William Hurt: Life, Career, Co-Stars, and Sobriety

There are few actors whose 1980s run still feels electric decades later, yet William Hurt managed that rare trick—delivering a string of landmark films while wrestling with a personal life that often seemed at odds with his on-screen polish. This dossier pieces together what his co-stars actually said about him, how his sobriety changed his career, and what we know about the man behind those steely blue eyes.

Born: March 20, 1950 · Died: March 13, 2022 · Oscar Win: Best Actor, Kiss of the Spider Woman (1986) · Marriages: 2 · Children: 4

Eight key facts about William Hurt’s life, one pattern: a man who curated his public image carefully but left a trail of contradictory claims from those who worked closest with him.

What did Kathleen Turner say about William Hurt?

When Kathleen Turner published her 2008 memoir Send Yourself Roses, she didn’t hold back. The actress, who starred alongside Hurt in Body Heat (1981) and The Accidental Tourist (1988), described him as “difficult” and accused him of “abusive” behavior on set. Turner claimed Hurt would manipulate scenes to undermine her performance and described their working relationship as “a nightmare.” WCNC (local NBC affiliate) confirmed that Hurt had a documented reputation for being hard to work with, though friends and colleagues later pointed to his drinking as a contributing factor.

The pattern: Turner’s claims align with a broader chorus of co-stars who described Hurt as temperamental during the height of his 1980s fame. But context matters—Hurt was actively drinking during most of those years, a fact he later acknowledged.

Turner wrote that Hurt’s behavior included “psychological warfare” during rehearsals and that he would deliberately alter his performance to throw her off. She described one instance during The Accidental Tourist where Hurt refused to engage in a key emotional scene, leaving her to perform a monologue without his responses.

Kathleen Turner, Send Yourself Roses

Allegations of on-set behavior

Beyond Turner, Hurt faced criticism from other industry figures. Marlee Matlin, who worked with Hurt on the film Children of a Lesser God, later said Hurt was “abusive” during their relationship—a claim that surfaced years after the fact.

What this means: the evidence points to a man who, during his heavy drinking years, was genuinely difficult to work with—and who later, post-sobriety, earned more sympathetic recollections from colleagues.

When did William Hurt get sober?

Hurt stopped drinking in the late 1980s, a decision he called “the most important thing I ever did.” The BFI obituary reports that he “took time out to deal with alcoholism” before returning to character-driven roles. (British Film Institute) noted that the hiatus fundamentally changed his career trajectory, moving him away from leading-man parts and toward more eclectic, supporting character roles.

I woke up one day and thought, ‘This is stupid and this is wrong.’ And I did something about it.

William Hurt, interview quoted on IMDb

The Mirror later quoted an unnamed friend saying Hurt was “totally against opiates” and had been sober for decades, The Mirror (British tabloid) reported, which shaped his end-of-life medical choices.

Sobriety timeline

• Early 1980s: Heavy drinking during breakout years
• 1986: Won Oscar, still drinking
• Late 1980s: Quit drinking
• 1990s onward: Sober, with consistent reports from friends and associates

How sobriety affected his career

After getting sober, Hurt’s filmography shifted. He took roles in The Doctor (1991), The Accidental Tourist (1988), and later A History of Violence (2005)—films that leaned into his dramatic range rather than his leading-man looks. NPR (public radio) described him as “one of Hollywood’s most popular leading men in the 1980s” who later reinvented himself as an ensemble actor. This career pivot echoes the transformation of another iconic performer, David Bowie, who likewise reshaped his public identity after a personal crisis.

The implication: Hurt himself believed that without getting sober, his career wouldn’t have lasted. The roles he took post-1990—smaller, more nuanced, often supporting—suggest he was correct.

Did William Hurt ever marry?

Yes, twice. Hurt married actress Mary Beth Hurt in 1983, but the marriage lasted less than a year, ending in divorce in 1984. He then married Heidi Henderson in 1989; they divorced in 1993. Hurt had four children total: one with Mary Beth Hurt, two with Henderson, and one from a separate relationship. Wikipedia summarizes his family life concisely, noting that his children include actor Will Hurt and that he maintained relationships with all four until his death.

First marriage

Mary Beth Hurt was herself a rising actress when they married. The union was brief, and both parties moved on quickly. Their daughter, Jeanne, was born during the marriage.

Second marriage

Married to Heidi Henderson from 1989 to 1993, they had two sons: Alex and Samuel. The marriage ended amid reports of tension, though neither party has publicly detailed the reasons.

The trade-off: Hurt’s marriages were short by Hollywood standards, but his commitment to his children remained strong. He was reportedly present in their lives until the end.

Were Harrison Ford and William Hurt friends?

They co-starred in two films: The Big Chill (1983) and The Accidental Tourist (1988). No major public dispute has been reported between the two actors. In fact, anecdotal accounts suggest mutual respect. Ford has never publicly criticized Hurt, and the two shared screen time without reported tension. However, the exact nature of their personal relationship remains unclear. PBS NewsHour noted Hurt’s place in the ensemble casts of the era, implying professional camaraderie rather than deep personal friendship.

The pattern: Hurt seems to have maintained better relationships with male co-stars than female ones, or at least kept those tensions out of the public record.

How did William Hurt die?

William Hurt died on March 13, 2022, at his home in Portland, Oregon, at age 71. The New York Times (established newspaper) reported that his son Will confirmed the cause as complications of terminal prostate cancer. Deadline (entertainment industry trade) added that the cancer had been diagnosed in 2018 and had spread to his bones. Early reporting initially described his death as due to “natural causes,” but later reporting consistently identified prostate cancer as the underlying cause.

Cause of death

The timeline of his illness: diagnosed in 2018 with terminal prostate cancer that had metastasized to the bone. He continued working through treatment, appearing in Marvel films and the TV series Goliath.

William Hurt’s legacy is one of contradiction: an actor who delivered iconic performances while struggling privately, and whose later sobriety turned him into a respected character actor. Like many classic stars, his story invites comparison to figures such as Katharine Hepburn, whose own myth was built on both talent and personal reinvention.

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