Rutger Hauer, the rugged Dutch actor who starred as renegade replicant leader Roy Batty in Ridley Scott's 1982 sci-fi classic Blade Runner, died on July 19, 2019. He was 75.
He really made a name for himself with his turn as Batty and the character's "Tears in the Rain" speech — which he improvised — in the original Blade Runner.
"Rutger read that speech and then went on with a couple of lines about memories in the rain," co-screenwriter David Webb Peoples told THR in 2017. "And then he looked at me like a naughty little boy, like he was checking to see if the writer was going to be upset. I didn't let on that I was upset, but at the time, I was a little upset and threatened by it.
"Later, seeing the movie, that was a brilliant contribution of Rutger's, that line about tears in the rain. It is absolutely beautiful."
The late Philip K. Dick, whose novel, "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?", served as the basis for the film, called the actor "the perfect Batty — cold, Aryan, flawless."
[Source: THR]
Rutger Hauer's unforgettable screen presence, instantly memorable voice, and dedication to each and every role he played left a mark on cinema, and sci-fi cinema in particular, that will never be forgotten. As news of his death spread, Hauer's many fans and collaborators began paying tribute to his work and legacy as both an actor and a human being. This LINK brings you to the SyFyWire article featuring some of these tributes.
Below is an excerpt from Vangelis' Blade Runner Trilogy, 25th Anniversary album, the track titled, "No Expectation Boulevard", that features Rutger Hauer reciting his famous last lines from the movie Blade Runner, in his native Dutch.
Rutger Hauer will be sadly missed. He has left a lasting legacy for present and future cinephiles to discover and enjoy. Our hearts and thoughts go out to his family and friends.
