; Kenneth Colley)

by Lewis Morley
bromide fibre print, 1966
NPG x38950

Sir John Hurt, by Lewis Morley - NPG x125194

Sir John Hurt

by Lewis Morley
resin print, 1967
NPG x125194

Sir John Hurt, by John Swannell - NPG x34563

Sir John Hurt

by John Swannell
bromide print on card mount, 1977
NPG x34563

Sir John Hurt, by Clay Perry - NPG x137411

Sir John Hurt

by Clay Perry
C-type colour print, 1980
NPG x137411

Sir John Hurt, by Trevor Leighton - NPG x27941

Sir John Hurt

by Trevor Leighton
bromide print, 1984
NPG x27941

Sir John Hurt, by Alastair Thain - NPG x26022

Sir John Hurt

by Alastair Thain
resin print, 1986
NPG x26022

Sir John Hurt as 'Stephen Ward' and Ian McKellen as 'John Profumo' in 'Scandal', by Trevor Leighton - NPG x35320

Sir John Hurt as 'Stephen Ward' and Ian McKellen as 'John Profumo' in 'Scandal'

by Trevor Leighton
bromide print, 10 December 1988
NPG x35320

Sir John Hurt, by John Swannell - NPG x87598

Sir John Hurt

by John Swannell
Iris print, 1990
NPG x87598

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