Voted the greatest Dutch actor of all-time in a 1999 poll, Rutger Hauer was a cult star across the globe. He originally had his sights set on a career as a military medic, but left the armed forces over his refusal to handle deadly weapons. Instead he became an actor: first on Dutch television, and then breaking through internationally with a role in Paul Verhoeven’s Turkish Delight. His most famous performance was as Roy Batty in Blade Runner: his “tears in the rain” speech, one of the most famous pieces of dialogue in cinematic history, was largely improvised by Hauer as he found the original scripting too wordy.
He was a reliable and regular worker, above the level of character actor but never really given a chance to lead a major Hollywood picture. His variety of work is testament to his versatility: Guinness adverts, Kylie Minogue music videos, the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the neo-exploitation comedy Hobo with a Shotgun. And now all those moments… lost.
Rutger Hauer
23 January 1944 – 19 July 2019
Died aged 75 (unique joker hit)