Trivia

When making his debut in the United States, he was advised to use a more English-sounding name in order to better appeal to the US public. He refused, assuming that his US career would be short-lived anyway.

Was offered the lead role in Das Boot (1981). He turned it down in favour of Blade Runner (1982).

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Hauer became well known to the British mainstream for a series of Guinness commercials where he is clad in black. He publicly took a dislike for the drink and had to spit it out after each take. His appearance is credited for an increase in sales of Guinness.

Loved to ride motorcycles. While on a break from filming The Blood of Heroes (1989), he made a tour and subsequently got lost in the Australian desert. It was by chance that he found the setback on his own.

Had set up an AIDS research foundation called the Rutger Hauer Starfish Foundation.

Spoke German fluently (more or less accent-free).

Director Richard Donner originally wanted to use him as the villain Marquet in Ladyhawke (1985), but Hauer turned that role down and expressed more interest in playing the film's hero Etienne Navarre.

Spent five years in a pantomime company prior to seriously pursuing an acting career.

Was Paul Verhoeven's first choice to play RoboCop (1987), before Peter Weller was cast.

The Dutch Mail Service issued a stamp in 1995 with Rutger on it, taken from a scene in Turkish Delight (1973).

He did his own stunt driving on The Hitcher (1986).

As a hobby, he used to design trucks in the 1980s.

Wife, Ineke ten Kate, who he married in 1985, was a painter and sculptor.

Had a tattoo on each shoulder: one on his right shoulder for his wife Ineke Ten Cate, to whom he was married from 1985 (after a 16-year-relationship) until his death; the other was for his best friend, Marius, the brother of Ineke Ten Cate, who died of Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1980. Explained that, "It's a way of saying 'You're under my skin.'".

Had made a television series and five movies directed by Paul Verhoeven. However, they had a falling-out on their last combined effort, the much-troubled Flesh+Blood (1985), and the two have not worked again since.

He gives master classes in moviemaking to students and new actors and moviemakers. This takes places in Rotterdam, Netherlands. He has been doing this for several years.

Was considered for the role of Martin Riggs in Lethal Weapon (1987) but the role was given to Mel Gibson.

Interesting trivia: he passed away in year 2019. The year his most remembered film, Blade Runner (1982) was set in.

According to an interview she gave when Interview with the Vampire (1994) was first published, Rutger Hauer was Anne Rice's original vision for Lestat when the book was being written. Despite a popular rumor that Julian Sands was her first choice, he did not even begin to show up in films or television until 1982, so Rice could not have been aware of him in 1976 when she was writing the book; Rutger has been acting since 1968. Rice may have said Sands would be great for the part when they were casting the film, because she has said that by the time the film was being made Hauer was too old to play Lestat.

Was an environmentalist. Fought for the release of Greenpeace's co-founder, Paul Watson, who was convicted in 1994 for sinking an illegal Norwegian whaling vessel. According to the Official Rutger Hauer website, the vessel was sunk in 1992 as a protest to Norway's announced intention to return to the commercial slaughter of whales, which was to be done in violation of the International Whaling Commission's global ban on whaling.

Founded the I've Seen Films International Film Festival.

Has appeared in two vampire movies with Donald Sutherland: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) and Salem's Lot (2004).

Once named his five favorite films as Hiroshima Mon Amour (1959), Apocalypse Now (1979), Wings of Desire (1987), GasLand (2010) and Position Among the Stars (2010).

Former father-in-law of his Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) co-star Thomas Jane.

Played Dracula in Dracula III: Legacy (2005), and the arch-nemesis of Dracula, Van Helsing in Dracula 3D (2012) where Thomas Kretschmann was Dracula. Ironically, Kretschmann went on to play the role of Van Helsing on the television series Dracula (2013) a year after.

In 1988 Fred DeBoer presented him with a Friesian horse for what he had done to promote the breed in the movie Ladyhawke (1985).

Father of Ayesha Hauer and grandfather of Leandro Maeder, her son.

Turned down a role in Paul Verhoeven's Black Book (2006).

Parents, Teunke Hauer and Arend Hauer, operated an acting school in Amsterdam.

During the initial release of The Hitcher (1986), he stated that he would not be seeking antagonist roles. In 1986, a periodical in Spokane, Washington, The Spokesman Review, ran the headline "He plays villains without a 'Hitch'". He was concerned about being typecast.

Did adverts for Guinness but never drank any as very sensitive to alcohol.

In 2016, Hauer joined the film jury for ShortCutz Amsterdam, an annual film festival promoting short films in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Fellow Dutch jury members include Roel Reiné, Willeke van Ammelrooy, Vincent van Ommen, Pieter Kuijpers and Tygo Gernandt.

Played a vampire named Kurt Barlow in Salem's Lot (2004) and a fairy named Niall Brigant on the television series True Blood (2008).

In 1988 he was the Grand Marshall at the Spring Breed Classic USET Benefit Show at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. The participants were Fred DeBoer and Family, with their Friesian horses; John Koster and Family, with their Friesian horses.

Was considered for the role of Dr. Bukovsky in Lifeforce (1985).

Both his first and last name end with the letters "er". He has appeared in 13 movies/television-series whose title or alternative title end with "er" or "ers". He has played 8 characters whose names end with "er".

Cause of death was pancreatic cancer.

Body Cremated.