John Hurt Diagnosed With Pancreatic Cancer

John Hurt at the 2011 London premiere of 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' | Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Two-time Academy Award nominated John Hurt has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of 75. However, he remains optimistic and has no immediate plans to retire.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Hurt said:

"I have always been open about the way in which I conduct my life and in that spirit I would like to make a statement. I have recently been diagnosed with early stage pancreatic cancer. I am undergoing treatment and am more than optimistic about a satisfactory outcome, as indeed is the medical team. I am continuing to focus on my professional commitments and will shortly be recording Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell (one of life's small ironies!) for BBC Radio 4."

The veteran actor, who is straight and has been married several times, has added many prized roles to his ever-expanding resume over the years, most recently appearing in Doctor Who. He was nominated for an Oscar in 1978 for his role in Midnight Express and again in 1980 for The Elephant Man. He also portrayed Quentin Crisp in The Naked Civil Servant and An Englishman in New York. Recently, he has been filming Tarzan with Alexander Skarsgard and Margot Robbie, set to premiere in 2016.