Hauer's career began during the year 1969 with the role in a popular Dutch television series "Floris", directed by Paul Verhoeven. His notable works include "Flesh & Blood", "Blind Fury", "Blade Runner", "The Hitcher", "Nighthawks", "Wedlock", "Sin City", "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind", "Ladyhawke", "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "The Osterman Weekend", "The Blood of Heroes", "Batman Begins", "Hobo with a Shotgun", "The Rite", and he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Escape from Sobibor". Hauer was a dedicated environmentalist and founded an AIDS awareness organization, the Rutger Hauer Starfish Association.