Oscar-winning actor and star of the Marvel Cinematic Universe William Hurt has died aged 71.
Hurt's son, Will, shared the sad news that his father had passed away on Sunday afternoon.
"It is with great sadness that the Hurt family mourns the passing of William Hurt, beloved father and Oscar-winning actor, on March 13, 2022, one week before his 72nd birthday," said the family in a statement obtained by Deadline.
"He died peacefully, among family, of natural causes. The family requests privacy at this time," they added.
The star's health had been declining in recent years. In May 2018, it was announced that he had terminal prostate cancer which has spread to the bone. He passed away just a week before his 72nd birthday.
After graduating from Julliard in 1976, Hurt made his on-screen debut playing a scientist in sci-fi flick Altered States. For his performance, he received a Golden Globe nomination for New Star of the Year. From there, Hurt went from strength to strength, becoming well known for his popular roles in Lawrence Kasdan’s neo-noir thriller Body Heat and as Arkady Renko in Gorky Park.
In the late 1980s, his standout performances in Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985), Children of a Lesser God (1986), and Broadcast News (1987) earned him Best Actor Oscar nods in three consecutive years and an academy award win in 1985 for Kiss of the Spider Woman.
Several years later he was back in the Academy's sights, receiving a Best Supporting Actor nom for his role in David Cronenberg's 2005 movie A History of Violence.
Meanwhile, later in life Hurt found new fame playing Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He first appeared opposite Edward Norton in Louis Leterrier's The Incredible Hulk, as the United States Army Lieutenant General responsible for accidentally transforming scientist Bruce Banner into the hulk.
In later movies, his character reappeared, this time as Secretary of State in Captain America: Civil War, the final two Avenger's movies, and 2021's Black Widow.
Earlier this year Hurt made his final on-screen appearance in Sean McNamara's The King's Daughter.
He is survived by his four children.
Our thoughts are with Hurt's family, friends, and fans at this time.