Veteran British actor John Hurt has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
"I have always been open about the way in which I conduct my life and in that spirit I would like to make a statement. I have recently been diagnosed with early stage pancreatic cancer. I am undergoing treatment and am more than optimistic about a satisfactory outcome, as indeed is the medical team," the 75-year-old actor told People.
Most known for his roles in "Elephant Man," "Harry Potter," "Alien," "Hellboy," and "V for Vendetta," Hurt has been acting since 1962 when he made his stage debut.
After acting for more than five decades, Hurt plans to continue to focus on his professional acting commitments, which includes an updated version of "Tarzan." The 3-D live action film will be released in July 2016 and stars Alexander Skarsgard, Margot Robbie, Samuel L Jackson and Christoph Waltz.
Last year, Hurt was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to drama. The actor has been nominated twice for an Academy Award for his roles in "Midnight Express" and "The Elephant Man."
