Over six decades, his distinctive voice and towering presence saw him much in demand for a variety of roles.
He successfully combined classical theatre with television and Hollywood blockbusters.
The death of his character in the film Alien has often been voted as one of cinema's most memorable moments.
John Vincent Hurt was born on 22 January 1940 in the town of Chesterfield in Derbyshire.
While many of his contemporaries picked and chose the roles they would play, Hurt cheerfully took anything that came along, no matter how small.
The film critic and historian Geoff Andrew asked Hurt how he managed to regularly turn in such memorable performances.
"The only way I can describe it is that I put everything I can into the mulberry of my mind and hope that it is going to ferment and make a decent wine.
"How that process happens, I'm sorry to tell you I can't describe."
Hurt is survived by his two sons and his fourth wife, of 12 years, Anwen Rees Meyers, a former actress and classical pianist.
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-29343784