Jeffrey Hunter
Biography
Jeffrey Hunter was an American actor who worked in film and television. Reared in Milwaukee after his birth in New Orleans, he acted in local theater and radio as a teenager. At Northwestern University he appeared in David Bradley's Julius Caesar, and scouts from Paramount and 20th Century Fox noticed him while he acted in a college staging of All My Sons. Fox signed him and changed his name. Early parts in Fourteen Hours (1951) and The Frogmen (1951) gave way to leading roles. He lobbied John Ford for the second lead opposite John Wayne in The Searchers (1956), the first of three Ford pictures with him, then The Last Hurrah (1958) and Sergeant Rutledge (1960). He played Jesus Christ in King of Kings (1961), a box-office hit, and later Captain Christopher Pike in the first Star Trek pilot. Later films included Brainstorm (1965), Custer of the West (1968) and Find a Place to Die (1968).
42years old at death
- Born New Orleans
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
- Also credited as Henry Herman McKinnies Jr.
Movie Career
- Films
- 23
- Career span
- 20 years1951 to 1971
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A role that slipped away
Jeffrey Hunter played Captain Christopher Pike in "The Cage," Star Trek's first pilot, finished in early 1965. When NBC asked for a second pilot in 1965, Hunter turned it down to focus on film roles.
Big break
Hunter's career got a boost when he persuaded John Ford to give him the second lead in The Searchers (1956), a part alongside John Wayne.
Jeffrey Hunter movies on Netflix
Directed by John Ford
Find a Place to Dieas Joe Collins
The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrellas Lt. (J.G.) Lyman P. Jones
Custer of the Westas Captain Benteen
Dimension 5as Justin Power
Brainstormas Jim Grayam
Murietaas Joaquín Murrieta
Uncle Tom's Cabin
King of Kingsas Jesus
Man-Trapas Matt Jameson
Hell to Eternityas Guy Gabaldon
Sergeant Rutledgeas Lt. Tom Cantrell
The Last Hurrahas Adam Caulfield
No Down Paymentas David Martin
The True Story of Jesse Jamesas Frank James
A Kiss Before Dyingas Gordon Grant
The Great Locomotive Chaseas William A. Fuller
The Proud Onesas Thad Anderson
The Searchersas Martin Pawley
White Featheras Little Dog
Sailor of the Kingas Signalman Andrew 'Canada' Brown
Fourteen Hoursas Danny Klempner
The Frogmenas Pappy Creighton
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
John Ford directed three of these films, Nicholas Ray two and Robert D. Webb two. Robert Wagner appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.









Films together
Robert Wagner4 films together, 1951 to 1957
Robert Wagner's page The True Story of Jesse James1957IMDb rating 6.2Hunter as Frank JamesWagner as Jesse James
A Kiss Before Dying1956IMDb rating 6.7Hunter as Gordon GrantWagner as Bud Corliss
White Feather1955IMDb rating 6.4Hunter as Little DogWagner as Josh Tanner
The Frogmen1951IMDb rating 6.5Hunter as Pappy CreightonWagner as Lt. (jg) Franklin
Harry Carey Jr.3 films together, 1956 to 1971
Harry Carey Jr.'s page Directed by John Ford1971IMDb rating 7.7Carey as Himself
The Great Locomotive Chase1956IMDb rating 6.8Hunter as William A. FullerCarey as William Bensinger
The Searchers1956IMDb rating 7.8Hunter as Martin PawleyCarey as Brad Jorgensen
Robert Ryan3 films together, 1956 to 1967
Robert Ryan's page Custer of the West1967IMDb rating 5.8Hunter as Captain BenteenRyan as Mulligan
King of Kings1961IMDb rating 7.0Hunter as JesusRyan as John the Baptist
The Proud Ones1956IMDb rating 6.9Hunter as Thad AndersonRyan as Marshal Cass Silver
John Carradine2 films together, 1957 to 1958
John Carradine's page The Last Hurrah1958IMDb rating 7.3Hunter as Adam CaulfieldCarradine as Amos Force
The True Story of Jesse James1957IMDb rating 6.2Hunter as Frank JamesCarradine as Rev. Jethro Bailey
John Wayne2 films together, 1956 to 1971
John Wayne's page Directed by John Ford1971IMDb rating 7.7Wayne as Self (1969)
The Searchers1956IMDb rating 7.8Hunter as Martin PawleyWayne as Ethan Edwards
Ward Bond2 films together, 1956 to 1971
Ward Bond's page Directed by John Ford1971IMDb rating 7.7
The Searchers1956IMDb rating 7.8Hunter as Martin PawleyBond as Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston Clayton
John FordDirector, 3 films, 1956 to 1960
All films by John Ford Sergeant Rutledge1960IMDb rating 7.4Hunter as Lt. Tom Cantrell
The Last Hurrah1958IMDb rating 7.3Hunter as Adam Caulfield
The Searchers1956IMDb rating 7.8Hunter as Martin Pawley
Nicholas RayDirector, 2 films, 1957 to 1961
All films by Nicholas Ray King of Kings1961IMDb rating 7.0Hunter as Jesus
The True Story of Jesse James1957IMDb rating 6.2Hunter as Frank James
Robert D. WebbDirector, 2 films, 1955 to 1956
All films by Robert D. Webb The Proud Ones1956IMDb rating 6.9Hunter as Thad Anderson
White Feather1955IMDb rating 6.4Hunter as Little Dog
Also two films together18 more actors
- Richard WidmarkDirected by John Ford (1971) and The Frogmen (1951)
- Agnes MooreheadThe True Story of Jesse James (1957) and Fourteen Hours (1951)
- Dana AndrewsBrainstorm (1965) and The Frogmen (1951)
- Robert AdlerThe Proud Ones (1956) and The Frogmen (1951)
- Willis BoucheySergeant Rutledge (1960) and The Last Hurrah (1958)
- Viveca LindforsBrainstorm (1965) and King of Kings (1961)
- Chuck RobersonSergeant Rutledge (1960) and The Great Locomotive Chase (1956)
- Joanne WoodwardNo Down Payment (1957) and A Kiss Before Dying (1956)
- Carleton YoungSergeant Rutledge (1960) and The Last Hurrah (1958)
- Frank AlbertsonMan-Trap (1961) and The Last Hurrah (1958)
- David JanssenMan-Trap (1961) and Hell to Eternity (1960)
- Bill WalkerDimension 5 (1966) and A Kiss Before Dying (1956)
- Debra PagetWhite Feather (1955) and Fourteen Hours (1951)
- Mylène DemongeotThe Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell (1968) and Uncle Tom's Cabin (1965)
- Ken CurtisThe Last Hurrah (1958) and The Searchers (1956)
- Ruth CliffordSergeant Rutledge (1960) and The Searchers (1956)
- Patricia OwensHell to Eternity (1960) and No Down Payment (1957)
- Virginia LeithA Kiss Before Dying (1956) and White Feather (1955)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.


