Rutger Hauer, the prolific, multilingual Dutch actor renowned for his roles in movies like Blade Runner, Batman Begins, Ladyhawke, The Hitcher and The Rite, died on July 19 in his home in The Netherlands at age 75. The news was confirmed by his publicist (via Variety), who said Hauer’s funeral was held today.
Hauer enjoyed a long and successful acting career both in the Netherlands and abroad. Her made his acting debut in the 1969 TV series Floris, before rising to prominence in 1973’s The Turkish Conspiracy and 1975’s The Wilby Conspiracy (his English language debut).
Hauer’s career truly exploded thanks to his role in 1982’s Blade Runner, where he played sympathetic android villain Roy Batty. In particular, Hauer’s iconic “Tears in Rain” soliloquy remains one of the most iconic scenes in science fiction. Hauer also gained further popularity in the US thanks to 1985’s Ladyhawke, a medieval fantasy movie where Hauer and Michelle Pfeiffer play tragic lovers forever separated by a cruel transformation curse.
Source: IGN.com Rutger Hauer, Blade Runner and Batman Begins Actor, Dies