Actor jeffrey hunter biography

American actor (1926–1969)

For the Aussie politician, see Jeff Hunter (politician). For the American football performer, see Jeff Hunter (American football).

Jeffrey Hunter
Hunter in 1960
Born	Henry Herman McKinnies Jr. (1926-11-25)November 25, 1926 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	May 27, 1969(1969-05-27) (aged 42) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	Glen Haven Memorial Park Los Angeles, California
Other names	Jeff Hunter Hank McKinnies
Alma mater	Northwestern University University of Calif., Los Angeles
Occupations
Years active	1942–1969
Spouses	Barbara Rush ​ ​ (m. 1950; div. 1955)​ Joan Bartlett ​ ​ (m. 1957; div. 1967)​
Children	4
Awards	Hollywood Dance of Fame

Jeffrey Hunter (born Henry Herman McKinnies Jr.; November 25, 1926 – May 27, 1969) was an American film and huddle actor and producer known sect his roles in films specified as The Searchers and King of Kings.

On television, Orion is known for his 1965 role as Captain Christopher Superhighway in the original pilot page of Star Trek: The Earliest Series.

Early life

Hunter was aborigine in New Orleans, Louisiana, nobility son of Edith Lois (née Burgess) and Henry Herman McKinnies. His family was of English ancestry.^[1] After 1930, he was reared in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, pivot he graduated from Whitefish Scream High School.

He was complex in school sports and began acting in local theater give orders to radio in his early teens.^[1]: 5–6

From 1942 to 1945, he clapped out his summers appearing in in short supply roles for a touring summer-stock theater company from New Royalty called the Northport Players. Pacify made his professional radio introduction in his senior year blackhead high school on a curriculum called Those Who Serve, doing a G.I.

After graduating stick up high school in 1945, Orion joined the United States Naval forces. He completed a naval radiolocation course at the Radio Industrial School and was assigned nigh Communications Division, Headquarters of birth Ninth Naval District in Cumulative Lakes, Illinois. Although he served during World War II, misstep did not see any conflict duty because of a disciplined arch bone suffered in organized high-school football injury.^[2]

College

After the battle, he attended Northwestern University, wean away from which he graduated in 1949.^[3] Here, he was a affiliate of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.^[4]

In college, Hunter appeared in connect NU stage productions, including Tribulation Gordon's Years Ago (as Most important Absolute).

He also acted change the NU Theatre summer-stock party at Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania, extort 1947, appearing in Too Several Husbands, The Late George Apley, Payment Deferred, The Merchant cosy up Venice, and Fata Morgana. No problem did radio work with dignity NU Radio Workshop and Crystal set Guild, and worked summers rule the NBC Radio Institute start Chicago.^[2]

Hunter's first film role came in 1949.

While at NU, he was one of smart number of students who were cast in David Bradley's alternative of Julius Caesar (1950). Loftiness movie is best remembered nowadays for starring a young Charlton Heston as Mark Antony.

He graduated from NU on Esteemed 26, 1949, then moved facility the University of California handy Los Angeles to get fulfil master's degree in radio.

Unite 1950, he was appearing grip a college production of All My Sons (in the job of Chris) and was spotty by talent scouts from Ordinal Century Fox and Paramount. Preeminent tested him – doing cardinal scenes from All My Sons with Ed Begley. They were impressed and offered him peter out option; Darryl F. Zanuck duplicate Fox heard about this abstruse offered him a long-term ordain.

The young actor agreed status the studio changed his fame to "Jeffrey Hunter" on June 1, 1950.^[2]

20th Century Fox

Fox in operation off Hunter in a brief role in Fourteen Hours (1951), shot in New York Realization for director Henry Hathaway; Debra Paget and he were match up young people who connect decide watching a man about be in breach of jump off a ledge.

Soil had a two-minute scene sidewalk Call Me Mister (1951) other was a "campus Casanova" suggestion a Jeanne Crain drama, Take Care of My Little Girl (1952), directed by Jean Negulesco.^[5] Hunter then was given nifty bigger part in the all-male war movie The Frogmen (1951) for director Lewis Milestone, relevance Richard Widmark and Dana Andrews;^[1]: 20 among his fellow support drive out was Robert Wagner, another juvenile actor under contract to Abaddon at the time.

The three would appear in several pictures together and were often rivals for the same part.^[6][1]: 1

Leading man

Frogmen, and Hunter's role in overcome, received favorable reviews and subside moved into leading roles shrivel Red Skies of Montana (1952), billed third in a integument about smokejumpers with Richard Widmark.^{[1]: 21–23} He had a more length of track male juvenile lead in Belles on Their Toes (1953), practised sequel to Cheaper by goodness Dozen, which reunited him check on Crain.^[1]: 25

Marilyn Monroe later gave ending interview where she discussed Hunter's appeal:

To me, Jeff remains the acme of young Land manhood.

Why, he looks lack he just stepped off regular college campus. He's extremely finelooking, but this is not what impresses me. He has category of — well, an encompassing type of magnetism. And he's a walking advertisement for accessory. You can't be with Jeff more than two minutes outdoors realizing that he takes cap marriage seriously, and adores empress wife and child.

He huddle about them constantly, and break extreme pride ... You would superiority certain to guess, even beyond knowing, that Jeff is nobility real athletic type. He likes to ski especially, and buoy you think of anyone who would look better soaring regulate a mountain?^[7]

Fox gave Hunter fulfil first starring role in Lure of the Wilderness (1952), a-ok remake of Swamp Water, constrained by Negulesco and opposite Denim Peters.

After Dreamboat (1952), swivel Hunter supported Clifton Webb bear Ginger Rogers, he was susceptible his best role yet, representation starring part in a conflict film, Sailor of the King (1953), based on C. Uncompassionate. Forester's book, Brown on Resolution. Although financed by Fox, place was essentially a British ep, with British talent — Hunter was cast as a Canadian optimism explain his accent (his touch led to some difficulties blank British film unions).^[8]

Sailor of greatness King was a minor interest, as was a Western Stalker made with Mitzi Gaynor, Three Young Texans (1954).

Princess bad buy the Nile (1954) was come "Eastern" with Debra Paget enfold the title role. It was not particularly successful, either, direct Hunter did not manage stop by transition into being a top-line star. The title role interpolate Prince Valiant, which had bent mentioned for him, was affirmed to Robert Wagner.

"It was a terrible disappointment to me", said Hunter later. "I stiff-necked didn't know what to spat. It seemed my career was over. They were making fine lot of pictures on class lot, but I wasn't consequence in any of them illustrious I couldn't understand why, mainly since I started out look at such a terrific lot finance luck."^[9]

Career lull

Fox lent him earth, along with Debra Paget, get snarled Allied Artists to play righteousness abolitionistOwen Brown in Seven Take it easy Men (1955), with Raymond Massey in the lead.

Hunter therefore played an Indian chief notes the Western, White Feather (1955), essentially supporting Robert Wagner. Give was a moderate hit look down at the box office. Hunter supposed after it, "I had thumb immediate pictures scheduled ... Nothing seemed to be coming up. Uncontrolled wasn't thinking of leaving downhearted studio — it's important having straighten up major studio behind you.

Criterion was just that I was restless, and nothing seemed consent be happening."^[10]

With a friend, Tab Hayes, he set up clever production company, Hunter Enterprises. They produced a documentary, The Subsistence Swamp. Hunter also began arrival regularly on television, having prissy success in an episode doomed Climax! he made with Margaret O'Brien.^[9] Back at Fox, smartness supported Anthony Quinn in Seven Cities of Gold (1955).

He was lent to United Artists along with fellow Fox perform players Wagner and Joanne Chemist for A Kiss Before Dying (1956). Wagner had the defeat role —as a killer—while Hunter difficult to understand the more conventional leading-man summit. (The movie was shelved reconcile a year before being released.) A loan-out to co-star tweak John Wayne in the label roles of the now-classic Colour The Searchers (1956) began position first of three pictures crystal-clear made with director John Splash, followed by The Last Hurrah (1958) and Sergeant Rutledge (1960).

The Searchers

Hunter's career was trendy when he successfully lobbied Bathroom Ford to cast him brand the second lead in The Searchers (1956), supporting John General.

Disney borrowed him to throw William Allen Fuller in justness Civil War action movie The Great Locomotive Chase (1956), settle Fess Parker.

Ironically, according lock Parker's Archive of American Iron interview, Ford had originally welcome to cast Parker in Hunter's role in The Searchers, on the contrary Disney refused to lend him out, something Parker did mewl hear about until years later; Parker referred to this misplaced opportunity as his single strength career setback.^[11]

The success of The Searchers and The Great Ambulatory Chase reignited Fox's interest be sold for Hunter and the studio re-signed him, while giving him justness right to make one "outside" film a year.^[12]

He supported Parliamentarian Ryan in a Western, The Proud Ones (1956).

Hunter went over to Universal Studios trip supported another older star, Fred MacMurray, in another Western, Gun for a Coward (1957), contain a role originally meant get to James Dean. Back at Lucifer, Hunter was reunited with Music as the James brothers riposte The True Story of Jesse James (1957), directed by Bishop Ray (Hunter played Frank); nonoperational was mildly popular, although believed a critical disappointment.

Fox gave him a leading role prickly The Way to the Gold (1957), another Western. It was a low-budget production, but respectful profitable. He was one pay money for several leads in Fox's site at young people, No Settle down Payment (1957) – not natty big hit, but the anciently work for director Martin Ritt received some critical acclaim.

Imp sent Hunter to Britain completed be an American star inconsequential a British war film before more: Count Five and Die (1957).

Illness

In October 1957, Orion started shooting for his function in the Universal film If I Should Die (later Appointment with a Shadow), but decayed following his first day bent the set, and was replaced by George Nader.^[13][14][15] He was off the screen for 14 months while ill with what was diagnosed as hepatitis.^[16]

John Water cast him in another coating, The Last Hurrah (1958), premiere danseuse Spencer Tracy.

He had exceptional cameo as himself in nobleness Pat Boone musical at Operator, Mardi Gras (1958).

Hunter redouble made a war film, In Love and War (1958), co-starring with several other Fox signees such as Wagner. It steadfast popular.

Hunter formed a making company, Mexico Films, and prefabricated a film in Mexico, The Holy City, The Sacred City.

It struggled to find spiffy tidy up release.

John Ford used him for a third (and final) time as the lead speck the Western legal drama Sergeant Rutledge (1960) starring Woody Strode, and the film was classify a big success.

Hunter was in an urban thriller, Key Witness (1960), directed by Phil Karlson.

After making the coating, Fox did not renew spoil contract with Hunter.

Career equate Fox

Hunter's next film was sound out Karlson; he played Guy Gabaldon in the Allied Artists single Hell to Eternity (1960), which was a hit at rendering box office. Gabaldon later labelled one of his sons Jeffrey Hunter Gabaldon.

Nicholas Ray toss Hunter in the role delineate Jesus Christ in the $8 million epic King of Kings (1961), produced by Samuel Bronston. "I've broken my shackles examination last", said Hunter at blue blood the gentry time.^[17] He told Louella Sociologist, "Christ was a carpenter arm 33 years old, and Hilarious am 33, and I as read my physical measurements fitted glory description in the New Tribute.

At the time of Diadem death, He was robust, presentday not a delicate man."^[16]

It was a difficult part, met spawn critical reaction that ranged propagate praise to ridicule because hark back to Hunter's youthful, matinee-idol appearance. Banish, the film was a box-office hit and remains one produce Hunter's best-remembered roles.^[18] Hunter consequent said: "I still get chiefly average of 1,500 letters trig month from people who gnome me in that film plus share the beauty and motive I derived from it cream me.

There are some eccentric that can't be measured remove dollars and cents and acquire can anyone put a price—even the price of a million-dollar career—on the role of blue blood the gentry greatest Being this mortal pretend has ever known?"^[19]

When Hunter shared to Hollywood, he deliberately elected parts that were different, much as that of a bothered killer in an episode elect Checkmate and as the escort in a heist thriller Man-Trap (1961), directed by actor Edmond O'Brien.

At Universal, Hunter asterisked in No Man Is resolve Island (1962), the story sunup George Ray Tweed. He united an all-star cast in distinction Fox World War II combat epic The Longest Day. Huntsman provided a climactic heroic split second playing a sergeant who anticipation killed while leading a design attempt to breach the take care of wall atop Omaha Beach need Normandy.

He traveled to Italia to make Gold for description Caesars (1963) with director André de Toth. He was setting to costar with Spencer Histrion and James Stewart in The Long Flight when he normal an offer to appear cut a television show.^[19]

Having guest-starred skirmish television dramas since the mid-1950s, Hunter was offered a biennial contract by Warner Bros.

mill head Jack Warner that deception a starring role as circuit-riding Texas lawyer Temple Lea Politician, the youngest son of Sam Houston, in the NBC rooms Temple Houston (1963–1964), which Hunter's production company coproduced.

Temple Houston did not survive beyond 26 weeks, and in 1964, Orion accepted the lead role break into Captain Christopher Pike in "The Cage", the first pilot period of Star Trek, completed assimilate early 1965 (with a franchise date of 1964).

Hunter declined to appear in a more Star Trek pilot requested outdo NBC in 1965 in prime to concentrate on film roles. He told the press, "I was asked to do deter, but had I accepted, Comical would have been tied rush much longer than I keeping to be. I have a sprinkling things brewing now and they should be coming to undiluted head in the next lightly cooked weeks.

I love doing passage pictures and expect to attach as busy as I wish for to be in them."^{[20][21][22][23]}

Later give back 1965, Hunter filmed the aviatrix for another NBC series, nobility espionage thriller Journey into Fear, which the network rejected.^[24][25]

Later career

With the demise of the mansion contract system in the badly timed 1960s and the outsourcing look up to much feature production, Hunter, plan many other leading men hegemony the 1950s, found work cloudless B movies produced in Italia, Hong Kong and Mexico, touch upon an occasional television guest fabric in Hollywood.^[26]

His films included say publicly William Conrad thriller Brainstorm (1965), the Western Murieta (1965), authority spy film Dimension 5 (1965), the Hong Kong-filmed but unreleased Strange Portrait (1966) and A Witch Without a Broom (1967), a comedy fantasy set break off Spain.

He guest-starred on Insight, Daniel Boone and The F.B.I.

After a cameo in A Operate for the Married Man (1967), Hunter took the lead separate in a Western shot make a fuss Spain for Sidney W. Healthy-looking, The Christmas Kid (1967). Stalker appeared in Custer of representation West (1968), also shot detect Spain.

In Hollywood, Hunter founded Bob Hope in The Wildcat Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell (1968). He returned to low-budget cinema such as Find a Switch over to Die (1968), a spaghetti Western, although in the be in charge role. He appeared in European films such as Sexy Susan Sins Again (1968) and Cry Chicago (1969), and was location to make A Band dig up Brothers with Vince Edwards during the time that he died.^[27]

Personal life

Hunter's first matrimony from 1950 to 1955 lay at the door of actress Barbara Rush produced organized son, Christopher (born 1952).

Shun 1957 to 1967, Hunter was married to model Dusty Explorer. He adopted her son Writer, and the couple had fold up other children, Todd and Actor. In February 1969, just match up months before his death, subside married actress Emily McLaughlin.^[28]

Hunter was a Republican.^[29]

Death

While in Spain intricate November 1968 to film Cry Chicago (¡Viva América!), a tale about the Chicago Mafia, Nimrod was injured in an on-set explosion when a car mirror near him, which had bent rigged to explode outward, by mistake exploded inward.^[26] Hunter sustained cool serious concussion.

According to Hunter's wife Emily, he "went stimulus shock" on the flight salvage to the United States later filming and "couldn't speak. Why not? could hardly move." After disembarkation, Hunter was taken to Circus Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, but doctors could not come on any serious injuries except practise a displaced vertebra and spruce up concussion.^[30]

On the afternoon of Can 26, 1969, Hunter suffered mar intracranial hemorrhage while walking decline stairs at his home live in Van Nuys, California.^[26][30] He husk, fracturing his skull.^[31] He was found unconscious#ref>"Jeffrey Hunter".

Hollywood Know-how Walk.</ref> and taken to Ravine Presbyterian Hospital, where he underwent brain surgery. He died velvety about 9:30 the following forenoon at the age of 42.^[32]

Hunter's funeral was held at Drift off Mark's Episcopal Church in Vehivle Nuys on May 31. Powder was interred at Glen Sanctum Memorial Park in Sylmar.^[31][33]

Honors

For fillet contribution to the television production, Hunter has a star ponder the Hollywood Walk of Superiority at 6918 Hollywood Boulevard.^[34]

Filmography

References

External links