Actor Jimmy Hunt, who was known for appearing in films such as the original Cheaper By the Dozen, has died at the age of 85, it has been announced
Jimmy Hunt, the former child actor, has sadly died at the age of 85. The news comes just weeks after he suffered a heart attack.
Hunt first made his mark in the 1940s as a child star, featuring in classic films such as the original Cheaper By the Dozen (1950) and Invaders from Mars (1953). He reportedly retired from acting during his teenage years, only to make a comeback in the remake of the latter film.
The announcement of Hunt’s passing was made last week. His daughter-in-law, Alisa Hunt, informed the Hollywood Reporter that Jimmy had experienced a heart attack six weeks prior and passed away on Friday in a hospital in Simi Valley, California.
His early acting credits include roles in Song of Love (1947) and The Mating of Millie (1948). He continued to build his career with appearances in films like Top o’ the Morning (1949), where he shared the screen with Bing Crosby and Ann Blyth in the romantic comedy.
In 1950, Hunt featured in the original Cheaper By the Dozen film, an adaptation of the novel by Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, which hit the shelves two years prior, reports the Mirror.
In the film, Hunt portrayed William Gilbreth, one of 12 children being brought up by a couple in the 1920s. The characters of his parents, Frank Bunker Gilbreth and Lillian Moller Gilbreth, were played by Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy, respectively.
The movie spawned a sequel, Belles on Their Toes, in 1952, based on the novel’s follow-up. Jimmy made a return for the sequel but reportedly played the role of another sibling, Fred Gilbreth, previously portrayed by Anthony Sydes in the first film.
Jimmy gained recognition for his part in the 1953 science fiction film Invaders from Mars, where he played the character David MacLean, a witness to a flying saucer who then notices unusual behaviour from his relatives and neighbours.
Directed by William Cameron Menzies, the film co-starred Arthur Franz as Dr Stuart Kelston and Helena Carter as Dr Patricia Blake. Last year, it earned the title of “indie classic” and secured a spot in the US National Film Registry.
In 1986, more than three decades later, Tobe Hooper directed a remake of Invaders from Mars, with Jimmy, by then retired from acting, making an appearance as a police chief.
During his acting stint, Jimmy also featured in films like Lone Hand, released in 1953, where he shared the screen with Joel McCrea and Barbara Hale, as well as All American, alongside Tony Curtis and Lori Nelson.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, as a teenager, Jimmy stepped away from acting to focus on high school sports and went on to attend college, subsequently serving three years in the army. He then took on the role of sales manager for an industrial tool and supply company.
Tributes have been pouring in on social media following the news of his passing, with one fan taking to X to share a heartfelt message: “I’m grateful to have met Jimmy Hunt two summers ago. A lovely man! I’m so sorry to hear this news.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
