Rutger Hauer
January 23, 1944
Breukelen, Utrecht, Netherlands
Blonde, blue-eyed, tall and handsome Dutch actor Rutger Hauer has an international reputation for playing everything from romantic leads to action heroes to sinister villains. The son of actors, Hauer was born in Breukelen Holland. Because his parents were often touring, Hauer and his three sisters were raised by a nanny. A bit of a rebel during his childhood, he chafed at the rules and rigors of school and was often getting into mischief. His grandfather had been the captain of a schooner, and at age 15, Hauer ran away to work on a freighter for a year. Like his great-grandfather, Hauer is color-blind, which prevented him from furthering his career as a sailor. Upon his return, he attended night school and started working in the construction industry. When he again bombed at school, his parents enrolled him in drama classes. Fancying himself a poet, Hauer spent most of his time writing poetry and hanging out in Amsterdam coffee houses instead of studying. He got expelled for poor attendance and afterward spent a brief time in the Dutch Navy. Deciding he didn't like military life, Hauer convinced his superiors that he was mentally unfit and was sent to a special home for psych patients. It was an unpleasant place, but Hauer remained there until he convinced his ranking officers that the military really did not need him.
Is color blind.
6' 2"
According to an interview she gave when "Interview with the Vampire" was first published, Rutger Hauer was Anne Rice's original vision for Lestat when the book was being written. Despite a popular rumor that Julian Sands was her first choice, he didn't even begin to show up in films or TV till 1982, so Rice couldn't have been aware of him in 1976 when she was writing the book; Rutger has been acting since 1968. Rice may have said Sands would be great for the part when they were casting the film, because she has said that by the time the film was being made Rutger Hauer was too old to play Lestat.
Was Paul Verhoeven's first choice to play Robocop.
Both his first and last name end with the letters "er". He has appeared in 13 movies/TV-series whose title or alternative title end with "er" or "ers". He has played 8 characters whose names end with "er".
Speaks fluently German (more or less accent-free)
Once in a Dutch production of "Hair".
Wife, Ineke, whom he married in 1985, was a painter and sculptor.
Is an environmentalist. Fought for the release of Greenpeace's co-founder, Paul Watson who was convicted in 1994 for sinking an illegal Norwegian whaling vessel. According to The Official Rutger Hauer website, the vessel was sunk in 1992 as a protest to Norway's announced intention to return to the commercial slaughter of whales, which was to be done in violation of the International Whaling Commission's global ban on whaling.
The Dutch Mail Service issued a stamp in 1995 with Rutger on it, taken from a scene in Turkish Delight.
Set up an AIDS research foundation called the Rutger Hauer Starfish Foundation.
Parents, Arend and Teunke, operated an acting school in Amsterdam.
Site of the Week—October 24, 2005
Rutger Hauer Official Site
http://www.rutgerhauer.com
Since his first appearances onscreen in the late 1960s, Dutch actor Rutger Hauer has been a staple of the SF and fantasy film genre, appearing in acknowledged classics from Blade Runner to Ladyhawke, as well as plenty of cheesier movies—like a bees-run-amok horror flick called Killer Buzz and the 1997 Robocop ripoff Redline.
On the official Rutger Hauer site, fans can check out pictures of this versatile performer in his various film roles, in movie profiles that come complete with a plot summary of the picture in question (spoilerphobes beware!) and Hauer's personal behind-the-scenes notes on the film. Links to posters, video clips and trailers are also provided whenever available.
The site is extremely fan-friendly: In its message forums, visitors cheerily discuss Hauer's movies and career, post poetry, chat and play word games. The Web page sponsors an annual short-story contest, publishes regular newsletters and a no-frills blog called "Day out of Days," provides transcripts of speeches Hauer has made at screenings and film festivals, and—like many actor sites—boasts an impressive gallery of movie stills.
Alternating between leading parts and character roles, between big-budget Hollywood events and more esoteric pictures, Hauer has thrived in an undeniably difficult industry, ultimately making it impossible to imagine the SF film canon without him. Fortunately for fans, it seems clear he has no intention of slowing down anytime soon. This year saw the release of seven Hauer projects—including Batman Begins and Sin City—and viewers can expect more releases in 2006. Packed with inside information and movie trivia, Hauer's Web page gives interested film buffs an opportunity to follow a fast-moving actor as he races from role to role.
Thanks Scifi.com
