Biography
Who is Linda Hunt?
Early life and education
Born Lydia Susanna Hunt in Morristown, New Jersey, Linda Hunt grew up in the town of Westport, Connecticut. Her father, Raymond Davy Hunt, served as a vice president for a fuel oil company. Her mother, Elsie Doying Hunt, worked as a piano teacher and frequently performed with a local church choir. Linda has one older sister named Marcia who was born in 1940.
As a student, Linda Hunt attended the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. Following her time there, she pursued further artistic training at the Goodman School of Drama, which is located at the Art Institute of Chicago and is now part of DePaul University. During her teenage years, medical professionals diagnosed her with hypopituitary dwarfism.
Stage and screen career
Before transitioning to television and film, Linda Hunt established herself as a well-known live-stage actress. She made her Broadway debut in 1975 during a revival of the play Ah, Wilderness. Throughout her theater career, she appeared in various productions including Top Girls and a staging of Hamlet at the Long Wharf Theatre Company. She also received a Tony Award nomination for her performance in the 1984 play End of the World.
Her film debut occurred in 1980 when she played the character Mrs. Oxheart in the musical comedy Popeye. Two years later, she gained international attention for portraying Billy Kwan in the film The Year of Living Dangerously. This performance earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, making her the first person to win an Oscar for playing a character of the opposite sex. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, she appeared in numerous films such as Dune, Kindergarten Cop, and the animated film Pocahontas.
Television work and voice acting
Linda Hunt has maintained a consistent presence on television throughout her professional life. She held recurring roles on series such as The Practice, where she played Judge Zoey Hiller, and the science fiction show Space Rangers. From 2009 until 2023, she starred as Operations Manager Henrietta Hetty Lange on the CBS police procedural drama NCIS: Los Angeles. Her work on this series earned her two Teen Choice Awards.
Beyond live-action performance, she is widely recognized for her distinct voice. She has provided narration for numerous documentaries and projects, including the Ancient Greek mythology themed God of War video game series. Also, she served as the host for City Arts and Lectures, a radio program recorded at the Nourse Theater in San Francisco. Her voice work also includes roles in the animated series Pocahontas and the television show Carnivale.
Personal life and height
Linda Hunt stands at 145 centimeters tall. She has been in a relationship with psychotherapist Karen Kline since 1978, and the couple married in 2008. Beyond her acting career, she serves as an ambassador for the Best Friends Animal Society.
In July 2018, she was involved in a multi-car accident in Los Angeles. This event required her to take a leave of absence from her work on the television series NCIS: Los Angeles for nearly one year as she recovered from the incident.
Birthday and age
Linda Hunt was born on April 2, 1945, which makes Linda 81 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aries sign. Linda shares the date with 37 other famous people.
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