Jeffrey Hunter

Jeffrey Hunter

Jeffrey Hunter (November 25, 1926 - May 27, 1969) was a film and television actor. He was born Henry Herman McKinnies, Jr. in New Orleans, Louisiana, and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he began acting in local theater and radio in his early teens. He served stateside in the United States Navy in World War II, then studied drama at Northwestern University.

In 1950, while a graduate student in radio at the University of California, Los Angeles and appearing in a college play, he was spotted by talent scouts and offered a two-year motion picture contract by 20th Century Fox that was eventually extended to 1959. He made his Hollywood debut in Fourteen Hours (1951), had star billing by Red Skies of Montana (1952), and first billing in Sailor of the King (1953).

Hunter's handsome looks and gentle manner recalled two earlier Fox stars, Tyrone Power and the young Henry Fonda. A loan-out to co-star with John Wayne in the title roles of the now-classic western The Searchers (1956) began the first of three pictures he made with director John Ford, followed by The Last Hurrah (1958) and Sergeant Rutledge (1960).

Ford also recommended Hunter to director Nicholas Ray for the role of Jesus in the biblical King of Kings (1961), a difficult part met by critical reaction that ranged from praise to ridicule. Among an all-star cast in the World War II battle epic The Longest Day (1962), he provided the climactic heroic act of breaching the defense wall atop Normandy's Omaha Beach.

Having guest starred on television dramas since the mid-1950s, Hunter was now offered a two-year contract by Warner Bros. that included starring as a circuit-riding Texas lawyer in the NBC series Temple Houston (1963-64), which Hunter's production company co-produced.

Although Temple Houston did not survive its first season, NBC offered him the lead role of Captain Christopher Pike in the pilot episode (The Cage) of a new science fiction series, Star Trek. His pensive take on the role was in contrast to the more idiosyncratic style of William Shatner, who took the part after Hunter, deciding to concentrate on motion pictures, declined to film a second Star Trek pilot requested by NBC in 1965. But Hunter was soon filming the pilot for yet another NBC series, the espionage thriller Journey Into Fear, which the network failed to pick up and a motion picture called Brainstorm (1965).

With the demise of the studio contract system in the early 1960s and the out-sourcing of much feature production, Hunter like many other leading men of the 1950s had to find work in B-pictures produced in Europe, Hong Kong, and Mexico, with the occasional television guest part in Hollywood.

In May 1969, shortly after marrying actress Emily McLaughlin, he suffered a cerebrovascular accident while at home, causing a fall and a skull fracture. He died the following day from his injuries.

Hunter's two previous marriages included actress Barbara Rush in the early 1950s.


This page about Jeffrey Hunter includes information from a Wikipedia article.
Additional articles about Jeffrey Hunter
News stories about Jeffrey Hunter
External links for Jeffrey Hunter
Videos for Jeffrey Hunter
Wikis about Jeffrey Hunter
Discussion Groups about Jeffrey Hunter
Blogs about Jeffrey Hunter
Images of Jeffrey Hunter

Hunter's two previous marriages included actress Barbara Rush in the early 1950s. He has twice won the Tony Award for Best Featured (Supporting) Actor in a Play, in 1975 and 2002, and twice been nominated for the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play, in 1978 and 2004. He died the following day from his injuries. Frank Langella (born January 1, 1940 in Bayonne, New Jersey) is an American stage and movie actor. In May 1969, shortly after marrying actress Emily McLaughlin, he suffered a cerebrovascular accident while at home, causing a fall and a skull fracture. as George Prager. With the demise of the studio contract system in the early 1960s and the out-sourcing of much feature production, Hunter like many other leading men of the 1950s had to find work in B-pictures produced in Europe, Hong Kong, and Mexico, with the occasional television guest part in Hollywood. Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970) ..

But Hunter was soon filming the pilot for yet another NBC series, the espionage thriller Journey Into Fear, which the network failed to pick up and a motion picture called Brainstorm (1965). as Ostap Bender. Although Temple Houston did not survive its first season, NBC offered him the lead role of Captain Christopher Pike in the pilot episode (The Cage) of a new science fiction series, Star Trek. His pensive take on the role was in contrast to the more idiosyncratic style of William Shatner, who took the part after Hunter, deciding to concentrate on motion pictures, declined to film a second Star Trek pilot requested by NBC in 1965. The Twelve Chairs (1970) .. that included starring as a circuit-riding Texas lawyer in the NBC series Temple Houston (1963-64), which Hunter's production company co-produced. as Count Dracula. Having guest starred on television dramas since the mid-1950s, Hunter was now offered a two-year contract by Warner Bros. Dracula (1979) ..

Among an all-star cast in the World War II battle epic The Longest Day (1962), he provided the climactic heroic act of breaching the defense wall atop Normandy's Omaha Beach. as Skeletor. Ford also recommended Hunter to director Nicholas Ray for the role of Jesus in the biblical King of Kings (1961), a difficult part met by critical reaction that ranged from praise to ridicule. Masters of the Universe (1987) .. A loan-out to co-star with John Wayne in the title roles of the now-classic western The Searchers (1956) began the first of three pictures he made with director John Ford, followed by The Last Hurrah (1958) and Sergeant Rutledge (1960). as Santangel. Hunter's handsome looks and gentle manner recalled two earlier Fox stars, Tyrone Power and the young Henry Fonda. 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992) ..

He made his Hollywood debut in Fourteen Hours (1951), had star billing by Red Skies of Montana (1952), and first billing in Sailor of the King (1953). as Jeffrey Roston. In 1950, while a graduate student in radio at the University of California, Los Angeles and appearing in a college play, he was spotted by talent scouts and offered a two-year motion picture contract by 20th Century Fox that was eventually extended to 1959. Body of Evidence (1993) .. He served stateside in the United States Navy in World War II, then studied drama at Northwestern University. as White House Chief of Staff Bob Alexander. He was born Henry Herman McKinnies, Jr. in New Orleans, Louisiana, and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he began acting in local theater and radio in his early teens. Dave (1993) ..

Jeffrey Hunter (November 25, 1926 - May 27, 1969) was a film and television actor. as Detective Hayden. Brainscan (1994) .. as Dawg Brown. Cutthroat Island (1995) ..

as Clare Quilty. Lolita (1997) .. as Boris Balkan. The Ninth Gate (1999) ..

as Edgar Price. Sweet November (2001) .. as Jackson Burns. The Beast (2001) ..

as Voice of the Dragon. Red Dragon (2002) (scenes deleted) .. House of D (2004). as Father Tew.

The Novice (2004) .. Back in the Day (2004). as Professor Driskoll. Sweet William (2005) ..