BY LEE PFEIFFER
International film star Rutger Hauer has died at age 75 in his native Netherlands after what has been called "a short illness". Hauer had run away from home at age 15 and joined the merchant marines before turning his attention to acting. He gained stardom in the Netherlands in the 1960s through a TV series titled "Floris". He gravitated to feature films where his good looks and assertive personality made him a popular attraction. His first major hit in European cinema was the acclaimed 1973 film "Turkish Delight". Hauer, who frequently collaborated with director Paul Verhoeven, made a mark in Hollywood playing a memorable villain in the 1981 thriller "Nighthawks" starring Sylvester Stallone. In 1982, he landed his most iconic role as the villain Batty in director Ridley Scott's sci-fi classic "Blade Runner". The film was a critical and boxoffice disappointment but over the decades it has become widely beloved and acclaimed by movie fans. In 1986, he scored again with film-goers as the titular character in "The Hitcher" in which he gave a chilling performance as a charismatic psychopathic killer. He landed another plum role in 1988 with the film "The Legend of the Holy Drinker", playing a ne'er do well character. His performance was widely acclaimed. Hauer was also a popular presence in major TV movies including "Escape from Sobibor" and "Fatherland", which earned him Golden Globe nominations. In recent years, Hauer appeared in his share of "B" movies and TV productions but he never suffered the greatest fear of actors: being out of work for extended periods. Rutger Hauer never went out of style. For more click here.