Rutger Hauer R.I.P: Blade Runner actor; gone, like tears in the rain.

Dutch actor Rutger Hauer, perhaps best known for his role in 1982’s ‘Blade Runner’ film as replicant Roy Batty, has passed away in his Netherlands home at Beetsterzwaag aged 75 (suffering briefly from cancer). Rutger’s portrayal of Batty was said by by Philip K. Dick to be, “the perfect Batty – cold, Aryan, flawless.”

Rutger’s funeral was held and announced today – he actually passed a few days ago, but his death was kept quiet for a while for the family to mourn in private.

As well as ‘Blade Runner’ he appeared in many great films including ‘Sin City’, ‘Ladyhawke’, ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’, ‘Batman Begins’ and ‘Hobo With A Shotgun’. His TV chops included ‘Fatherland’, ‘Merlin’, ‘The 10th Kingdom’, ‘True Blood’, ‘Smallville’, ‘Alias’ and ‘Salem’s Lot’.

Like many of us, he was a passionate environmentalist, and is survived by his second wife, child and grandchildren.

His brilliant death scene at the end of the first Bladerunner film was written and partially ad-libbed by him. Now, that’s class!