Rutger Hauer, known for Blade Runner, The Hitcher, Batman Begins, and many more, has died at the age of 75. He had passed away on July 19th though, it was not widely announced until the 24th.
His career started in 1969 on the Dutch TV show Floris. While he went on to star in almost 200 films and TV shows, he’s probably best remembered for his role as Roy Batty in 1982’s Blade Runner.
Rutger Hauer’s Early Life:
Source: Wikipedia
Hauer was born in Breukelen on 23 January 1944,[6] while the Netherlands was under German occupation during World War II.[7] He stated in a 1981 interview, “I was born in the middle of the war, and I think for that reason I have deep roots in pacifism. Violence frightens me.”[8] His parents were Teunke (née Mellema) and Arend Hauer, both actors who operated an acting school in nearby Amsterdam.[9] He had three sisters.[10] According to Hauer, his parents were more interested in their art than their children. He did not have a close relationship with his father, and Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema later became a father figure to Hauer after they met during the filming of Soldier of Orange.[2]
Hauer attended a Rudolf Steiner school, as his parents wanted him to develop his creativity.[11] At the age of 15, he left school to join the Dutch merchant navy. He spent a year traveling the world aboard a freighter, but was unable to become a captain due to his colorblindness.[12] Returning home, he worked odd jobs while finishing his high school diploma at night. Hauer then entered the Academy for Theater and Dance in Amsterdam for acting classes, but soon dropped out to join the Royal Netherlands Army. He received training as a combat medic,[13] but left the service after a few months as he opposed the use of deadly weapons.[12] He subsequently returned to acting school and graduated in 1967.[8]
Recent Career:
More recently, Hauer has voiced characters for video games, appeared in True Blood, and Channel Zero. While he has a few projects currently in post, he was to appear as The Ghost of Christmas Future in a mini-series based on A Christmas Carol. It is currently unknown if he had finished shooting his part.
The announcement of his death on the 24th coincided with his funeral. He is survived by Ineke ten Cate, his second wife, and his daughter. He’ll next be seen as Diego in Tonight at Noon. Rutger Hauer will be missed, but not forgotten.
