Rutger Hauer
Dutch actor known for Blade Runner, Golden Globe winner, and knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion.
Rutger Oelsen Hauer was a Dutch actor whose career spanned nearly five decades and included more than 170 roles, beginning in 1969. In 1999, the Dutch public voted him the Best Dutch Actor of the Century. He first gained fame in the Netherlands for his title role in the television series *Floris*, and his career surged when he starred in *Turkish Delight* (1973), later named the Best Dutch Film of the Century. After international recognition in *Soldier of Orange* (1977) and *Spetters* (1980), he moved into American films, notably playing the self-aware replicant Roy Batty in *Blade Runner* (1982). For that role, Hauer famously improvised parts of the "tears in rain" monologue the night before filming, cutting much of the original script and adding the poignant final line. His performance led to roles in *The Osterman Weekend* (1983), *Ladyhawke* (1985), *The Hitcher* (1986), and *Escape from Sobibor* (1987), for which he won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor. From the 1990s onward, he appeared in lower-budget films and supporting roles in major movies such as *Batman Begins* (2005) and *Sin City* (2005). He also became well known for commercial work. Later in his career, he returned to Dutch cinema, winning the 2012 Rembrandt Award for Best Actor for *The Heineken Kidnapping* (2011). Hauer supported environmental causes and was a member of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. He founded the Rutger Hauer Starfish Association, an AIDS awareness organization, and was made a knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion in 2013.
- born
- 23 January 1944, Breukelen, Province of Utrecht, Netherlands
- died
- 19 July 2019
- field
- Actor
- nationality
- Dutch
- known_for
- Blade Runner (1982), Turkish Delight (1973), Soldier of Orange (1977), The Hitcher (1986)
Quick Facts
- Birth Name
- Rutger Oelsen Hauer
- Birth Date
- 1944-01-23
- Birth Place
- Breukelen, Utrecht, Reichskommissariat Niederlande
- Death Date
- 2019-07-19
- Death Place
- Beetsterzwaag, Friesland, Netherlands
- Children
- 1
- Parents
- Arend Hauer (father)
- Occupation
- Actor
- Years Active
- 1969–2019
- Spouse
- Heidi Merz · end=div · Ineke ten Cate · 1985
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Hauer was born in Breukelen, in the Province of Utrecht, on 23 January 1944, while the Netherlands was under German occupation during World War II. He attended a Rudolf Steiner school. At age 15, he left school to join the Dutch merchant navy, but could not become a captain due to colorblindness. He later entered the Academy for Theater and Dance in Amsterdam, dropped out to join the Royal Netherlands Army, received training as a combat medic, but left after a few months as he opposed the use of deadly weapons. He returned to acting school and graduated in 1967. Hauer supported environmentalist causes and was a member of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. He also founded the Rutger Hauer Starfish Association for AIDS Awareness. He was made a knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion in 2013.
Reader's Guide
Hauer's career began in 1969 with the title role in the Dutch television series Floris. He gained international recognition with Soldier of Orange (1977) and Spetters (1980), then moved into American films such as Nighthawks (1981) and Blade Runner (1982). His performance in Blade Runner led to roles in The Osterman Weekend (1983), Ladyhawke (1985), The Hitcher (1986), Escape from Sobibor (1987), The Legend of the Holy Drinker (1988), and Blind Fury (1989). From the 1990s on, he moved into low-budget films and supporting roles in major films like Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992), Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002), Batman Begins (2005), Sin City (2005), and The Rite (2011). He won the 2012 Rembrandt Award for Best Actor for his lead role in The Heineken Kidnapping (2011).
Did You Know?
- Hauer was named by the Dutch public as the Best Dutch Actor of the Century in 1999.
- He composed parts of the famous 'tears in rain' monologue in Blade Runner the evening before filming.
- He was set to be cast as RoboCop in 1987, but director Paul Verhoeven considered his frame too large to move comfortably in the suit.
- Hauer received the 1987 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the television film Escape from Sobibor.
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