Updated: The Late Sir John Hurt to Be Honored
Update (March 12):
Doctor Who Magazine published the John Hurt tribute edition this week, which you can see below. Included in the magazine are tributes from Steven Moffat and David Tennant.
It doesn’t need saying – John Hurt was one of the greatest actors who ever lived. That’s not even controversial, that’s just a fact. I only met him a handful of times, but I can confirm the other thing that everyone else has been saying about him: he was also incredibly nice. Now, nice doesn’t seem like much of compliment, but you have to remember that this man was, quite rightly, worshipped by everyone he met. Worship has been known to go to people’s heads – but not John’s. If a man can remain humble and kind and warm as the world basically genuflects around him, then that is no ordinary man. The Doctor would be proud to be John Hurt – and for one very special day, he was.” – Executive Producer Steven Moffat
In January, the acting world lost the absolute legend that was Sir John Hurt. While Harry Potter fans knew him fondly as Mr. Garrick Ollivander the wandmaker, Hurt left a mark on other popular fandoms as well, most notably is the Doctor Who fandom, who knew Hurt as the War Doctor, a special incarnation of the character that appeared in the show’s 50th-anniversary episode. Hurt brought a special gravitas to the title character, bridging the gap between “Classic Who” and “New Who” in a way that only he could. Now, Doctor Who Magazine, the official magazine of the BBC show, will honor the late legend in its next issue. Showrunner and writer Steven Moffat and co-star David Tennant (who also acted alongside him Potter as Barty Crouch, Jr.!) will be among those honoring the actor in the issue. Moffat praised Hurt’s kindness and humility.
The Doctor would be proud to be John Hurt, and for one very special day, he was.
Additionally, the Holt Festival Art Prize, one of England’s top art prizes based in Norfolk, will be renamed the Holt Festival – Sir John Hurt Art Prize. Hurt was a great supporter of the festival, often judging and presenting the prize. The Chair of the Board of Trustees for Holt Festival, Adney Payne, fondly recalled Hurt’s impact on the Norfolk community:
He loved living in North Norfolk and we loved having him here. Sir John was a kind, generous and charming man who was a great ambassador for, and supporter of, the arts in the county. We all miss him greatly and shall especially do so in Festival week, where he became such a familiar face.
Both of these seem fitting tributes to a man whose talent and work will continue to influence many for generations to come.