Things We Saw Today: Oscar Winner William Hurt Dies at 71

Veteran actor William Hurt has passed away at 71 after a long battle with prostate cancer. He leaves behind an incredible legacy of work that includes star turns in The Big Chill, Body Heat, Gorky Park, and Kiss of the Spider Woman, which earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1986. Hurt was was nominated for three consecutive best actor Oscars from 1986-1988 for his work in Kiss of the Spider Woman, Children of a Lesser God, and Broadcast News.

His son Will posted the news on social media, writing “It is with great sadness that the Hurt family mourns the passing of William Hurt, beloved father and Oscar winning actor, on March 13, 2022, one week before his 72nd birthday. He died peacefully, among family, of natural causes. The family requests privacy at this time.”

Fans of the Marvel cinematic universe will recognize Hurt as General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross from 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, a role he reprised in the subsequent films Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and Black Widow. Hurt also had a long career in television, appearing in shows like Damages, Dune, Goliath, and most recently, Mythic Quest.

Many actors and fans took to social media to share their memories and condolences.

(image: Marvel/Disney)

• The Power of the Dog and Dune win big at the BAFTA Awards. (via Deadline)
• Patton Oswalt has predictions for the Marvel cinematic universe. (via Collider)
• You can watch the first five minutes of Showtime’s The Man Who Fell to Earth below! (via Shadow and Act)

• Hey, remember that time Jim Carrey was the Riddler? Wild times. (via IGN)
• The Batman smokey eye guide you didn’t know you wanted. (via Polygon)
• Release dates and a teaser for season 3 of The Umbrella Academy has landed. (via TV Line)

Hope you’re having a soulful Sunday, Mary Suevians!

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Chelsea Steiner

Chelsea was born and raised in New Orleans, which explains her affinity for cheesy grits and Britney Spears. An pop culture journalist since 2012, her work has appeared on Autostraddle, AfterEllen, and more. Her beats include queer popular culture, film, television, republican clownery, and the unwavering belief that 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' is the greatest movie ever made. She currently resides in sunny Los Angeles, with her husband, 2 sons, and one poorly behaved rescue dog. She is a former roller derby girl and a black belt in Judo, so she is not to be trifled with. She loves the word “Jewess” and wishes more people used it to describe her.

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