Veteran actor John Hurt has died at the age of 77.

Hurt admitted that he had been suffering from pancreatic cancer since 2015 and was said to be in remission, however he had been plagued by ill health since the diagnosis. However, Hurt had said that he would continue working while in treatment.

With a career spanning six decades, Hurt came to prominence in the '70s with roles in Alan Parker's Midnight Express, Ridley Scott's Alien and David Lynch's The Elephant Man. All told, Hurt starred in close to 129 films with countless television and theatre roles.

Mel Brooks, who produced The Elephant Man, led tributes to Hurt, saying that he carried the film into "cinematic immortality."

 

Stephen Fry, who starred alongside Hurt in the adaptation of V For Vendetta, called Hurt a great man and praised his work with local football team Norfolk.

 

Author JK Rowling also offered tributes to the actor, who starred as Garrick Ollivander in the Harry Potter series.

 

Hurt is survived by his fourth wife, Arwen, and his sons.