Born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England; educated at St. Martin's School, London (art) and RADA, London. One of Britain's most distinguished contemporary actors and one of the few who have also carved a successful career in European and Hollywood films. Hurt first appeared on stage in 1962 and has made over 100 movie appearances, first as fresh-faced characters like Richard Rich in A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS (1966) and more recently as weathered, quintessentially English types such as Stephen Ward in SCANDAL (1989). Hurt received a Golden Globe Award, a British Academy Award and an Oscar nomination for his role in MIDNIGHT EXPRESS (1978) and turned in landmark performances as Quentin Crisp in the 1975 TV movie, "The Naked Civil Servant," and as John Merrick in David Lynch's THE ELEPHANT MAN (1980). Other notable screen appearances include 10 RILLINGTON PLACE (1971), "I, Claudius" (1976, TV mini-series as Caligula), ALIEN (1979), HEAVEN'S GATE (1980), HISTORY OF THE WORLD: PART I (1981), NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR (1984), SPACEBALLS (1987), THE FIELD (1990), KING RALPH (1991), ROB ROY (1995), CONTACT (1997), HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE (2001, as Mr. Olivand), CRIME AND PUNISHMENT (2002), OWNING MAHOWNY (2003), HELLBOY (2004), SHORT ORDER, THE PROPOSITION and V FOR VENDETTA (all 2005), PERFUME: THE STORY OF A MURDERER (2006, narrator), BOXES (2007), and INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL (2008). Hurt was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) in the 2004 Queen Elizabeth II's Birthday Honours List for services to Drama.  Nominated for Supporting Actor 1978: MIDNIGHT EXPRESS  Nominated for Actor 1980: THE ELEPHANT MAN 2 nominations