It has been announced that prolific Dutch actor Rutger Hauer, perhaps best known for his roles in Blade Runner and The Hitcher, passed away aged 75 on Friday, July 19th, after a short illness.
Hauer rose to fame in his home country when he was cast as the lead in the Paul Verhoeven medieval action series Floris, and went on to collaborate with the filmmaker on the films Turkish Delight, Katie Tippel, Soldier of Orange and Spetters before making his Hollywood debut opposite Sylvester Stallone in 1981’s Nighthawks.
Hauer took on the role of Roy Batty in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner in 1982, and collaborated with Verhoeven for a final time on the director’s American debut Flesh & Blood before starring opposite C. Thomas Howell in 1986’s action horror The Hitcher and earning acclaim for his work in the Italian film The Legend of the Drinker.
Hauer’s subsequent credits included the likes of Escape from Sobibor (for which he received the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor), Blind Fury, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Fatherland, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Sin City, Batman Begins, Hobo with a Shotgun, Dracula 3D, True Blood, and Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.
Our condolences go out to Mr. Hauer’s family and friends.
