Holly Hunter Biography: Age, Husband, Net Worth, Movies & TV Shows, Height, Parents, Career

Holly Paige Hunter, famously known as Holly Hunter, is an American actress and producer renowned for her dynamic performances in film and television, earning her an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Ada McGrath in The Piano (1993).

With a career spanning over four decades, she has garnered critical acclaim for roles in Broadcast News (1987), The Firm (1993), and Thirteen (2003), securing three additional Oscar nominations.

Known for her distinctive Georgia accent, emotional depth, and ability to portray strong, nuanced characters, Hunter has also starred in the TNT series Saving Grace (2007–2010) and voiced Elastigirl in Pixar’s The Incredibles (2004) and Incredibles 2 (2018).

Profile

• Full Name: Holly Paige Hunter
• Stage Name: Holly Hunter
• Born: 20, March 1958
• Age: 67 years old
• Birthplace: Conyers, Georgia, U.S.
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Actress, Producer
• Height: 1.57m
• Parents: Opal Marguerite Catledge, Charles Edwin Hunter
• Siblings: 6
• Spouse: Janusz Kamiński (m. 1995–2001)
• Boyfriends: Arliss Howard (ex), Gordon MacDonald
• Children: Claude MacDonald, Press MacDonald
• Relationship: Dating
• Net Worth: $16 million

Early Life and Education

Holly Paige Hunter was born on March 20, 1958, in Conyers, Georgia, to Opal Marguerite Catledge, a homemaker, and Charles Edwin Hunter, a farmer and sporting goods representative who owned a 250-acre farm. The youngest of seven children, with one sister and five brothers, Hunter grew up in a lively, supportive household that encouraged her early passion for acting.

She performed as Helen Keller in a fifth-grade play and participated in local theater productions like Oklahoma! and Fiddler on the Roof at Rockdale County High School. After contracting mumps as a child, she lost hearing in her left ear, a challenge she adapted to in her career. Hunter earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama from Carnegie Mellon University in 1980. Her ethnicity is a mix of English, Scottish, and Welsh, and she identifies as irreligious.

Career

Holly Hunter began her acting career in theater, moving to New York City after graduating from Carnegie Mellon. A chance encounter in a stalled elevator with playwright Beth Henley led to her Broadway debut in Henley’s Crimes of the Heart (1981), replacing Mary Beth Hurt, and roles in The Miss Firecracker Contest (1984). Her screen debut came with a small part in the horror film The Burning (1981), followed by supporting roles in Swing Shift (1984) and TV movies.

Her breakthrough arrived in 1987 with the Coen Brothers’ Raising Arizona, where she played Edwina McDunnough, a role written for her, and Broadcast News, earning her first Oscar nomination as the driven news producer Jane Craig.

Hunter’s career peaked in 1993 with her Academy Award-winning performance as a mute pianist in The Piano, where she played her own piano pieces, and a supporting role in The Firm, earning dual Oscar nominations. She won two Primetime Emmys for TV movies Roe vs. Wade (1989) and The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom (1993).

Her versatility shone in diverse films like Crash (1996), O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), and Thirteen (2003), which earned another Oscar nod. She starred as a troubled detective in Saving Grace (2007–2010), receiving Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, and voiced Elastigirl in The Incredibles (2004) and its 2018 sequel, broadening her reach to younger audiences.

Hunter remains a respected figure in Hollywood, with recent roles in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) as Senator Finch, The Big Sick (2017), and a recurring role as CEO Rhea Jarrell in HBO’s Succession (2019). She appeared in the HBO miniseries Here, Now (2018) and Mr. Mayor (2021–2022).

Her ability to portray complex, strong-willed women has inspired actors and filmmakers, and her commitment to diverse roles in both mainstream and indie projects underscores her lasting influence. In 2008, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 2016, Carnegie Mellon awarded her an Honorary Doctorate.

Social Media

• Holly Hunter does not have verified social media handles

Personal Life

Holly Hunter was married to cinematographer Janusz Kamiński from 1995 to 2001, when they divorced due to irreconcilable differences. She was briefly romantically linked with actor Arliss Howard in the early 1990s.

Since 2001, she has been in a relationship with British actor Gordon MacDonald, whom she met during a San Jose Repertory Theatre production of By the Bog of Cats. The couple welcomed twin sons, Claude and Press, in January 2006. Hunter is private about her personal life, focusing on her career and family. She is an advocate for education and the arts, supporting initiatives for underprivileged youth.

Filmography

• The Burning (1981)
• Swing Shift (1984)
• Raising Arizona (1987)
• Broadcast News (1987)
• Roe vs. Wade (1989)
• Always (1989)
• The Piano (1993)
• The Firm (1993)
• The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom (1993)
• Copycat (1995)
• Home for the Holidays (1995)
• Crash (1996)
• O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
• Thirteen (2003)
• The Incredibles (2004)
• Saving Grace (2007–2010)

Net Worth

Holly Hunter has an estimated net worth of $16 million. Her wealth stems from her extensive career in film and television, including high-profile roles in The Piano, Broadcast News, and Saving Grace, where she earned $145,000 per episode.