RIP: Rutger Hauer dies at 75

July 24th 2019, 1:05pm

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Sad news today as we have just learned that THE HITCHER and BLADE RUNNER star Rutger Hauer has passed away at the age of 75. Hauer died on July 19 at his home in the Netherlands after a short illness. Hauer’s funeral was held Wednesday. As you might imagine, I'm a bit shaken up by this news and need to step away from my computer for a few minutes. In the meantime, here's his mini-bio via IMDB:

Blond, blue-eyed, tall and handsome Dutch actor Rutger Hauer has an international reputation for playing everything from romantic leads to action heroes to sinister villains. Hauer was born in Breukelen, a town in the province of Utrecht, the Netherlands. He is the son of Teunke (Mellema) and Arend Hauer, actors who operated an acting school. Because his parents were often touring, he and his three sisters were raised by a nanny. A bit of a rebel during his childhood, he chafed at the rules and rigors of school and was often getting into mischief. His grandfather had been the captain of a schooner and at age fifteen, Hauer ran away to work on a freighter for a year. Like his great-grandfather, Hauer is color-blind, which prevented him from furthering his career as a sailor. Upon his return he attended night school and started working in the construction industry. When he again bombed at school, his parents enrolled him in drama classes. An amateur poet, he spent most of his time writing poetry and hanging out in Amsterdam coffee houses instead of studying. He was expelled for poor attendance and afterward spent a brief period in the Dutch navy. Deciding he didn't like military life, he convinced his superiors that he was mentally unfit and was sent to a special home for psych patients. It was an unpleasant place, but Hauer remained there until he convinced his ranking officers that the military really did not need him.

He is survived by his second wife of 50 years, Ineke ten Cate, and a daughter, actress Aysha Hauer, from his marriage to Heidi Merz. What was your favortie Rutger Hauer role? Let us know below!