Dutch leading man Rutger Hauer has passed away at the age of 75. Best known as the antagonist Roy Batty from Blade Runner, Hauer passed away on July 19th after a short illness. Hauer passed at his home in the Netherlands, where a funeral was held on Wednesday, confirmed the actor’s agent, Steve Kenis.
Born on January 23rd, 1944, in Breukelen, the Netherlands to two acting teachers, Hauer took a surprising journey to becoming one himself. After running away from home at 15, Hauer spent his years as a young man in and out of military service. Once finished with his service, Hauer joined the experimental theater troupe Noorder Compagnie in various roles for a number of years.
Hauer’s first major role came in 1969 when he was cast in the lead role of Floris, a Dutch series about a soldier after his return from the Crusades. Hauer was so popular in the role that he reprised it in a 1975 revival called Floris von Rosemund. In 1973, Hauer became a Dutch pop culture icon with Turkish Delight, a film that earned him global notoriety as well thanks to an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Film.
After a three-film run as a leading man in Dutch pictures, Hauer made his American debut in 1981 alongside Slyvester Stallone in Nighthawks. Then, a year later, Hauer appeared in his most recognizable role opposite Harrison Ford, in Blade Runner. Infamously, Hauer re-wrote his character’s iconic monologue at the end of the film. The film wasn’t a huge commercial success but has since become a classic, due in no small part to Hauer’s electric performance.
No stranger to cult classics and niche films, Hauer recently appeared as Cardinal Roark in 2005’s Sin City adaptation. Also in 2005, he played the crooked businessman running the Wayne Corp. when Bruce Wayne returns in Batman Begins.
Hauer is survived by his wife of 50 years, Ineke ten Cate, as well as his daughter Aysha Hauer, from his first marriage to Heidi Merz.
