Veteran actress Mary Beth Hurt dies aged 79 after long illness with Alzheimer’s

American actress Mary Beth Hurt has died at the age of 79 following a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Her husband, filmmaker Paul Schrader, confirmed her passing at an assisted living facility in Jersey City, New Jersey. Their daughter, Molly Schrader, shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, recalling her mother’s strength and kindness while expressing relief that she was no longer suffering. Hurt, who was born in Marshalltown, Iowa, trained in theatre at the University of Iowa and New York University before debuting off-Broadway in 1974. She earned critical acclaim for her stage work, receiving three Tony Award nominations for ‘Trelawny of the Wells’, ‘Crimes of the Heart’, and ‘Benefactors’. In film, Hurt became known for her roles in ‘Interiors’ (1978), ‘Chilly Scenes of Winter’ (1979), and ‘The World According to Garp’ (1982), where she starred opposite Robin Williams. Her later screen appearances included ‘The Age of Innocence’, ‘Six Degrees of Separation’, ‘The Exorcism of Emily Rose’, and ‘Young Adult’. On television, she made appearances in ‘Law & Order’, ‘Thirtysomething’, and ‘Saturday Night Live’. Previously married to actor William Hurt until 1982, she later wed Schrader in 1983. In a past interview, she described a preference for supporting roles that allowed her to explore complex, idiosyncratic characters rather than conventional leads.