He was 71 years old.
Jerry Byrne, a friend of Hurt’s, confirmed the news of the actor’s death to CNN.
“It is with great sadness that the Hurt family mourns the passing of William Hurt, beloved father and Oscar-winning actor, on March 13, 2022, one week before his 72nd birthday,” the family said in a statement obtained by Variety. “He died peacefully, among his family, a natural death. The family is asking for privacy at this time.”
The family did not provide a cause of death. Hurt was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018.
CNN contacted Hurt’s manager and publicist for comment.
Hurt played numerous roles in classic films of the 1980s, including Body Heat, Children of a Lesser God, Broadcast News, and Big Chill.
His recent on-screen roles include General Thaddeus Ross in the Marvel films The Incredible Hulk, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and Black Widow.
His portrayal of a gay prisoner in South America in the 1985 film Kiss of the Spider Woman won him an Oscar as well as a BAFTA Film Award for Best Actor.
In addition to three additional Oscar nominations, Hurt, who made his film debut in 1980 with Ken Russell’s Altered States, has been nominated for two Emmys and six Golden Globes in his career, according to IMDb.