‘Blade Runner’ and ‘Hitcher’ Star Rutger Hauer Dies at 75

Rutger Hauer, the Dutch actor who played as the iconic villain Roy Batty in the 1980’s sci-fi classic Blade Runner, has passed away on July 19 following a short illness at the age of 75. According to the actor’s official website, Hauer’s agent Steve Kenis confirmed the news and said that a funeral was held for the beloved actor Wednesday morning.

Hauer rose to fame in his role as Roy Batter opposite Harrison Ford in Ridley’s Scott’s sci-fi noir Blade Runner. Though it was a flop in its original 1982 release, it became a cult favorite over the years and gave Hauer his most unforgettable role. Blade Runner also earned him a Saturn Award nomination for best supporting actor. It was Hauer’s second film after making his American debut film with Sylvester Stallone in the 1981 film Nighthawks.

Rutger Hauer Through The Years

Before Blade Runner, however, Rutger Hauer has already made a name for himself in his home country. His role in Dutch director Paul Verhoeven’s 1969 medieval series Floris started his path to stardom. Then a few years later, Verhoeven cast him again in the 1973 film Turkish Delights. The film was nominated for the Oscars under the Best Foreign Language Film for the Netherlands category. In the few years before his American film debut, Hauer worked twice more with Verhoeven in Spetters and Soldier of Orange.

After Blade Runner, Hauer starred in more action roles. He starred in Flesh and Blood (1985) as a mercenary named Martin. Then, he took on the role of a knight in Ladyhawke (1985) opposite Michelle Pfeiffer. In 1986, another one of his notable roles came to light when he played a psychotic hitchhiker in The Hitcher. He also made his small screen debut in the 80s. And in 1987, he received a Golden Globe nomination for his role as a concentration camp revolt leader in Escape from Sobibor. Almost a decade later, he received another nomination for his performance on Fatherland (1994).

In the ’90s, Hauer returned to science fiction starting with his role in The Blood of Heroes. Then in 1992, he starred as the antagonistic vampire Lothos in the film Buffy the Vampire Slayer. His vampire roles didn’t end there, however. In 2004, he took on the role of the vampire Barlow in Stephen King’s miniseries Salem’s Lot. Then, he also played the vampire hunter Abraham Van Helsing in Dario Argento’s 2012 Dracula 3D. 

In fact, Hauer’s connections with vampires even extended past the screens. Novelist Anne Rice has admitted that her personal image of her title character, Lestat, in her novels The Vampire Chronicles is that of Hauer’s. In a Facebook post for Hauer’s 71st birthday, the author said that Hauer was the spitting image of the vampire Lestat. “I didn’t base Lestat’s description on Hauer. I didn’t encounter him till after I’d written “Interview with the Vampire” in which Lestat sprang to life pretty much on his own. But this is surely how I see my beloved Brat Prince hero.” Rice said.

Other notable roles of Hauer include his performances in Sin City, Batman Returns, and Hobo With A Shotgun. His most recent work was providing the voice of Master Xehanort in Kingdom Hearts III.

According to Hauer’s website, the Rutger Hauer Starfish Association, one of the actor’s last wishes is for the foundation to continue. With his wike Ineke’s help, he wishes the foundation to continue its fight against AIDS and to continue the legacy he left behind.