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William Hurt

William Hurt

Actor, also producer · Died March 13, 2022, aged 71 · Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Oscar winner · BAFTA Award winner · Primetime Emmy nominee · 4 other major award bodies

William McChord Hurt (March 20, 1950 – March 13, 2022) was an American stage, film and television actor, trained at the Juilliard School, Manhattan, New York, USA. For his leading role in the feature film "Kiss of the Spider Woman", he received an Academy Award in 1986, followed by 3 more nominations for roles in the movies "Children of a Lesser God", "Broadcast News", and "A History of Violence".

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 20, 1950
Died
March 13, 2022 (aged 71)
From
Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
92 on MovieCove · 109 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 38% in 30 days

What are William Hurt's films like?

Across their 83 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama32 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Documentary4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 85th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Animation movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
22%
Morality
22%
Self
21%
Survival
13%
Power
10%
Society
7%
Ideas
5%
Identity20 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds22 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love17 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice12 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief11 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival11 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose7 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception8 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 78 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 20 · Serious 19 · Dark 39

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 49 · Stylized 21 · Heightened 8

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 15 · Charged 40 · Intense 23

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 42 · Shifting 33 · Whiplash 3

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 60 · Some laughs 16 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 42 · Even-paced 32 · Relentless 4

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 24 · Engaged 44 · Full focus 10

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 16 · Affecting 31 · Heavy 31

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 40 · Open-ended 27 · Ambiguous 11

Roles they play

64 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 22 of 64 analyzed roles.

Hero
22 of 64
Mentor
13 of 64
Shadow
11 of 64
Threshold guardian
6 of 64
Ally
6 of 64
Shapeshifter
3 of 64
Herald
2 of 64
Trickster
1 of 64
Show the 64 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
44
Melancholic
44
Contemplative
29
Dread
18
Hopeful
23
Other
64

How their films linger

Bittersweet37 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking33 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful30 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 13 with a twist

  • Happy15
  • Bittersweet42
  • Tragic10
  • Ambiguous14
  • Cyclical1
  • Other1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch William Hurt's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 63 of their 92 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (27).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for William Hurt's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

109 credits, 92 with a MovieCove page; 16 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Pantheon(2022)

    Show 8 episodes · as Stephen Holstrom (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The King's Daughter(2022)

    as Pere La Chaise

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Black Widow(2021)

    as Secretary Ross

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Unspeakable(2021)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Disclosure(2020)

    as Luis Molina (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Mythic Quest(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Peter Cromwell

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • The Last Full Measure(2019)

    as Tulley

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Avengers: Endgame(2019)

    as Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Condor(2018)

    Show 10 episodes · as Bob Partridge

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Avengers: Infinity War(2018)

    as Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Miracle Season(2018)

    as Ernie Found

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Goliath(2016)

    Show 14 episodes · as Donald Cooperman

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Captain America: Civil War(2016)

    as Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Race(2016)

    as Jeremiah Mahoney

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands(2016)

    Show 5 episodes · as Hrothgar

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all shows

  • Humans(2015)

    Show 8 episodes · as Dr. George Millican

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Men of Granite (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her(2013)

    as Julian Rigby

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Days and Nights(2014)

    as Herb

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them(2014)

    as Julian Rigby

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Winter's Tale(2014)

    as Isaac Penn

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Bonnie & Clyde(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · as Frank Hamer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • The Host(2013)

    as Jeb Stryder

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Challenger Disaster(2013)

    as Richard Feynman

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Maddened by His Absence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Jacques

  • Too Big to Fail(2011)

    as Henry Paulson

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Hellgate(2011)

    as Warren Mills

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Marvel One-Shot: The Consultant(2011)

    as Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Late Bloomers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Adam

  • Moby Dick(2011)

    Show 4 episodes · as Captain Ahab

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all shows

  • Robin Hood(2010)

    as William Marshal

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Real Robin Hood(2010)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The River Why(2010)

    as H2O

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Yellow Handkerchief(2008)

    as Brett Hanson

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Countess(2009)

    as György Thurzó

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Endgame(2009)

    as Professor Will Esterhuyse

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Incredible Hulk(2008)

    as General 'Thunderbolt' Ross

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Vantage Point(2008)

    as President Ashton

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Noise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Mayor Schneer

  • Into the Wild(2007)

    as Walt McCandless

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Damages(2007)

    Show 13 episodes · as Daniel Purcell

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Mr. Brooks(2007)

    as Marshall

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Legend of Sasquatch(2006)

    Producer · as John Davis

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Good Shepherd(2006)

    as Philip Allen

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Beautiful Ohio(2006)

    as Simon Messerman

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Jason Renshaw

  • The King(2005)

    as Pastor David Sandow

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Syriana(2005)

    as Stan

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • A History of Violence(2005)

    as Richie Cusack

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Neverwas(2005)

    as Dr. Peter Reed

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Hunt for Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as General Mortimer

  • Frankenstein(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · as Professor Waldman

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • The Village(2004)

    as Edward Walker

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Blue Butterfly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Alan Osborne

  • Nearest to Heaven(2002)

    as Matt

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story(2002)

    as Robert P. Hanssen

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · as Robert P. Hanssen

  • Tuck Everlasting(2002)

    as Angus Tuck

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Changing Lanes(2002)

    as Doyle's Sponsor

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Simian Line(2000)

    as Edward

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Rare Birds(2001)

    as Dave

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • A.I. Artificial Intelligence(2001)

    as Prof. Hobby

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Varian's War: The Forgotten Hero(2001)

    as Varian Fry

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Flamingo Rising(2001)

    as Turner Knight

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Contaminated Man(2000)

    as David R. Whitman

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Frank Herbert's Dune (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 3 episodes · as Duke Leto Atreides

  • The Miracle Maker(1999)

    as Jairus (voice)

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Do Not Disturb(1999)

    as Walter Richmond

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Sunshine(1999)

    as Andor Knorr

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The 4th Floor(1999)

    as Greg Harrison

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Big Brass Ring(1999)

    as William Blake Pellarin

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The King of Queens(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Taber

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • One True Thing(1998)

    as George Gulden

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Lost in Space(1998)

    as Prof. John Robinson

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Proposition(1998)

    as Arthur Barret

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Dark City(1998)

    as Inspector Frank Bumstead

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Loved (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as K.D. Dietrickson

  • Elie Wiesel Goes Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Michael(1996)

    as Frank Quinlan

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Ispoved neznakomtsu(1995)

    as The stranger

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • A Couch in New York(1996)

    as Henry Harriston

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Jane Eyre(1996)

    as Rochester

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Smoke(1995)

    as Paul Benjamin

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Second Best(1994)

    as Graham Holt

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Trial by Jury(1994)

    as Tommy Vesey

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Mr. Wonderful(1993)

    as Tom

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Plague (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Doctor Bernard Rieux

  • Rabbit Ears - The Boy Who Drew Cats (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Until the End of the World(1991)

    as Sam Farber, alias Trevor McPhee

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Doctor(1991)

    as Jack

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Alice(1990)

    as Doug Tate

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Steve Mills (voice)

  • I Love You to Death(1990)

    as Harlan James

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Accidental Tourist(1988)

    as Macon Leary

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • A Time of Destiny(1988)

    as Martin Larraneta

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Broadcast News(1987)

    as Tom Grunick

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Children of a Lesser God(1986)

    as James Leeds

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • A Midsummer Night's Dream(1982)

    as Oberon

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Kiss of the Spider Woman(1985)

    as Luis Molina

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Gorky Park(1983)

    as Arkady Renko

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Big Chill(1983)

    as Nick Carlton

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • All the Way Home(1981)

    as Jay Follet

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Body Heat(1981)

    as Ned Racine

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Eyewitness(1981)

    as Daryll Deever

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Altered States(1980)

    as Professor Eddie Jessup

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Verna: USO Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Walter

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jake

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Great Performances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Walter

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Turner Knight

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 108 titles from 1951 to 2022; peak year 2008.

Biggest box office

Black Widow (2021)

$380M worldwide

Highest rated

Into the Wild (2007)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Goliath (2016)

Film career

MilestoneBreakoutAward winNomination
19512022

Peak 2008 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 36 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

Show 6 more milestones

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting108 of 108: 108 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score64th

By decade

1950s1 · acting1970s3 · acting1980s12 · acting1990s26 · acting2000s34 · acting2010s26 · acting2020s6 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 31% of 65 roles
80859500051015

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

an Oscar, a BAFTA Award and 2 other major awards from 16 major nominations, 1981–2012.

WinNomination
  1. 2012
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
  2. 2011
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie
  3. 2010
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
  4. 2009
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
  5. 2008
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
  6. 2007
    • Berlinale award, won · Outstanding Artistic Contribution
  7. 2006
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
  8. 1988
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
Show 4 earlier years
  1. 1987
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
  2. 1986
    • Oscar, won · Best Actor in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Actor
  3. 1985
    • Cannes award, won
  4. 1981
    • Golden Globe, nominated · New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture - Male

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do William Hurt's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 64th percentile, the median of all 80; across their 78 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 78

Approval · how many liked their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 78

Reach · how many have seen their films

86thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 78

Midcredits score across 92 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up34
  • 50th to 74th29
  • 25th to 49th15
  • Below 25th14

Shape of the crowd

46 of their 92 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser46
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed26

Most divisive · actor, producer

The Legend of Sasquatch (2006)

97th percentile spread · 51% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 73 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is William Hurt's work okay for kids?

Across up to 39 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore26 titles17–82 · median 60 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity39 titles10–68 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity32 titles19–72 · median 49 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs26 titles15–64 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense27 titles28–69 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does William Hurt work with?

People who share at least 2 of William Hurt's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Lawrence Kasdan shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles