Rutger Hauer
Rutger Hauer was a versatile Dutch actor whose prolific 50-year acting career included roles in dozens of films, the most notable of which included "Turkish Delight" (1972), "Nighthawks" (1981), "Batman Begins" (2005) and arguably his most memorable, that of a violent android named Roy Batty in Ridley Scott's science-fiction masterpiece, "Blade Runner" (1982). Hauer was born in Bruekelen, Netherlands on January 23, 1944 at the height of World War II. Hauer was born during the German occupation of the Netherlands, and in later interviews, would recall how the horrors of that War made him turn to pacifism as an adult. A rebellious youth, Hauer ran away from home at the age of 15 to work on a freighter. He had dreams of becoming a captain, but was unable to due to colorblindness. With his aspirations shot, Hauer returned home after one year to finish high school. Having parents were both actors who ran an acting school in Amsterdam, and nurtured their teenage son's burgeoning creative side. Hauer started taking acting classes at Amsterdam's Academy for Theater and Dance and quickly found that he liked it. He briefly quit the academy, however, and joined the Royal Netherlands Army, but left after a few months to return to acting school. Hauer would eventually go on to graduate from the Academy for Theater and Dance in 1967. After graduating, Hauer quickly began landing acting work. One of his first major roles was a starring part on the Dutch TV series "Floris" (NTS, 1969). That show, however, lasted only a single season. In the early 1970s Floris honed his craft by appearing in plays for a Dutch theater company. His screen acting work during this period was minimal. Then in 1973 he appeared in the Dutch romantic drama "Turkish Delight." The film was such a massive success both in the Netherlands, as well as in some countries abroad, that Hauer instantaneously became a bankable star on the international stage. As a result, he started landing roles in films with a more global appeal, including his first English language film "The Wilby Conspiracy" (1975). Hauer also continued making a name for himself in Dutch cinema, with impressive roles in critically-acclaimed films like "Soldier of Orange" (1977) and "Spetters" (1980). In 1981 Hauer made his American film debut appearing alongside Sylvester Stallone in the action-thriller "Nighthawks." But it was his role in "Blade Runner" that truly put Hauer on the map. Although not a huge success at the box office at the time of its release, "Blade Runner's" popularity has only grown in the ensuing years, with Hauer in particular being hailed for his performance as the murderous android Roy Batty. After "Blade Runner," Hauer began taking on more acting work in American films throughout the 1980s, including "Ladyhawke" (1985), "The Hitcher" (1986) and "Blind Fury" (1989). The 1990s saw him appear in a number of low budget films, like "Split Second" (1992) and "Omega Doom" (1996), but by the 2000s he was landing roles in bigger budgeted Hollywood like "Sin City" (2005) and "Batman Begins." Hauer continued working well into the 2010s, with numerous appearances in both films and on television shows. an appearance in the film "Journey to China: The Mystery of Iron Mask" in 2019. By 2019, his 50th year as a working actor, Hauer had landed over 170 film and TV credits, according to IMDB, making him one of the most prolific actors of his generation. Sadly, however, after a half a century entertaining audiences throughout the world, Rutger Hauer passed away on July 19, 2019 at his home in the Netherlands. The cause of death was an unspecified illness. He was 75.
Photos
Rutger Hauer
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Like Tears In Rain | Self | - | 2023 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Break | Ray (Character) | - | 2020 |
19% |
|
Iron Mask | Ambassador (Character) | - | 2019 |
50% |
|
The Sonata | Richard Marlowe (Character) | - | 2018 |
87% |
|
The Sisters Brothers | The Commodore (Character) | $3.1M | 2018 |
20% |
|
Corbin Nash | Stranger (Character) | - | 2018 |
27% |
|
Samson | Manoah (Character) | $4.7M | 2018 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Broken Key | Professor Moonlight (Character) | - | 2017 |
58% |
|
24 Hours to Live | Frank (Character) | - | 2017 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Drawing Home | Carl Rungius (Character) | - | 2017 |
47% |
|
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets | President of the World State Federation (Character) | $40.4M | 2017 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Gangsterdam | Dolph (Character) | - | 2017 |
No Score Yet |
|
Beyond Valkyrie: Dawn of the Fourth Reich | Oskar Halminski (Character) | - | 2016 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Emperor | John The Constant (Character) | - | 2016 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Clones | Dr. Richards (Character) | - | 2015 |
57% | No Score Yet | Behind the White Glasses | Self | $2.2K | 2015 |
60% |
|
Admiral | Maarten Tromp (Character) | - | 2015 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power | King Zakour (Character) | - | 2015 |
30% |
|
The Letters | Benjamin Praagh (Character) | $1.6M | 2014 |
No Score Yet |
|
2047: Sights of Death | Col. Asimov (Character) | - | 2014 |
No Score Yet |
|
Real Playing Game | Steve Battier (Character) | - | 2013 |
80% |
|
The Future | Maciste (Character) | $14.0K | 2013 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Flight of the Storks | Sonderman (Character) | - | 2013 |
20% |
|
Argento's Dracula | Abraham Van Helsing (Character) | $3.1K | 2012 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Reverend | Withstander (Character) | - | 2011 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Portable Life | Antonio (Character) | - | 2011 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | All for One | Niemeyer (Character) | - | 2011 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Heineken Kidnapping | Alfred Heineken (Character) | - | 2011 |
69% |
|
Black Butterflies | Abraham Jonker (Character) | - | 2011 |
77% |
|
The Mill and the Cross | Peter Bruegel (Character) | $310.9K | 2011 |
66% |
|
Hobo With a Shotgun | Hobo (Character) | $703.0K | 2011 |
22% |
|
The Rite | Istvan Kovak (Character) | $33.0M | 2011 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Cardboard Village | Il sacrestano (Character) | - | 2011 |
No Score Yet |
|
Life's a Beach | Jean-Luc (Character) | - | 2011 |
No Score Yet |
|
The 5th Execution | Khant (Character) | - | 2010 |
17% |
|
Happiness Runs | Insley (Character) | $6.1K | 2010 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Spoon | Victor Spoon (Character) | - | 2010 |
No Score Yet |
|
Sword of War | Federico Barbarossa (Character) | - | 2009 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Dazzle (Oogverblindend) | Unknown (Character) | - | 2009 |
67% |
|
Bride Flight | Old Frank (Character) | $497.3K | 2008 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Magic Flute Diaries | Dr. Richard Nagel (Character) | - | 2008 |
No Score Yet |
|
7eventy 5ive | Detective John Criton (Character) | - | 2007 |
39% |
|
Goal! 2: Living the Dream | Rudi Van Der Merwe (Character) | - | 2007 |
10% |
|
Moving McAllister | McAllister (Character) | $42.2K | 2007 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Starting Over | Peter Rossen (Character) | - | 2007 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Hunt for Eagle One | Gen. Frank Lewis (Character) | - | 2006 |
No Score Yet |
|
Mentor | Unknown (Character) | - | 2006 |
No Score Yet |
|
Mirror Wars: Reflection One | Mysterious Man (Character) | - | 2005 |
No Score Yet |
|
Minotaur | Cyrnan (Character) | - | 2005 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Poseidon Adventure | Bishop August Schmidt (Character) | - | 2005 |
43% |
|
Dracula III: Legacy | Dracula III (Character) | - | 2005 |
85% |
|
Batman Begins | Earle (Character) | $206.9M | 2005 |
76% |
|
Sin City | Cardinal Roark (Character) | $74.1M | 2005 |
69% |
|
Salem's Lot | Kurt Barlow (Character) | - | 2004 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Tempesta | Van Beuningen (Character) | - | 2004 |
No Score Yet |
|
Warrior Angels | Grekkor (Character) | - | 2002 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Bankers of God: The Calvi Affair | Cardinale Marcinkus (Character) | - | 2002 |
79% |
|
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind | Keeler (Character) | $16.0M | 2002 |
No Score Yet |
|
Scorcher | President Nelson (Character) | - | 2002 |
No Score Yet |
|
Flying Virus | Ezekial (Character) | - | 2001 |
No Score Yet |
|
Turbulence 3: Heavy Metal | Copilot MacIntosh (Character) | - | 2001 |
No Score Yet |
|
Lying in Wait | Keith Miller (Character) | - | 2000 |
No Score Yet |
|
Wilder | Dr. Sam Dennis Charney (Character) | - | 2000 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The 10th Kingdom: Night 5 | Unknown (Character) | - | 2000 |
No Score Yet |
|
Partners in Crime | Gene Reardon (Character) | - | 2000 |
63% |
|
Simon Magus | Squire (Character) | $38.2K | 1999 |
No Score Yet |
|
New World Disorder | David Marx (Character) | - | 1999 |
No Score Yet |
|
Bleeders | Dr. Marlowe (Character) | - | 1998 |
No Score Yet |
|
Bone Daddy | William H. Palmer (Character) | - | 1998 |
No Score Yet |
|
Tactical Assault | Capt. John "Doc" Holiday (Character) | - | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Ruby Ring | Patrick Collins (Character) | - | 1997 |
No Score Yet |
|
Hostile Waters | Capt. Britanov (Character) | - | 1997 |
No Score Yet |
|
Redline | John Anderson Wade (Character) | - | 1997 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Call of the Wild: Dog of the Yukon | John Thornton (Character) | - | 1997 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Tales From a Parallel Universe: Eating Pattern | Bog (Character) | - | 1997 |
No Score Yet |
|
Knockin' on Heaven's Door | Curtiz (Character) | $3.3K | 1997 |
No Score Yet |
|
Blast | Leo (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet |
|
Omega Doom | Omega Doom (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet |
|
Crossworlds | A.T. (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet |
|
Precious Find | Armond Crille (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet |
|
Mr. Stitch |
Doctor Rue Wakeman (Character), Executive Producer |
- | 1995 |
29% |
|
Nostradamus | The Mystic Monk (Character) | $65.6K | 1994 |
35% |
|
Surviving the Game | Thomas Burns (Character) | $7.7M | 1994 |
No Score Yet |
|
Amelia Earhart: The Final Flight | Fred Noonan (Character) | - | 1994 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Beans of Egypt, Maine | Reuben Bean (Character) | $6.5K | 1994 |
50% |
|
Fatherland | SS-Sturmbannführer Xavier March (Character) | - | 1994 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Blood of the Innocent | Dr. Lem (Character) | - | 1994 |
No Score Yet |
|
Blind Side | Jake Shell (Character) | - | 1993 |
No Score Yet |
|
Arctic Blue | Ben Corbett (Character) | - | 1993 |
No Score Yet |
|
Voyage | Voyage (Character) | - | 1993 |
36% |
|
Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Lothos (Character) | $14.1M | 1992 |
No Score Yet |
|
Split Second | Harley Stone (Character) | $4.8M | 1992 |
No Score Yet |
|
Past Midnight | Ben Jordan (Character) | - | 1991 |
No Score Yet |
|
Wedlock | Frank Warren (Character) | - | 1991 |
No Score Yet |
|
Beyond Justice | Tom Burton (Character) | - | 1991 |
No Score Yet |
|
Bloodhounds of Broadway | The Brain (Character) | $25.8K | 1989 |
20% |
|
The Blood of Heroes | Sallow (Character) | $882.3K | 1989 |
53% |
|
Blind Fury | Nick Parker (Character) | $2.1M | 1989 |
No Score Yet |
|
On a Moonlit Night | John Knott (Character) | - | 1989 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Legend of the Holy Drinker | Andreas Kartak (Character) | - | 1988 |
33% |
|
Wanted: Dead or Alive | Nick Randall (Character) | $6.5M | 1987 |
No Score Yet |
|
Escape From Sobibor | Alexander `'Sasha'` Pechersky (Character) | - | 1987 |
64% |
|
The Hitcher | John Ryder (Character) | $2.1M | 1986 |
86% |
|
Flesh & Blood | Martin (Character) | - | 1985 |
67% |
|
Ladyhawke | Captain Etienne Navarre (Character) | - | 1985 |
No Score Yet |
|
A Breed Apart | Jim Malden (Character) | - | 1984 |
40% |
|
Eureka | Claude Maillot Van Horn (Character) | - | 1983 |
45% |
|
The Osterman Weekend | John Tanner (Character) | - | 1983 |
94% |
|
Blade Runner: The Final Cut | Roy Batty (Character) | - | 1982 |
89% |
|
Blade Runner | Roy Batty (Character) | $3.9M | 1982 |
No Score Yet |
|
Inside the Third Reich | Albert Speer (Character) | - | 1982 |
72% |
|
Nighthawks | Wulfgar (Character) | - | 1981 |
No Score Yet |
|
Chanel Solitaire | Etienne de Balsan (Character) | - | 1981 |
86% |
|
Spetters | Gerrit Witkamp (Character) | - | 1980 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Mysteries | Johan Nagel (Character) | - | 1979 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Fatal Error | Rinus de Gier (Character) | - | 1979 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Pastorale 1943 | August Schultz (Character) | - | 1978 |
92% |
|
Soldier of Orange | Erik Lanshof (Character) | - | 1977 |
No Score Yet |
|
Keetje Tippel | Hugo (Character) | - | 1975 |
67% |
|
The Wilby Conspiracy | Blane Van Niekirk (Character) | - | 1975 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Dandelions | Rick (Character) | - | 1974 |
86% |
|
Turkish Delight | Eric Vonk (Character) | - | 1973 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Turkish delight | Eric (Character) | - | 1973 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Cold Blood | Cris (Character) | - | 1971 |
TV
Credit | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Porters | Tillman (Character) | 2017 2019 |
93% | 84% | Channel Zero | Joseph Peach (Character) | 2018 |
91% | 95% | The Last Kingdom | Ravn (Character) | 2017 |
89% | 93% | Galavant | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2015 |
68% | 72% | True Blood | Niall Brigant (Character) | 2013-2014 |
40% | 43% | Metal Hurlant Chronicles | Kern (Character) | 2012 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Poseidon Adventure | Bishop August Schmidt (Character) | 2005 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Salem's Lot | Kurt Barlow (Character) | 2004 |
78% | 70% | Smallville | Morgan Edge (Guest Star) | 2003 |
86% | 88% | Alias | Anthony Geiger (Guest Star) | 2003 |
No Score Yet | 96% | The 10th Kingdom | Unknown (Character) | 2000 |