What actor played Ben Devereaux in the 2005 film "The Skeleton Key"?

John Hurt played Ben Devereaux in the 2005 film The Skeleton Key.

Ben is the husband of Violet Devereaux, played by Gena Rowlands, and lives in a Louisiana plantation house after suffering what appears to be a severe stroke. The character is largely mute and physically disabled, making Hurt’s performance depend heavily on facial expression, movement, and reaction rather than dialogue.

The film follows Caroline Ellis, played by Kate Hudson, a hospice worker hired to care for Ben. As Caroline investigates the house, she uncovers a disturbing history involving hoodoo rituals, body-swapping, and the family’s former servants. Ben’s condition becomes central to the film’s supernatural mystery.

The Skeleton Key was directed by Iain Softley and written by Ehren Kruger. It was filmed in Louisiana and combines supernatural horror with themes involving racial history and exploitation in the American South. John Hurt was already known for films such as Alien, The Elephant Man, and 1984, making his restrained role one of the film’s most recognizable performances.