It was a sad day in Hollywood today, following the announcement of the passing of actor, activist and Golden Globe winner Rutger Hauer. Hauer is remembered for his long and varied career. He brought some on cinema’s best loved villains and anti-hero’s to the silver and small screens.
Hauer began his career when he was cast in future Robocop director Paul Verhoeven’s television series Floris. The show became a hit in Hauer’s native Netherlands. American audiences though had to wait 12 years to be introduced to Hauer. He made his U.S. screen debut in 1981, opposite Sylvester Stallone in Nighthawks. Hauer plays a maniacal and cold blooded terrorist. Other noteworthy genre roles include Blade Runner, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Hobo with a Shotgun, Blind Fury (pictured above), The Hitcher, and many more.
Related: Why The Buffy the Vampire Slayer Movie Deserves a Fair Shot
In addition to having a noteworthy filmography under his belt that includes pretty much every genre, Hauer was also an AIDS and environmental activist. He founded the Rutger Hauer Starfish Association, a non-profit that works towards AIDS awareness and offers assistance and care to victims of the AIDS epidemic. The organization focuses especially on children and pregnant women.
In 2013, Hauer was knighted into the Order of the Netherlands Lion. The organization has existed in the Netherlands since 1815. Hauer has accomplished in his life, what most men can only dream of.
