Rutger Hauer

Rutger Hauer
Hauer in 2018
Born
Rutger Oelsen Hauer

(1944-01-23)23 January 1944
Breukelen, Utrecht, Netherlands
Died19 July 2019(2019-07-19) (aged 75)
Beetsterzwaag, Friesland, Netherlands
OccupationActor
Years active1969–2019
Spouses
  • Heidi Merz
    (divorced)
  • Ineke ten Cate
    (m. 1985)
ChildrenAyesha Hauer
ParentArend Hauer (father)

Rutger Oelsen Hauer (born Dutch: [ˈrʏtxər ˈulsə(n) ˈɦʌuər]; 23 January 1944 – 19 July 2019) was a Dutch actor, with a film career that spanned over 170 roles across nearly 50 years, beginning in 1969. In 1999, he was named by the Dutch public as the Best Dutch Actor of the Century.[1][2]

Hauer's career began in 1969 with the title role in the Dutch television series Floris and surged with his leading role in Turkish Delight (1973), which in 1999 was named the Best Dutch Film of the Century.[1] After gaining international recognition with Soldier of Orange (1977) and Spetters (1980), he moved into American films such as Nighthawks (1981) and Blade Runner (1982), starring in the latter as self-aware replicant Roy Batty.[3] His performance in Blade Runner led to roles in The Osterman Weekend (1983), Ladyhawke (1985), The Hitcher (1986), The Legend of the Holy Drinker (1988), and Blind Fury (1989), among other films.

From the 1990s on, Hauer moved into low-budget films, and supporting roles in major films like Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992), Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002), Batman Begins (2005), Sin City (2005), and The Rite (2011).[4] Hauer also became well known for his work in commercials. Towards the end of his career, he made a return to Dutch cinema, and won the 2012 Rembrandt Award for Best Actor in recognition of his lead role in The Heineken Kidnapping (2011).

Hauer supported environmentalist causes and was a member of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. He also founded the Rutger Hauer Starfish Association, an AIDS awareness organization. He was made a knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion in 2013.[5]

  1. ^ a b Hahn, Bram (7 October 2015). "1973 – Monique van de Ven: Voor altijd Olga". Elsevier Weekblad (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference NOSsteenhoff was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Ebiri, Bilge (25 July 2019). "Even Now, Rutger Hauer's Performance in 'Blade Runner' Is a Marvel - With his combination of menace and anguish, he created an unforgettable character that made the movie the classic it remains today". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  4. ^ "Rutger Hauer". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Acteur Rutger Hauer krijgt lintje". Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (in Dutch). 2013. Archived from the original on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.