One of the upshots of being one of Hollywood’s most prolific working actors is that you wind up touching a staggering number of people. Hence the widespread outporing of affection today for John Hurt, who died earlier this week of complications from cancer. Stars ranging from The Rock to director Terry Gilliam (and many more) all took to social media in the hours after Hurt’s death was reported, painting a picture of a performer who worked tirelessly while never sacrificing his wit or heart.
Beyond the sheer diversity of co-stars mourning Hurt’s death today were the numerous tributes coming from fans. Hurt’s long career touched on some of the most fervent of internet fandoms, like Harry Potter, Doctor Who, Lord Of The Rings, and more niche shows like Merlin. All of them offered up their own tributes today, the most touching of which might have occurred at the Harry Potter Celebration event at The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter in Orlando. On cue, fans raised their wands en masse, in honor of the man who played the enigmatic Ollivander in the Harry Potter films.
On a more personal level, BuzzFeed UK LGBT editor Patrick Strudwick penned a touching essay about a week he spent with Hurt, visiting wounded and ill children as part of a charity project in Ethiopia. Strudwick’s piece is a portrait of the quiet, introverted man behind the massive performances, and a testament to Hurt’s skill and proclivity for giving the lonely and the ostracized a voice.
Meanwhile, a supercut of a small fraction—a mere 143 out of 204—of Hurt’s performances is making the rounds online, allowing fans to find and reflect on their favorite of his roles.