Rutger Hauer

RUTGER HAUER is a veteran of hundreds of international film and television projects, including Ridley Scott's seminal science fiction drama "Blade Runner," the cult classic thriller "The Hitcher," and Christopher Nolan's "Batman Begins," among many others.

Born in the Netherlands, Hauer first gained attention for his work with Dutch director Paul Verhoeven, who cast him in his first lead role, in 1973's "Turkish Delight," followed by "Keetje Tippel." Hauer went on to star in Verhoeven's "Soldier of Orange," earning worldwide acclaim for his performance as a brave underground soldier. His subsequent collaborations with Verhoeven include "Spetters" and "Flesh+Blood."

In 1981, Hauer appeared in his first American film, the actioner "Nighthawks," in which he squared off with Sylvester Stallone. The next year, he starred as the brilliant but brutal combat replicant, Roy Batty, in the groundbreaking futuristic drama "Blade Runner," with Harrison Ford. His long list of film credits also includes Sam Peckinpah's "The Osterman Weekend"; Richard Donner's "Ladyhawke"; "The Legend of the Holy Drinker," for which he won several film festival awards; Phillip Noyce's "Blind Fury"; "Past Midnight," opposite Natasha Richardson; the original "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"; "Nostradamus"; George Clooney's "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind"; and "Sin City," for directors Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez.

On television, Hauer won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television for his performance in the true-life telefilm "Escape from Sobibor." He earned another Golden Globe nomination in the same category for his work in "Fatherland." He has also starred in such longform projects as "Inside the Third Reich," "Amelia Earhart: The Final Flight," "Hostile Waters," "Merlin," "The 10th Kingdom," and "Salem's Lot."

Behind the camera, Hauer co-directed (with Erik Lieshout) a short entitled "The Room," in which he also starred. Based on the story by Dutch writer Harry Mulisch, it won the award for Best Short Film at the 2001 Paris Film Festival. In 2006, he formed the Rutger Hauer Filmfactory to bring aspiring, young talents together with renowned, international filmmakers, who are able to share their knowledge and experience. Hauer also established the I've Seen Films - International Film Festival, which is held annually in Milan, Italy.

Hauer's autobiography, All Those Moments: Stories of Heroes, Villains, Replicants, and Blade Runners, was published in 2007, with all proceeds going to charity.

In 2008, Hauer was honored in his home country with the Golden Calf Dutch Culture Award, which is presented by the Board of the Netherlands Film Festival Foundation to a person or organization that has made important contributions to film culture.

TM & © 2011 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.