Mary Beth Hurt, the Tony‑nominated actor known for Woody Allen’s Interiors and The World According to Garp, has died at 79. Her daughter announced her passing on social media and her husband, filmmaker Paul Schrader, confirmed the news to the Hollywood Reporter.

What happened

Hurt died Saturday after a long illness, her daughter Molly Schrader wrote in an Instagram post shared with a joint Facebook message by the family. Paul Schrader later confirmed that she died at an assisted living facility in Jersey City, New Jersey. Hurt had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2015.

Who she was — stage and screen

Born Mary Beth Supinger in Marshalltown, Iowa, on Sept. 25, 1946, Hurt studied drama at the University of Iowa and completed graduate theater studies at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She made her New York stage debut in an off‑Broadway production of As You Like It and appeared in more than a dozen Broadway productions across her career.

Hurt earned three Tony nominations for Trelawny of the ‘Wells, Crimes of the Heart and Benefactors. On film she made a noted screen debut in Woody Allen’s 1978 drama Interiors and won praise — including a BAFTA nomination — for the performance. Her other notable film credits include The World According to Garp, Slaves of New York, The Age of Innocence, Six Degrees of Separation, Light Sleeper, Affliction, and later roles in Young Adult and The Exorcism of Emily Rose.

Career and craft

Colleagues and critics admired Hurt’s range. Vincent Canby of the New York Times praised her ability to shift expression and persona; director David Hare called her “a fine ensemble actress” and noted her technical skill and improvisatory gifts. Hurt often said she preferred strong supporting roles and ensemble work over pursuing stardom.

Family, illness and final years

Hurt was married to actor William Hurt from 1971 until their divorce in 1982. She married director Paul Schrader in 1983; the couple worked together on films including Light Sleeper and Affliction. She is survived by Schrader and her two children, Molly and Sam.

After her Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2015, the family moved Hurt to a memory care facility in 2019 and later brought her back to their home during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Schrader has spoken publicly about caring for Hurt, telling the New Yorker, “Mary Beth saved me,” and building a greenhouse at their lake house because of her love of gardening.

Response and legacy

Her daughter’s post reflected a mix of grief and relief: “She was an actress, a wife, a sister, a mother, an aunt, a friend, and she took on all those rolls with grace and a kind ferocity,” Molly Schrader wrote. The family’s public statements have prompted an outpouring of remembrance from fans, theater colleagues and critics who admired Hurt’s quiet intelligence, technical control and devotion to ensemble work.

What to expect next

The family has not released detailed public plans. Hurt’s career—rooted in theater and textured by strong supporting turns on screen—remains a touchstone for actors who value craft over spotlight, and her performances in Interiors and Garp will continue to be revisited by critics and audiences.