Rutger Hauer

Dutch actor Rutger Hauer, who died aged 75, was the most known and admired performer to come out of the Netherlands. He was equally comfortable acting in Dutch and English language films and TV series and always infused his roles with both action and intellect.

“…Like tears in the rain…” few actors have likely been as indelibly identified with lines spoken by one of their characters as Rutger Hauer was with those he spoke as Roy Batty, the soulful replicant in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner. That soliloquy contributed to making the film the cult movie it was to become and is even more remarkable given that part of it – including the ‘tears in the rain’ part – was ad-libbed on the spot by the Dutch actor who passed away at 75.