Helen Hunt: Biography, Movies & Photos — RecapFlicks
ActressDirectorProducer
Helen Hunt
Born June 15, 1963 in Culver City, California, USA
Helen Hunt began studying acting at the age of eight with her father, respected director and acting coach Gordon Hunt. A year later she made her professional debut and afterwards worked steadily in films, theatre and television.
Helen Hunt began studying acting at the age of eight with her father, respected director and acting coach Gordon Hunt. A year later she made her professional debut and afterwards worked steadily in films, theatre and television.
Filmography
19 titles
Known for
Friends1994
Cast Away
2000
The Simpsons1989
As Good as It Gets1997
Twister1996
What Women Want2000
Hacks2021 · TV Seriesas Winnie Landell
8.3
I See You2019 · Movieas Jackie Harper
6.8
Feud2017 · TV SeriesDirector
8.2
This Is Us2016 · TV SeriesDirector
8.7
The Sessions2012 · Movieas Cheryl
7.2
Revenge2011 · TV SeriesDirector
7.8
Soul Surfer2011 · Movieas Cheri Hamilton
7
Californication2007 · TV SeriesDirector
8.3
Bobby2006 · Movieas Samantha
6.9
The Curse of the Jade Scorpion2001 · Movieas Betty Ann Fitzgerald
6.7
Photos
594 total
Showing 20 of 594 photos
Trivia
1The daughter of Gordon Hunt (b. 1929) and Jane Elizabeth Novis (b. 1938), Helen Hunt is the stepdaughter of B.J. Ward and niece of Peter H. Hunt and Barbette Tweed. Maternal niece of James Novis (b. 1941) and Catherine Fries (b. 1961), a dancer. Maternal granddaughter of Edward Novis (1902-1944) and Dorothy Novis (1915-2011).
Hunt's paternal great-grandparents were Gustav Rothenberg (1857-1910; born in Germany) and Florence Scholle (1863-1949; born in California). Her paternal grandparents were George Hunt (1895-1996) and Helen (Rothenberg) Roberts (1899-1935). Her paternal grandmother was from a German Jewish family, while her three other grandparents were of English descent. Her maternal grandfather, Edward Norman Novis, was from St. Leonards, Hastings, England.
2She and her Mad About You (1992) co-star, Paul Reiser, were both given $1,000,000 per episode salaries for the 1999 TV season.
3Hunt was born and raised in Los Angeles County, graduated from Providence High School (Burbank, California), and, later, very briefly attended UCLA for one month before dropping out.
4Celebrates Thanksgiving every year with Anthony Edwards.
5Hunt did a guest voice role on Dumbbell Indemnity (1998) as Moe's girlfriend, Renee; the voice of Moe is Hank Azaria, Helen's real-life husband at that time.
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6Got the role in Twister (1996) based on her performance in The Waterdance (1992).
7One of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People.
8Got the lead in As Good as It Gets (1997) after Holly Hunter turned it down.
9After divorcing Hank Azaria, she moved to New York, intending to do theater work, especially William Shakespeare.
10Hunt won four Emmys, four Golden Globes, a Blockbuster Award, two Screen Actors Guild awards, four American Comedy Awards, three Viewers for Quality Television Awards and an Oscar, along with other awards. She is only the second actress to win a Golden Globe, an Oscar, and an Emmy in the same calendar year. The first was Liza Minnelli in 1973.
11Her best friend is Helen Slater.
12Witnessed the World Trade Center attacks from the roof of her brand new New York apartment and decided to leave the city right away, but could not get a flight out. She booked a private jet at considerable expense and flew herself and her staff out of Connecticut three days later, the first day they allowed private jets to fly.
13
She appeared in four movies released in the year 2000. Two of them were in theaters at the same time during the end-of-the-year holiday season, and grossed over $150 million each: Cast Away (2000) and What Women Want (2000).
14Beat Teri Hatcher for the role of Jamie Buchman in Mad About You (1992) at the final auditions.
15She and her ex-husband, Hank Azaria, have both guest-starred on the TV show Friends (1994), though not in the same episode.
16Frequents Hawaii, which she first visited when she was 14. Says, "It's where I feel right. I can write here, think, chill and get a clear head.".
17Asked novelist Robert B. Parker to create a female private detective for her to play. The result was Parker's series of novels featuring Sunny Randall.
18Was considered for the part of Carolyn Burnham in American Beauty (1999). However Annette Bening, who went on to receive a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance, was cast instead.
19Despite playing their daughter in Peggy Sue Got Married (1986), Hunt is just 9 years younger than Kathleen Turner and 1 year older than Nicolas Cage.
20Gave birth to her only child at age 40 (daughter Makena Lei Gordon Carnahan) on May 13, 2004. The child's father is Hunt's then-partner, Matthew Carnahan. Makena Lei Gordon Carnahan was conceived via IVF treatment. "Makena Lei" means "many flowers of heaven." The baby's middle name, Gordon, is in honor of Hunt's father, Gordon Hunt. Hunt returned to work in 2006 in order to begin filming and directing Then She Found Me (2007).
