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The '80s weren't a great time for the fantasy genre, at least in terms of commercial success. The decade produced multiple fantasy box office bombs that, in retrospect, deserve a second chance, including the beloved fantasy classic "Labyrinth," which, it might surprise you to learn, was a certified flop upon its initial release. Even legendary director Richard Donner struggled when he unleashed "Ladyhawke" upon the world and was met with indifference at best.

The filmmaker had cemented the concept of the modern blockbuster with 1978's "Superman" before being unceremoniously removed from the sequel and replaced with director Richard Lester, despite the fact Donner had already shot most of the movie. After that, Donner fell into something of a dry spell. 1980's "Inside Moves" was received well enough, but Donner's Richard Pryor-led 1982 comedy "The Toy" was panned despite making a decent profit.

In 1985, Donner made the switch to fantasy with "Ladyhawke,...

Quick LinksThe Film Isn't About Hollywood or Even Acting, but People Who Loved Rutger HauerLike Tears In Rain Is Not About Blade Runner or Even HollywoodThe Film Doesn't Dwell on Rutger Hauer's Death, but Viewers Still Feel That Loss

Ridley Scott's legendary film Blade Runnerwas a flop when it debuted in 1982, but today it looms large over pop culture. The main reason, arguably, is not Harrison Ford's titular hero, but rather his nemesis, the replicant Roy Batty. A new documentary about Rutger Hauer, who brought Roy to life, evokes his most famous moment with its title: Like Tears in Rain. Despite Hollywood legend, the speech was not improvised, rather Hauer shortened the dialogue and filled it with silent emotion that made Roy Batty the film's most human character.

In 2019, pancreatic cancer claimed Rutger Hauer at age 75, and fans of Blade Runner or his 173 other roles in film...

Likable enough documentary by the actor’s goddaughter recalls an actor who never quite fitted in Hollywood, without adding much to what we already knew

The late Dutch actor Rutger Hauer is probably still best known for his extraordinary turn as rebel replicant Roy Batty in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, but that’s not where the focus lies in this amiable but mostly unsurprising curio from his goddaughter Sanna Fabery de Jonge. Using the actor’s own home movie footage, shot on lovely 16mm, plus new interviews with those close to him, including director Paul Verhoeven, actor Whoopi Goldberg, and his second wife Ineke ten Kate, a portrait emerges of a talented no-bullshit actor who fell slightly short of his potential due to Hollywood not being sure quite what to do with him. To be honest, that’s more or less what most people who are aware of Hauer thought of him already,...

Sometimes, an actor has to draw a line in the sand, and if it were an up-and-coming young performer or someone trying to get his foot in the door, so to speak, then it would be a completely unique situation. But when you're Kurt Russell, and you've already risen to the top level of Hollywood stardom in a variety of roles ranging from westerns to tough guy thrillers, then it is something else. So when director Richard Donner came to the celebrated leading man to star in his 1985 fantasy drama Ladyhawke, Russell said no. It's not that he said no to Donner that is unusual. Actors turn down roles all the time for a variety of reasons. But Russell's reason for passing on Donner is hilarious.

Quick Links 'Ladyhawke' Is a Compelling and Unique Take on Star-Crossed Lovers 'Ladyhawke' Is an Epic Story with an Exquisite Pfeiffer

Michelle Pfeiffer starred in a medieval fantasy romance that is now available for streaming. Ladyhawke, released in 1985, is a heartrending tale of star-crossed lovers, a cruel curse, and the religious thief who is set to free them. Highly rated among audiences, the film is an enduring tale of love against all odds. One of the earlier roles of Phiffer’s fantastic career, Ladyhawke is an underrated gem of a movie that was underappreciated, but with time has proven itself a classic.

Ladyhawke stars Michelle Pfeiffer as Isabeau, a young woman who has been cursed to become a hawk at the touch of daylight. Her lover, the knight’s guard Navarre (Rutger Hauer), is similarly afflicted as he is forced to transform into a wolf under the gaze of the moon.

The Goonies Richard Donners beloved teen adventure from 1985 is landing on streaming service Max sooner than you can jump from a ship like a swashbuckling pirate. The film will start streaming on the platform on December 1, according to a press release from parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.

Produced by Steven Spielberg through his company, Amblin, The Goonies was directed by Donner, who was returning to the industry after serving audiences with the widely panned comedy, The Toy. In 1985, he also released Ladyhawke, a passion project he had been trying to make for years, but The Goonies was much more prominent. Based on a story by Spielberg, and written by Chris Columbus (after the young writer proved his worth with Gremlins), The Goonies is a 1980s movie that perfectly captures the storytelling style of a filmmaker who didnt have to sit in the directors chair to let audiences know that he was involved in the project.

When Walt Disney Pictures' Wish arrived on movie screens in 2023, marketing materials heralded it as a celebration of the Disney Animation legacy, a movie loaded with Easter eggs for Disney fans to spot over the runtime. Fans who sat through the closing credits would also enjoy a montage of character portraits from every Disney animated movie to date, though keen eyes would spot one glaring omission. 1985's The Black Cauldron did not get a shout-out from Wish.

In the almost 40 years since hitting cinemas, The Black Cauldron has earned something of a reputation as Disney's blackest sheep a movie so embarrassing the company would rather pretend it doesn't exist at all. Indeed, the Disney theme parks only feature a handful of off-hand references to The Black Cauldron. Tourists will not spot the characters signing autographs in Fantasyland. Disney television networks that helped other flop movies of the same period Tron,...

Kurt Russell was everywhere in the '80s, but there was one 1985 film he can't be spotted in despite having originally signed on for it. It's "Ladyhawke," the largely forgotten fantasy epic starring a pre-"Ferris Bueller" Matthew Broderick alongside Michelle Pfeiffer and Rutger Hauer. Directed by "The Omen" and "The Goonies" filmmaker Richard Donner, "Ladyhawke" received a lukewarm welcome at the box office and critical reviews to match.

So, how did Russell end up dodging this bullet? Well, apparently, by sticking to his no-tights rule. The actor once spoke about exiting the film in an interview with Whitney Scott Bain for Starburst Magazine, and confessed that a few factors led to his decision not to see the project through. "When I got there, I see wardrobe and the character has to wear tights," Russell explained, adding plainly: "I don't wear tights. That's not for me." Coming from anyone else,...

Given the necessary world-building and special effects, fantasy is a difficult genre to get right, resulting in many almost-perfect fantasy movies. Fantasy movies that bombed at the box office and came back have gone through this cycle because of one thing that didn't land well with audiences, in an otherwise amazing and fantastical story. Such movies may depend on audiences enjoying a goofy tone, alluding to older fantasy movies and imbuing it with charming nostalgia.

On the other hand, some fantasy movies have all the serious technical aspects but fall short in terms of storytelling. For instance, the best fairy tale movies that are not retellings aim to capture the feel of a classic fairy tale with an original story. While they might do this in the strictest sense, they sometimes fall flat when there is seemingly no point to it all. The best standalone fantasy movies demonstrate not only...

Despite Richard Donners fame, there is one sci-fi movie, which featured Gerard Butler and Paul Walker in Donners second foray into the time travel genre, that's been forgotten. Richard Donner is most notably known for directing classic 80s movies such as The Goonies, Lethal Weapon and Scrooged. His work on the first three Lethal Weapon movies has been highly praised for helping revitalize buddy cop movies, despite the producer's first choice of director for Lethal Weapon being Ridley Scott, and The Goonies has gained so much popularity that it is now one of the rarest and most expensive VHS tapes.

Richard Donner seems to thrive in the action genre, however, there is one historical sci-fi film involving time travel which stands out in his filmography. 2003s Timeline was a sci-fi adventure directed by Donner and co-produced by The Donners' Company, a production company he founded in 1986. The historical sci-fi movie...

Rutger Hauer and Ridley Scott only made one film together, the 1982 classic Blade Runner – but Hauer went on to make two more movies that were scripted by Blade Runner screenwriter David Webb Peoples; the 1985 medieval fantasy film Ladyhawke (where Peoples went uncredited) and the apocalyptic 1989 film The Blood of Heroes, which Peoples also directed. Now War Is Hell: Making Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth and Soldier: From Script to Screen author Danny Stewart has dug into the making of The Blood of Heroes with his new book Saluting The Blood of Heroes: Behind the Apocalyptic Film, and copies are available for purchase on Amazon!

Also known as The Salute of the Jugger, The Blood of Heroes has the following synopsis: In a future where most of mankind and technology is wiped out, six people travel from place to place playing a brutal form of football with a dog skull.

Plot: In the mid-eighties, a group of young actors known for starring in movies like St Elmo’s Fire and The Breakfast Club became popularly known as The Brat Pack, but many members of that group felt the term torpedoed their careers.

Review: If you grew up in the eighties, you for sure knew what the name “The Brat Pack” meant. I was born in ’81 and only watched the movies this gang was known for in the nineties, but if you had asked me as a kid who was in The Brat Pack, I probably still would have been able to list them off by name. There was Emilio Estevez (a recent Wtf Happened to this Celebrity pick), Rob Lowe, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Demi Moore, Anthony Michael Hall, Ally Sheedy, and Andrew McCarthy. Some of them became enduring stars, and some didn’t. For those whose fame perhaps didn’t endure beyond the eighties,...

The Brat Pack were icons to those who grew up in the 1980s.

The young stars' were in all the coming-of-age movies that shaped us.

One might think they had it all, but the "Brat Pack" label was not ideal for them.

Brat Pack Inception

It was June 10, 1985.

St. Elmo's Fire, featuring stars like Rob Lowe, was set to premiere just fifteen days later.

Related: The Age of Nostalgia: Why Young Audiences Are Seeking Out Old TV

John Hughes' The Breakfast Club had premiered a few months prior, on February 10.

June 10 changed the world as we knew it.

It was the day David Blum published this article in New York Magazine, branding several young stars with the "Brat Pack" label.

The initial article mentioned stars Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, and Rob Lowe of St. Elmo's Fire, the three men with whom Blum spent a night on the town before writing the article.

Like many children of the 80s, I have a soft spot for the 1985 adventure epic Ladyhawke. It’s directed by the great Richard Donner, with it coming just before The Goonies and Lethal Weapon, but after his time with the Superman franchise. Lavishly produced, it wasn’t a hit in 1985 despite having a top-notch cast that included the late Rutger Hauer (in a rare heroic role), Michelle Pfeiffer, and Matthew Broderick. While some might say the latter was rather improbably cast as an Italian thief in the Middle Ages, that’s not actually the weirdest thing about the movie.

Donner has a reputation for always choosing superb composers for his films. Just think about how iconic Michael Kamen and Eric Clapton’s work is for Lethal Weapon, John Williams’s Superman theme, Jerry Goldsmith’s work on The Omen, and Dave Grusin’s score for The Goonies. Yet, one score...

RoboCop became both a blockbuster and a controversial critical darling upon its release in 1987 due to a mix of jet black humor and as subtle as a jackhammer social commentary sticking a perfect landing. Its success was a surprise to an industry that had looked at Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner’s original script with its simplistic one-word comic book title and assumed it was fated to be a high-concept stinker.

The 2023 RoboDoc documentary miniseries does a terrific job of chronicling the effort it took to turn RoboCop into both a box office win and an enduring cult masterpiece with a quick and funny format that makes it accessible to modern fans. The truly hardcore might not learn many new details from the four-hour presentation, available on Tubi, but one thing the documentary does do, especially after the Catholic satire of Benedetta, is make it clear how much of RoboCop...

In the 1980s, Hollywood didn’t quite know what to do with Rutger Hauer. The actor broke out in a pretty major way following his acclaimed turn in Paul Verhoeven’s Soldier of Orange, paving the way for his American debut in the Sylvester Stallone thriller Nighthawks, where he played the villain Wulfgar. His performance as Roy Batty in Blade Runner blew people away, and for a while, it looked like he might become the next big Hollywood heartthrob, especially when he signed on to star in the epic adventure film Ladyhawke opposite Michelle Pfeiffer for Richard Donner.

But major stardom didn’t happen? Why? Perhaps it was because the movies of Hauer’s that did best at the box office were the ones where he played the villain, such as The Hitcher. He was so unforgettable as a bad guy that when he played a hero, such as in...

"Ferris Bueller's Day Off" remains the quintessential '80s story of teenage suburban revolt almost forty years after it was released. Matthew Broderick had already appeared on Broadway and made his big screen debut with "War Games" and the criminally under-seen medieval fantasy romance "Ladyhawke." But it was his role as a dashing high school rebel that sent his career into the stratosphere. 

With all the natural charisma Broderick gave Ferris, it seemed perfectly reasonable that his character would be able to stay home, play sick, and skip school while still being the perfect son and the most popular kid in high school. Ferris made kids everywhere think they could do anything -- even jump on board a parade float lip-synching "Twist and Shout" in front of a roaring crowd. Everyone wanted to either be Ferris or be around him, and Broderick was electric in the part. 

It was a different story,...

When one mentions the name Michelle Pfeiffer, several images may come to mind – a sultry lounge singer, a powerful witch, or even a whip-wielding cat burglar. Over the course of her illustrious career, this talented actress has played a wide range of roles, showcasing her incredible range and versatility as a performer. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the evolution of Michelle Pfeiffer’s career, spanning from her early days in Hollywood to her recent projects and accolades. By examining her body of work, we can gain a better understanding of her lasting impact on the film industry and her enduring legacy as a powerful female icon in Hollywood.

Born in 1958 in Santa Ana, California, Michelle Pfeiffer grew up in a close-knit family with three siblings. Raised in a religious household, her early years were marked by a strong sense of discipline and structure. This foundation...

Of all the life-changing cinema that premiered in the 1980s, Jonathan Kasdan singles out “Willow” as the first film to “mark time” in his existence. “It just had this psychological significance to me in my development,” Kasdan explains to Variety. “You’d be shocked at how many people say, ‘Oh, I saw that movie, it scared the shit out of me when I was a kid.’”

The 1988 fantasy, directed by Ron Howard (then 34) and executive produced by George Lucas, is centered around a lousy sorcerer named Willow (played by a 17-year-old Warwick Davis) who is tasked with protecting a magical baby from all manner of treachery. Its collection of revolutionary visual effects from Industrial Light & Magic — including the transformation of an army of men into squealing pigs — along with powerhouse performances from Jean Marsh, Val Kilmer and Davis all delivered with a touch of charm is what helped to keep...

Fans of Enchanted have finally gotten the sequel they’ve waited years for, Disenchanted, courtesy of the streaming-waves of Disney+. Both Enchanted and its sequel used every opportunity to deconstruct the familiar tropes and conventions of traditional fairy tales. Since fairy tales are some of the oldest and most well-worn stories ever told, they’re ripe for satire.

From Shrek to Hook to The Princess Bride to The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, plenty of beloved fantasy movies have poked fun at the time-tested traditions of the fairy tale genre.

Disenchanted (2022)

Fans have waited for over a decade to see a sequel to Disney’s fairy tale parody Enchanted, and the Mouse House has finally delivered that sequel. In Disenchanted, Princess Giselle disrupts the balance between the real world and her old animated kingdom.

Instead of just rehashing the formula from the first film like most sequels, Disenchanted puts a fresh...

This article contains major Hawkeye spoilers, as well as potential spoilers for the wider MCU.

Hawkeye Episode 6

Marvel’s Hawkeye season finale is here, and it’s the perfect capstone to a virtually perfect MCU series. Heavy on action, with just the right amount of humor, and a heaping helping of the brilliant Vincent D’Onofrio returning as Wilson Fisk, Hawkeye went out strong. Maybe not with as many explicit Marvel Easter eggs as in previous episodes, but a lot of fun nonetheless.

Here’s everything we found. And if you spot something we missed, let us know in the comments!

So This Is Christmas?

The episode’s title, “So This is Christmas?” is taken from the opening line of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s holiday standard, “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” which opens with the singer asking “So, this is Christmas…and what have you done?”

Kingpin It feels...

In the days since legendary filmmaker Richard Donner’s death at age 91, his longtime wife, Lauren Shuler Donner, has taken comfort in the outpouring of love and support from the “Superman” director’s fans and colleagues.

“Each one is more remarkable than the next,” Shuler Donner tells Variety about the stories she’s heard about her late husband. “He was a prankster, a lover. He was an extraordinary man, and I want everybody to celebrate him in their own way.”

Since news broke of Donner’s death on Monday, industry leaders including Steven Spielberg (who wrote the story for “The Goonies”) and Donner’s “Lethal Weapon” stars Mel Gibson and Danny Glover have been among those publicly mourning the director’s passing.

“Somebody who’s prominent in the business, told me that when they were young [in the 60s or 70s], they were somewhere, and suddenly there was a ripple in the room, and somebody whispered,...

Richard Donner will forever be remembered as the filmmaker who created the blueprint for the modern superhero blockbuster with 1978’s Superman starring Christopher Reeve.

Yet that doesn’t tell even half the story of the Bronx-born filmmaker’s brilliant filmography.

Donner was in his late 40s by the time Superman came along, having made a name for himself in Hollywood two years earlier, with 1976’s suitably terrifying The Omen.

Prior to that, he was a budding director making the transition from the small screen to the world of cinema. Donner worked on everything from Gilligan’s Island to The Twilight Zone. Even then, it was clear he was destined for bigger things though, as anyone who saw “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet”, the iconic episode of The Twilight Zone he directed, starring William Shatner, can attest.

While a disagreement with producers ultimately saw him walk away from Superman II, the 1980s...

Lauren Shuler Donner, the wife and sometimes producing partner of husband Richard Donner, who died Monday at age 91, was understandably emotional when I spoke with her today. She expressed sadness at the loss, as well as sympathy for the loss of movie lovers everywhere who were fans of Superman, The Omen, The Goonies, Ladyhawke, Scrooged, the Lethal Weapon movies, Maverick, 1997’s now oddly-timelier Conspiracy Theory and countless others including those he produced like Free Willy, The Lost Boys and X-Men. No question Dick Donner was a giant, and widely admired as you can probably tell from the outpouring of reaction on Deadline.

Steven Spielberg, for whom Donner made the aforementioned The Goonies, called him “the greatest Goonie of them all”.

“He was a great man. I was a very very lucky woman.

Director Richard Donner, who died on Monday at age 91, was once compared to Victor Fleming (“Gone with the Wind”) and Michael Curtiz (“Casablanca”), old-school filmmakers who worked hard to give their studio bosses what they wanted (and to give the public what they thought it wanted).

Donner may have come into his own as a hit-maker during the New Hollywood of the 1970s, but no one ever accused him of being an auteur. He made accessible entertainments — and if that were an easy task, everyone would have done it — and helped usher in the modern era of superhero cinema with 1978’s “Superman,” a thrilling and utterly unironic take on the comic-book icon that feels more influential to contemporary moviemaking with each passing year.

Born Richard Donald Schwartzberg in the Bronx, Donner moved to Los Angeles in the 1950s with hopes of becoming an actor. He was soon mentored by director Martin Ritt,...

Richard Donner, the prolific filmmaker best known for directing blockbusters like Superman, Lethal Weapon, and The Goonies, died on Monday, The New York Times reports. He was 91.

Donner’s wife, film producer Lauren Shuler Donner, confirmed the director’s death. However, she did not reveal a cause of death.

Several filmmakers memorialized Donner on Twitter, including Edgar Wright, who wrote that the director’s “big heart & effervescent charm shone in his movies through the remarkable performances of his cast, which is no mean feat.”

Richard Donner's big heart & effervescent charm...

Richard Donner, director of the original “Superman” film as well as “The Goonies” and all four “Lethal Weapon” films, has died at the age of 91. Deadline reported that his wife, Lauren Schuler Donner and business manager confirmed his passing. No cause of death has been provided.

Richard Donner spent nearly two decades working on some of the best television programs of the 1960s and ’70s. His early work included directing episodes of “The Rifleman,” “The Twilight Zone,” “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” “Gilligan’s Island,” and “Perry Mason.” Later, he was behind the camera for “Get Smart,” “The Fugitive,” “The Streets of San Francisco,” and “Kojak.”

All that work in action and suspense paid off with back-to-back big screen hits in “The Omen” (1976) and “Superman” (1978). The horror classic starring Gregory Peck was nominated for two Oscars and won for Jerry Goldsmith’s score. The superhero film starring Christopher Reed was nominated for...

Richard Donner, the prolific director behind 1978’s “Superman” and the “Lethal Weapon” franchise has died, according to media reports. Donner was 91. Donner passed away on Monday, according to his wife, producer Lauren Schuler Donner.

Donner’s last film was 2006’s “16 Blocks.” Other classics directed by Donner include “The Omen,” “The Goonies,” “Ladyhawke,” “Scrooged” and “Conspiracy Theory.”

Born in 1930 in the Bronx, Donner started his career directing commercials for Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball’s Desilu banner. Donner then pivoted to directing television in the 50s and directed episodes of “Wanted: Dead or Alive” and “The Rifleman.” Donner would end up working on 25 television series which included “Have Gun Will Travel,” “The Fugitive,” “Combat!,” “Get Smart,” “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” “The Wild Wild West,” “Gilligan’s Island,” “Kojak, “Tales from the Crypt” and “The Twilight Zone.” Donner directed the classic “Twilight Zone” episode “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” which starred William Shatner...

Director-producer Richard Donner, best known for helming the “Lethal Weapon” film series, “The Goonies” and the original “Superman” film, died on Monday. He was 91.

Donner’s production company confirmed news of his death to Variety, though the cause was not disclosed.

Though not his first bigscreen effort, his big feature break came with 1976’s “The Omen,” starring Gregory Peck and Lee Remick. Thereafter, he brought his craftsmanship to the first “Superman.” He also branched out into producing, usually with his wife Lauren Shuler Donner — he executive produced the huge 2000 success “X-Men” and later the prequel “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” But his career was highlighted by the “Lethal Weapon” series, starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, which elevated him to the ranks of directors generating more than a billion dollars in box office.

Born Richard Donald Schwartzberg in the Bronx, he attended Parker Junior College and then NYU, where he majored in business and theater.

Richard Donner, the prolific Hollywood director and producer whose helming credits include some of the most iconic movies of the 1970s and ’80s including the Christopher Reeve-starring Superman, The Goonies and the Mel Gibson-Danny Glover buddy cop series Lethal Weapon, has died. He was 91.

Donner passed away Monday, according to his wife, the producer Lauren Schuler Donner, and his business manager. No cause of death has been revealed.

The Bronx-born Donner, a genial man with a booming voice, started his career directing for television. His TV credits include a laundry list of staple shows from the ’60s including Route 66, The Rifleman, The Twilight Zone, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Gilligan’s Island, Perry Mason and The Wild Wild West. His debut feature X-15 in 1961 with Charles Bronson (and a young Mary Tyler Moore) was followed by the 1968 crime comedy Salt & Pepper starring Sammy Davis Jr. and Peter Lawford,...

Michelle Pfeiffer took to Instagram to share a selfie with her daughter, Claudia, whom she adopted in the beginning of her relationship with long-time husband writer-producer David E. Kelley. Fans were delighted to see the women smiling happily for the camera with the caption, "Out on the town with my girl." Michelle Pfeiffer is gearing up to shoot Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, where she will return as Janet Van Dyne.

Michelle Pfeiffer and husband, David E. Kelley, are proud parents to Claudia and her brother John, 26. Pfeiffer explains, "The adoption process was already in motion when he and I met. So when she came, he and I had only been together for about two months," she shared.

"So we had this child with us right away, and most people don't have that. But I really got to see him in a situation that certainly would separate the boys from the men.

Alan Robert Murray, a two-time Oscar winner and sound editor who has worked on films such as “American Sniper,” “Joker” and “Letters From Iwo Jima,” has died. He was 66.

Murray’s passing was confirmed by his family via Kim Waugh, an executive with Warner Bros. Sound, where Murray has been based since 1979. His family said he died Wednesday. His cause of death was not mentioned.

“I, along with my Warner Bros. family grieve the loss of our dear friend Alan. His contribution to film sound is unrivaled. He will live in our hearts forever,” Waugh told TheWrap.

Murray was a frequent collaborator with Clint Eastwood and won his Oscars for two Eastwood films, “American Sniper” and “Letters From Iwo Jima.” In all, he would collaborate with Eastwood on 32 films, as well as worked as an editor on several more starring Eastwood.

Murray shares both of his Oscars with another frequent collaborator,...

Alan Robert Murray, the supervising sound editor and decades-long collaborator with Clint Eastwood who earned Oscars for his work on the director’s American Sniper and Letters to Iwo Jima, died Wednesday, a source told The Hollywood Reporter. He was 66.

Last year, Murray set a sound editing record with his 10th career Academy Award nomination, for Todd Phillips’ Joker. His first two noms came for his contributions to Richard Donner’s Ladyhawke (1985) and Lethal Weapon 2 (1989).

Murray also received Oscar noms for the Eastwood-helmed films Space Cowboys (2000), Flags of Our Fathers (2006) and Sully (2016) and for Chuck Russell’s Eraser (1996) and Denis Villeneuve’s Sicario (2015).

He worked ...

Alan Robert Murray, the supervising sound editor and decades-long collaborator with Clint Eastwood who earned Oscars for his work on the director’s American Sniper and Letters to Iwo Jima, died Wednesday, a source told The Hollywood Reporter. He was 66.

Last year, Murray set a sound editing record with his 10th career Academy Award nomination, for Todd Phillips’ Joker. His first two noms came for his contributions to Richard Donner’s Ladyhawke (1985) and Lethal Weapon 2 (1989).

Murray also received Oscar noms for the Eastwood-helmed films Space Cowboys (2000), Flags of Our Fathers (2006) and Sully (2016) and for Chuck Russell’s Eraser (1996) and Denis Villeneuve’s Sicario (2015).

He worked ...

Richard Donner's arguably most famous for the Lethal Weapon series, as well as his work on bringing Superman to the big screen. Long considered one of Hollywood's most consistent directors, with a long list of hits including The Omen, The Goonies, and more, one of Donner's rare box-office misfires, Ladyhawke, has nevertheless gone down as one of his most beloved films. In this episode of Fantasizing About Fantasy Films, we take a look at the making of…...

The man inside the yellow Big Bird suit; TV’s Rhoda; and a “Beverly Hills 90210” heartthrob are just a few of the beloved entertainment figures who died in 2019. Here are some of the unforgettable stars and creators of movies, TV and music who we lost this year.

Movies

Several notable directors died in 2019, including pioneering French New Wave director Agnes Varda, who died March 29 at 90. “Singin’ in the Rain” director Stanley Donen died Feb. 21 at 94, while cult movie director Larry Cohen, who helmed “It’s Alive,” died March 23 at 77. “Boyz N the Hood” director John Singleton suffered a stroke and died April 29 at 51, and renowned documentarian D.A. Pennebaker, who made “Don’t Look Back,” died Aug. 1 at 94. “Romeo and Juliet” director Franco Zeffirelli died June 15 at 96. The colorful studio executive and producer of “Chinatown” and many other films, Robert Evans, died Oct. 26 at 89.

Movie stars who died in 2019 included Doris Day,...

Italy’s central Abruzzo region, known for having one of Europe’s largest natural parks, with mountains and native bears, as well as sandy, palm-lined beaches, is launching its new film commission at Afm. Former Sony Pictures Television president Len Grossi and filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi have been recruited as members of its advisory board, in an effort to forge Hollywood ties.

Abruzzo region execs Mauro Febbo and Francesco Di Filippo are holding a party and presentation event for the film commission on Nov. 9 at the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica. During the event the film commission’s full board, which also comprises other Hollywood execs and talents with roots in the Italian region, such as singer and actress Deana Martin, will be announced, Febbo said.

“We noticed that Abruzzo has a high density of [U.S.] talents and producers, so we are setting up an advisory board with some of these people,...

The Hollywood Reporter described 1985's Ladyhawke as "a mythopoetic fairy tale." With Maleficent: Mistress of Evil out Oct. 19, Michelle Pfeiffer makes her second visit to that Euro-medieval-ish landscape.

In Ladyhawke, Pfeiffer plays a beauty who's been cursed into separation from her shining knight (Rutger Hauer). A priest character explains the lovers' situation this way: "She was to be a hawk by day and he a wolf at night. Only for a split-second at sunrise and sunset could they almost touch."

Cinematographer Vittorio Storaro says the film is about "the liberation of two beings, forced by an ...

The Hollywood Reporter described 1985's Ladyhawke as "a mythopoetic fairy tale." With Maleficent: Mistress of Evil out Oct. 19, Michelle Pfeiffer makes her second visit to that Euro-medieval-ish landscape.

In Ladyhawke, Pfeiffer plays a beauty who's been cursed into separation from her shining knight (Rutger Hauer). A priest character explains the lovers' situation this way: "She was to be a hawk by day and he a wolf at night. Only for a split-second at sunrise and sunset could they almost touch."

Cinematographer Vittorio Storaro says the film is about "the liberation of two beings, forced by an ...

Chicago – Cult character actor Rutger Hauer passed away late last month, but the mark he made with his array of performances carried through two generation of admirers, even receiving the honor of Best Dutch Actor of the (20th) Century in 1999. He died on July 19th, 2019, in his native Netherlands. He was 75.

He was born in Breukelen, the Netherlands, to actor parents. After a couple stints in the military, he graduated from the Academy for Theater and Dance in Amsterdam in 1967, and made his TV debut two years later when director Paul Verhoeven cast him in the Dutch medieval action drama “Floris.” His film debut came in 1973 with “Turkish Delight,” and he performed mostly in Dutch films during the 1970s, including work with Verhoeven again on “Solider of Orange” (1977) and “Spetters” (1980).

Although Hauer made one international English language film previously, his American debut came in 1981 with “Nighthawks.” His was unforgettable one...

With his tall, striking features, piercing blue eyes, and ability to play both heroes and villains, Dutch actor Rutger Hauer made an intense impression on cinema for five decades. Though he was the son of two actors, his own acting in Dutch and Italian cinema in the early '70s was punctuated by stints as a merchant seaman in the Dutch Navy. The call to acting seemed to be stronger than the call to the sea, and he finally broke out to American audiences opposite Sylvester Stallone in the action thriller Nighthawks.

Hauer was a staple of genre films throughout the '80s and '90s, with valiant performances as a cursed knight in Ladyhawke and an outlaw swordsman in Flesh and Blood. But it was his role as Roy Batty in Ridley Scott's science-fiction masterpiece Blade Runner that he may be most remembered for. As a replicant whose...

Daryl Hannah and director Ridley Scott are honoring their Blade Runner colleague Rutger Hauer after the actor died on Friday at the age of 75.

Hannah, 58, who starred in the Scott-directed 1982 cult classic alongside Hauer, remembered the Dutch actor in a statement obtained by Fox News, saying, “I have a profound love and respect for Rutger Hauer.”

“I am heartbroken to learn he has left us,” Hannah continued. “He was unpredictable, extremely human, inspired, electric and mesmerizing.”

The actress added, “It was thrilling to work with him as an actor and I admired his deep commitment as an activist, with his...

Following the news of Rutger Hauer’s death, celebrities took to social media to remember the Dutch actor.

Hauer died July 19 after a short illness at the age of 75. Celebrities shared quotes, photos and gifs showcasing the actor’s most famous role, such as the villainous John Ryder in the 1986 thriller “The Hitcher,”Captain Navarre in the 1985 film “LadyHawke” and perhaps his most famous performance as replicant Roy Batty in the sci-fi film “Blade Runner.”

Guillermo del Toro pointed to “Flesh and Blood,” “Eureka,” “The Hitcher,” “Blade Runner,” “Ladyhawke” and “Blind Fury” as some of his favorite Hauer roles. “Rip the great Rutger Hauer: an intense, deep, genuine and magnetic actor that brought truth, power and beauty to his films,” he wrote.

Rip the great Rutger Hauer: an intense, deep, genuine and magnetic actor that brought truth, power and beauty to his films. My personal favorites: Flesh + Blood, Eureka, The Hitcher,...

Joseph Baxter Jul 24, 2019

The inimitable Rutger Hauer has died at 75, leaving behind a prolific legacy in film and television.

“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 Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die.”

Rutger Hauer passed away this past Friday, July 19, at the age of the age of 75, having succumbed to a short illness. The news was revealed today by the actor’s agent, Steve Kennis. However, unlike the unforgettable soliloquy – quoted above – that he delivered in 1982’s Blade Runner, his moments will not be lost in time.

Indeed, the ever-emotive and versatile Dutch actor, Hauer, whose funeral was held today, leaves behind a breadth of work in the realms of film and television, spanning back to his first onscreen role, in the 1969 medieval television series,...

The passing of famed “Blade Runner” actor Rutger Hauer has prompted an outpouring of tributes from filmmakers, actors, and fans on Twitter, honoring a career highlighted by one of the most famous monologues in sci-fi history.

Director Guillermo Del Toro praised Hauer as “an intense, deep, genuine and magnetic actor that brought truth, power and beauty to his films.” “Law and Order: Svu” star Ice-t reflected on the time he worked with Hauer on the action film “Surviving the Game,” while Kiss frontman Gene Simmons posted a picture of a VHS copy of “Wanted Dead or Alive,” in which the rock star played a terrorist being hunted down by a CIA agent played by Hauer.

Hauer’s “Blade Runner” co-star Daryl Hannah said in a statement to Fox News Wednesday, “I have a profound love and respect for Rutger Hauer. I am heartbroken to learn he has left us. He was unpredictable,...

Rutger Hauer, known best for his role in Ridley Scott's sci-fi classic Blade Runner, has died. Hauer was 75-years-old at the time of his passing. The news has been confirmed by his agents, as well as multiple outlets. The actor's funeral has already been held. While no specific cause of death was revealed, it's said Hauer passed after a short illness.

A beloved character actor who spent nearly five decades in the business, Rutger Hauer's career dates back to 1969, when he starred on the TV series Floris. However, it was his work as replicant Roy Batty in Ridley Scott's 1982 movie Blade Runner that Hauer will be remembered best for. While Blade Runner was a bomb at the time of its release, it's since gone on to become a true classic, with many considering it to be one of the finest sci-fi movies ever made. Hauer's performance is no small part of that.

Prolific actor Rutger Hauer has died at the age of 75.

Hauer had a long and successful career, often playing the bad guys despite his handsome looks.

Hauer is best known for his role as Roy Batty in Ridley' Scott's 1982 sci-fi film Blade Runner.

Hauer died in his Netherlands home on Friday, July 19 of undisclosed causes.

His family did not want the news to be revealed until the completion of his funeral, which was on Wednesday.

His agent, Steve Kanis, told The Hollywood Reporter, "He was a wonderful man and a terrific actor."

The Dutch actor got his start on television with a Dutch TV show called Floris in 1969 and returned to the role of the titular character in 1975.

In 1981, Hauer starred in the thriller Nighthawks with Sylvester Stallone.

After 1982's Blade Runner, Hauer had a lot of movie roles starring in films such as The Osterman Weekend (1983), The Hitcher (1986), and...

Rutger Hauer, the actor who played the villainous Roy Batty in Ridley Scott’s sci-fi classic Blade Runner and so many other awesome roles in his acting career has passed away.

It’s being reported that he passed on July 19th in the Netherlands after a long illness, and he was 75 years old. According to Deadline, his funeral was held today.

Hauer was a great and super entertaining actor that has left behind a legacy of genre films that also include Ladyhawke, The Hitcher, Blind Fury, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Sin City, Batman Begins, Hobo With a Shotgun, The Rite, and a lot more.

One of my favorite films that he starred in was Blind Fury, where he played a badass and skilled blind Vietnam vet with a sword. If you haven’t seen that movie, you’ve got to put it on your list of movies to see!

Hauer...

Rutger Hauer, the Dutch actor who starred in 1982’s Blade Runner among numerous films, has died, multiple outlets report. He was 75.

According to Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, Hauer died on Friday at his home in the Netherlands following a short illness. The actor’s funeral was held on Wednesday, the outlets report.

Hauer’s most famous role was as villain Roy Batty in Blade Runner, where he starred alongside Harrison Ford‘s Rick Deckard in the film that became a cult hit long after its release.

The actor was born in January 1944, and began his career on the Dutch...

Rutger Hauer in Blade Runner

Legendary actor Rutger Hauer, who gave a famous speech about mortality as the android Roy Baty in Blade Runner, has died at the age of 75, it has been announced. He passed away at his home in the Netherlands following a short illness and his funeral was held today. This is the same year as the one in which his most famous character died.

Hauer had a deep love of genre cinema and was celebrated for his work in films like Flesh And Blood, Ladyhawke, Wedlock and Sin City. He portrayed the first ever foe of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, gave Bruce Wayne a run for his money in Batman Begins and returned with a vengeance in later life to command the screen as a Hobo With A Shotgun. Full of ambition from an early age, he ran away to sea at the age of 15...