5 things on my mind: Praising the talent of William Hurt

The late actor died just shy of his 72nd birthday

Greetings Monday travelers,

Here’s a few things on my mind. Topics in BOLD.

As Sunday lost some of its sun, the world lost a fine actor in William Hurt. Fine is an understatement. Whether it was gleeful malevolence (History of Violence) or quiet heartbreak (The Big Chill), Hurt could display whatever the character needed or what the director desired.

The tale goes that he most likely enjoyed the fantasy of make-believe more than he enjoyed the promotion and celebration of it. Like his “Violence” co-star (and fictional brother) Viggo Mortenson and the late Heath Ledger, Hurt seemed to struggle with the glamour aspect of Hollywood more than the theatrics that being inside of it required. Geniuses don’t like looking backwards.