Oscar winner William Hurt joins FX series

Oscar-winning actor William Hurt will reunite with his "Big Chill" co-star Glenn Close in the second season of FX's series "Damages."

The cable network announced Monday (June 16) that Hurt will take his first-ever regular role in a TV series when the show returns early next year. Filming on the new season is scheduled to begin next week.

"We believe 'Damages' has one of the finest ensemble casts anywhere on television, and the fact that an actor the caliber of William Hurt has joined the cast speaks to the quality of the series," says Nick Grad, who oversees original programming for FX. "It will be great watching him and Glenn Close work together again."

Hurt will have a season-long arc as a client of Close's Patty Hewes. FX isn't saying much more than that -- in fact, its own press release cites anonymous "insiders" in saying that Hurt's character will have both a personal and professional history with Patty.

Rose Byrne and Tate Donovan will join Close and Hurt as regulars, reprising their roles from last season.

Hurt won a best actor Oscar in 1986 for "Kiss of the Spider Woman." He's been nominated three other times, most recently for "A History of Violence." He's currently on screen in "The Incredible Hulk."

He has starred in several TV miniseries in his career and made a handful of guest appearances, but "Damages" will mark Hurt's first regular role in a weekly series.