Rutger Hauer Dead, ‘Blade Runner’ Actor Passed Away In The Netherlands At Age 75

Veteran actor Rutger Hauer is dead. As Variety reported, his passing was confirmed by his agent, Steve Kenis.

According to his page on IMDb, Hauer’s career spanned more than 50 years, with more than 170 roles credited to him. He is, perhaps, best known for his role as replicant Roy Batty in the sci-fi thriller Blade Runner, starring opposite Harrison Ford. One stirring monologue from his iconic character’s final scene was repeated on Good Reads.

“I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.”

Hauer recently had roles in several titles still in various forms of production, including The Mystery of Dragon Seal: Journey to China with fellow Hollywood heavyweights Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jackie Chan.

One might say Hauer was born into show business. The Dutch actor with the searing blue eyes was the son of thespians who ran an acting school in The Netherlands.

Although he fought against this profession by running away from home to work on a schooner when he was only 15, the tall talent was color-blind “like his great-grandfather…which prevented him from furthering his career as a sailor,” states his bio on IMDb.

Hauer continued his education at night school, and then became a construction worker. That job helped create his fine adult physique which in turn helped mold him into the hunky yet intimidating actor he became, beginning in 1968. So did his five-year silent turn as a member of a pantomime company.

A consummate environmentalist and philanthropist, the celebrity’s last wishes were outlined on his site, stating that his Rutger Hauer Starfish Association “should continue its… fight against the AIDS disease.”

Hauer was married to Ineke ten Cate, a painter and sculptor, for 50 years. She will assist “Rutger’s wish” in order to carry on “Rutger’s inestimable legacy.”

Later in life, Hauer walked in his parent’s footsteps by leading master classes for new actors as well as for future filmmakers.

One of his most famous quotes, found on IMDb, summed up Hauer’s feelings on film acting.

“I like to think of myself as a good actor, and even I made quite a lot of bad movies. Why are good actors no longer good when they play in a bad movie? And how many good movies have actors that are normally mediocre at best?”

Besides Ineke, Rutger Hauer is survived by 53-year-old actress Ayesha Hauer, his daughter from his first marriage to Heidi Merz.