John Hurt R.I.P. (1940-2017)

The world mourned the loss of yet another great of stage and screen on Saturday 28th January 2017, as John Hurt lost his hard fought battle with pancreatic cancer. After his initial rise to prominence in A Man for All Seasons, his phenomenal screen presence and that distinctive voice saw him go on to take some memorable roles throughout his career, from his Oscar nominated turn as John Merrick in the Elephant Man to roles in such iconic movies as Alien, 1984, Midnight Express, Scandal and The Field.
It is however, for his roles in Sci-Fi and fantasy film that stand out for me, as an actor deep in his comfort zone, with the viewer happily taken along for the ride.
Beginning with Alien (and his unerring knack at not taking himself too seriously, with his hilarious turn in a similar role, in spoof movie , Spaceballs), Hurt just had those characteristics so well suited to this genre such were his hypnotising and theatrical qualities. His roles in Hellboy, V for Vendetta as well as his part as Ollivander, the wand maker in the Harry Potter series underline this comfort that he enjoyed in this fantastical side of film and his old school approach (inherited from an actor who learned his trade treading the boards) will make this man, a massive loss to the world of screen and stage alike.
He has however, left a hell of back catalogue and body of work that will live long in the memory.