Hugh Hurd

Hugh Lincoln Hurd (February 11, 1925 – July 15, 1995) was an American actor and civil rights activist. Hurd is known for his lead role in John Cassavetes' debut 1959 feature film Shadows and for his organizing activities for African-American actors.

Hugh Hurd
Born
Hugh Lincoln Hurd

February 11, 1925
New York City
DiedJuly 15, 1995(1995-07-15) (aged 70)
Greenwich Village, New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, civil rights activist
SpouseMerlyn Purdy
Children4, including Michelle Hurd

Biography

Hugh Lincoln Hurd was born on February 11, 1925. His most notable acting roles were as the male lead in the 1959 film Shadows directed by John Cassavetes and a major role in the Japanese film The Catch (1961), as a prisoner of war.[1][2][3] He also had roles in The Winner (1963), For Love of Ivy (1968), The Hot Rock (1972), Blade (1973), A Woman Under the Influence (1974), The First Deadly Sin (1980), Liebestraum (1991), Jumpin' at the Boneyard (1992), and Who's the Man? (1993).[1][2] He performed other minor roles in television and commercials.[4] His last film appearance was in the 1995 documentary Anything for John.[4] Hurd performed minor theatrical roles in The Threepenny Opera, The Little Foxes, and Four Saints in Three Acts.[4][5]

Hurd was active in organizing work that combated racial discrimination against African Americans in general and African-American actors in particular. In the late 1950s at the Village Gate nightclub, he co-organized with Godfrey Cambridge and Maya Angelou to fund raise $9,000 for Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement.[4] He co-founded the Committee for the Employment of Negro Performers with Godfrey Cambridge in 1962.[4]

In 1964, Hurd was the subject of a portrait painted by the noted artist Alice Neel.[6] The painting is titled "Hugh Hurd" and is currently held by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.[7]

Hurd died on July 15, 1995, in New York City within Greenwich Village at St. Vincent's Hospital.[4] According to his family, Hurd died from complications from hypertension and kidney failure.[4]

Personal life

He married once to Dr. Merlyn Hurd with whom he had three daughters; Denise, Adrienne and Michelle Hurd, known for her roles in television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Blindspot and Star Trek: Picard. He had a fourth daughter from a previous relationship.[4]

Filmography
Feature films
Year Title Role Ref
1959ShadowsHugh Carruthers / Hugh Hurd[1][2]
1961The CatchBlack soldier held captive
1963The WinnerCast member[1]
1968For Love of IvyJerry[1][2]
1972The Hot RockCast member[1][2]
1973BladeAttorney[2]
1974A Woman Under the InfluenceWillie Johnson[1][2]
1980The First Deadly SinBen Johnson[1][2]
1991LiebestraumOrderly #2[1][2]
1992Jumpin' at the BoneyardMan at coffee shop[2]
1993Who's the Man?Mushmouth[1]

See also

References
  1. "Hugh Hurd - Filmography". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on December 3, 2018. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  2. "Hugh Hurd - Filmography". American Film Institute. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  3. Lentz, Harris M. (1995). Obituaries in the Performing Arts. McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0-7864-0253-3.
  4. Saxon, Wolfgang (July 20, 1995). "Hugh Hurd, 70, Actor with Role in Early Civil Rights Movement". New York Times. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  5. "Hugh L. Hurd". The Broadway League. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  6. Neel, Alice; Hills, Patricia (1980). Alice Neel: Paintings of Two Decades [Exhibition] Boston University Art Gallery, October 9 Through November 2, 1980. Boston University Art Gallery. OCLC 894173571.
  7. "Hugh Hurd". Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Retrieved March 3, 2019.

Further reading
  • Hoover, Clara; Hurd, Hugh (1963). "An Interview with Hugh Hurd". Film Society of Lincoln Center. 1 (4): 24–27. JSTOR 43754229.
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