Mary Beth Hurt’s husband Paul Schrader breaks silence after her death at 79 following Alzheimer’s battle

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Mary Beth Hurt, the actress, passed away at 79 after a struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Her husband is now sharing his feelings after more than four decades of marriage.

Paul Schrader announced on Sunday that his wife had died at an assisted living facility in Jersey City, New Jersey, where she had been living.

On Monday evening, the 79-year-old writer and director, who has been nominated for an Oscar, shared his grief on Facebook about the passing of his wife, whom he married in 1983.

Schrader shared a picture of his father’s journal, magnified to show the neat handwriting. He noted that his father carefully wrote in it every day.

He wrote a brief message on Thanksgiving 1978: “Joan died 12:20 am.” That was all. Joan was his wife, and my mother.

He was a remarkably strong and resilient person. I’ve often read about what he went through and considered how I would react in a similar situation. Now, I find myself facing the same challenges.

Schrader and Hurt’s daughter, Molly Schrader, shared a tribute to her mother on Instagram.

Molly Schrader shared on Instagram Sunday that her mother, Mary Beth, passed away yesterday morning after a ten-year struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Schrader described her mother as a talented actress and a loving wife, sister, mother, aunt, and friend, who approached each role with both kindness and strength.

It’s been a really tough time, of course, but I’m finding some peace knowing my loved one isn’t in pain anymore. It’s comforting to think of her finally at rest and back with her sisters – a beautiful image that helps me through the sadness.

The post included a vintage black and white photo of the two, taken by the late photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.

According to reports from TMZ, Hurt had just moved into the facility where she died. Before that, she and her husband both lived at an assisted living facility in Manhattan.

Hurt grew up in Marshalltown, Iowa, and developed her acting skills at both the University of Iowa and New York University.

She first performed on stage in 1974, appearing in an off-Broadway production of “More Than You Deserve,” a play by Jim Steinman and Michael Weller.

Hurt achieved significant success as a stage actor, receiving three Tony Award nominations between 1975 and 1985 for his performances in Trelawny of the Wells, Crimes of the Heart, and Benefactors.

William Hurt was most recognized for his roles in the films The World According to Garp (1982), Chilly Scenes of Winter (1979), and Woody Allen’s Interiors (1978), which also starred Diane Keaton.

Throughout her long acting career, Hurt also appeared in films like 1993’s The Age of Innocence and Six Degrees of Separation, as well as Autumn in New York (2000) and The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005).

Later in her career, Hurt acted in several films including Autumn in New York (2000), The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005), The Dead Girl and Lady in the Water (both 2006), and Young Adult (2011).

Throughout her long career, she frequently appeared on popular television shows, including classics like Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Thirtysomething, and Saturday Night Live.

Mary Beth was married to actor William Hurt from 1971 to 1982. She later married James Schrader in 1983. She and Hurt had two children: a daughter, Molly, who is 42, and a son, Sam, who is 38.

She opened up about her penchant for supporting roles in a 2010 interview, according to THR.

You know, I’ve always felt more at ease supporting others than being the center of attention. Honestly, the pressure of having to deliver a perfect performance just isn’t my cup of tea. It’s not that I don’t enjoy acting, it’s just that the weight of leading a project feels… a little too much for me. I thrive when I can collaborate and contribute without that expectation of being ‘the one’!

I actually preferred playing supporting characters, particularly when I was younger and the main young female roles weren’t very exciting.

Hurt said she felt supporting roles better suited her background and persona.

Hurt admitted she didn’t naturally feel beautiful, intelligent, or funny, so she always searched for something interesting within the characters she played. She’d often put her own spin on a role, reasoning that someone playing a naive character wouldn’t perceive themselves that way.

‘They think they’re a person, and they have idiosyncrasies. Those idiosyncrasies interested me.’

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2026-03-31 17:49