Hurd Hatfield

Hurd Hatfield Biography Born December 7, 1917 in New York City, New York, USA Died December 26, 1998 in Monkstown, County Cork, Ireland (heart attack) Birth Name William Rukard Hurd Hatfield Height 6' (1.83 m) William Rukard Hurd Hatfield was an American leading man best known for his portrayal of the title character in the Oscar-winning 1945 film 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'. A native of New York, Hatfield came to England to study acting at the Chekhov Theatre Studio in Devonshire. He had lived in Ireland since the early 1970's. Despite numerous roles in scores of other movies, television and stage productions, he was forever associated with his starring role in the film of the Oscar Wilde's novel. Always maintained that he preferred comedic to dramatic roles, and always regretted that he got to play in so few of them because he was typed as an elegant menace. Became a lifelong friend of Angela Lansbury's when they were making The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945) together; he guested three times on her successful TV series Murder, She Wrote (1984) and she convinced him to buy property close to hers in Ireland. Distant relative of Mark Hatfield, long-time Senator from the state of Oregon. Like Dorian Gray, Hurd Hatfield maintained a good, relatively youthful appearance well into his seventies. He credited this to the fact that he neither drank nor smoked and exercised regularly. Years later, a friend of his bought the painting of young Dorian Gray that was used in the movie "The Picture of Dorian Gray" at an auction, and gave it to Hatfield. Hatfield eventually came to resent his having initially come to the public's attention playing the title role in The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945). He believed that the film was "ahead of its time" and that it's undertones of narcissism and bisexuality typecast him and stymied his hopes for a successful career as a mainstream leading man. Personal Quotes (2) You know, I was never a great beauty in (Dorian) Gray and I never understood why I got the part, and have spent my career regretting it. I'm glad that "The Picture of Dorian Gray" found its audience, but for the longest time I worried that people wouldn't realize that for me Dorian Gray was a character part. That wasn't me!