Mary Beth Hurt

Mary Beth Hurt, a three-time Tony Award-nominated actress known for her performances in such films as "The World According to Garp" and "Interiors," died March 28, 2026, at an assisted living facility in Jersey City, New Jersey. She died after living with Alzheimer's disease at the age of 79.

Over a career spanning nearly four decades, Hurt became one of the most respected character actresses of her generation, a touchstone for directors and writers who needed an actress capable of making complexity feel utterly natural. Her work set a standard for intelligent, understated acting that influenced a generation of stage and screen performers.

Born Mary Beth Supinger on September 26, 1946, in Marshalltown, Iowa, Hurt studied acting at the University of Iowa and as a graduate student at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

Her career began on the New York City stage, and she ultimately made it to Broadway many times, debuting there in 1974 in "Love for Love." She received Tony Award nominations for "Trelawny of the 'Wells,'" "Crimes of the Heart," and "Benefactors." She originated the role of Meg in "Crimes of the Heart" when it debuted off-Broadway, and she won an Obie Award for her performance.

Hurt made her onscreen debut in 1974 with the TV movie "Ann in Blue." A few years later, she had a breakthrough performance with her movie debut in the Woody Allen film "Interiors," starring alongside Diane Keaton (1946–2025) and Kristin Griffith as sisters in a family drama. Another notable film came in 1982 when she starred as Helen, wife of Robin Williams' (1951–2014) title character, in "The World According to Garp."

Hurt's many other movies included "Compromising Positions," "The Age of Innocence," "Six Degrees of Separation," and "Autumn in New York." On TV, she had a starring role in the short-lived 1990 sitcom "Working it Out," and her guest appearances included "Kojak," "Thirtysomething," and "Law & Order."

Hurt is survived by her husband, Paul Schrader, and her children, Molly and Sam.

By Linnea Crowther

(Image: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)