Mary Beth Hurt (; September 26, 1946 – March 28, 2026) was an American actress of stage and screen. She was a three-time Tony Award-nominated actress, as well as a BAFTA Award and Independent Spirit Award nominee. Hurt was also the recipient of an Obie Award and a Clarence Derwent Award.
Notable films in which Hurt appears include Interiors (1978), The World According to Garp (1982), The Age of Innocence (1993), and Six Degrees of Separation (1993). She also collaborated with her husband, filmmaker Paul Schrader, in such films as Light Sleeper (1992) and Affliction (1997).
Early life and education Mary Beth Hurt was born Mary Beth Supinger in Marshalltown, Iowa, on September 26, 1946, the daughter of Delores Lenore (née Andre) and Forrest Clayton Supinger. Her childhood babysitter was actress Jean Seberg, also a Marshalltown native. Hurt studied drama at the University of Iowa and at New York University's Graduate Acting Program at the Tisch School of the Arts.
Career Hurt made her New York stage debut in 1974. She was nominated for three Tony Awards for her Broadway performances in Trelawny of the Wells, Crimes of the Heart (for which she won an Obie Award), and Benefactors.
She made her film debut in Woody Allen's dramatic film Interiors (1978) as Joey, the second of three sisters dealing with the emotional fallout of a family's disintegration and their mother Eve (Geraldine Page)'s descent into mental illness. Hurt's powerful turn in that film earned her a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles at the 32nd British Academy Film Awards. Her other film roles include Laura in Chilly Scenes of Winter (1979), Helen Holm Garp in The World According to Garp (1982), and Regina Beaufort in Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocence (1993). Hurt also played Jean Seberg, in voiceover, in Mark Rappaport's 1995 documentary From the Journals of Jean Seberg.
Hurt was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female at the 22nd Independent Spirit Awards, for her performance in the 2006 movie The Dead Girl. For her role in Crimes of the Heart (1981) she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play and earned an Obie Award. In addition to these honors, Hurt also received a Clarence Derwent Award in 1975 for Best Supporting Female for her role in the Off-Broadway production of the play Love for Love.
Personal life and death Hurt was married to actor William Hurt from 1971 to 1982. She married filmmaker Paul Schrader in 1983; the couple had a daughter and a son. She was close friends with fellow actress Glenn Close, who had understudied her in the play Love for Love in 1974.
On February 11, 2023, Schrader announced that Hurt had been placed in memory care, a result of her advancing Alzheimer's disease.
Hurt died at an assisted-living facility in Jersey City, New Jersey, on March 28, 2026, at the age of 79.
Acting credits Film Year Title Role Notes1978InteriorsJoey1979Chilly Scenes of WinterLaura Connelly1980Kasey Evans1982Helen Holm1985D.A.R.Y.L.Joyce RichardsonCompromising PositionsPeg Tuccio1989ParentsLily LaemleSlaves of New YorkGinger Booth1991DefenselessEllie Seldes1992Light SleeperTeresa Aranow1993My Boyfriend's BackMrs. DingleRegina BeaufortShimmerMotherSix Degrees of SeparationKitty1994Noisy NoraNarrator (voice)Short film1995Alkali, IowaJuneShort film1997Boys Life 2June GudmansonAfflictionLillian Whitehouse Horner1998Narrator (voice)Short film1999Bringing Out the DeadNurse ConstanceLeo the Late BloomerNarrator (voice)Short film2000Autumn in New YorkDr. SibleyAdelle2005Judge BrewsterPerceptionDorothy2006Lady in the WaterMrs. BellRuth2007Chrissie Morgan2008UntraceableStella Marsh2010Lebanon, Pa.Jennette2011Young AdultJan2013Donna2018Change in the Air Jo Ann Bayberry
Television Year Title Role Notes1974Ann in BlueOff. Elizabeth JensenTV film1976KojakKaren Foster2 episodes1977Great PerformancesCaroline MitfordEpisode: "Secret Service"1979Jane DentTV film1987Baby Girl ScottWendy ScottTV film1988TattingersSheila BradleyEpisode: "Death and Taxis"1990ThirtysomethingEmily DickinsonEpisode: "I'm Nobody, Who Are You?"Working It OutAndyMain role (12 episodes)1992Saturday Night LiveBetsyEpisode: "Glenn Close/The Black Crowes"1994MontyAdelaideEpisode: "The Brother of the Bride"1996Law & OrderSela DixonEpisode: "Deceit"2000EleanorEpisode: "Someone to Watch Over Me"2001No Ordinary BabyDr. Amanda GordonTV film2002Law & Order: Special Victims UnitJessica Blaine-ToddEpisode: "Greed"2009Law & OrderJudge Gillian BerrowEpisode: "Promote This!"
Theater Year Title Role Notes1974More Than You DeserveUncle RemusLove for LoveMiss PrueClaraUnderstudy1975Trelawny of the 'Wells'Rose TrelawnyFrankie Addams1976Boy Meets GirlSusieSecret ServiceCaroline Mitford1977Anya Ranevskaya1981Crimes of the HeartMeg MaGrath1983Célimène1984Iskra1985–1986BenefactorsSheila1989Katherine Glass1993One Shoe OffDinah1996Julia2000Old MoneySaulina Webb / Sally Webster2008Top GirlsLouise / Waitress2010When the Rain Stops FallingElizabeth Law2011Head Nun
References
External links
Profile at Internet Theatre Database