Arthur Hunnicutt Cause of Death: How the Oscar-Nominated Actor Lost His Battle with Cancer

Arthur Hunnicutt was a talented and versatile actor who appeared in many Western films and television shows in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. He was best known for his Oscar-nominated performance as Zeb Calloway in The Big Sky (1952), as well as his roles as Davy Crockett in The Last Command (1955) and Butch Cassidy in Cat Ballou (1965). He also played memorable characters in The Red Badge of Courage (1951), The Lusty Men (1952), The Kettles in the Ozarks (1955), The Tall T (1957), El Dorado (1966), and The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin (1967). He was also a frequent guest star on popular TV shows such as Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Outer Limits, The Rifleman, Wanted: Dead or Alive, The Andy Griffith Show, The Wild Wild West, Adam-12, and The Twilight Zone.

Early Life and Career of Arthur Hunnicutt

Arthur Lee Hunnicutt was born on February 17, 1910, in Gravelly, Arkansas. He attended the University of Central Arkansas and Arkansas State Teachers College, but dropped out when he ran out of money. He joined a theatre company in Massachusetts, then moved to New York City, where he worked in the laundry at the Algonquin Hotel for 17 months, then landed roles in Broadway productions. While touring as the lead actor in Tobacco Road, he developed the country character he would later be typecast as throughout his career. Hunnicutt often found himself cast as a character much older than himself.

Hunnicutt’s first film was Wildcat (1942). He appeared in a number of films in the early 1940s, then returned to the stage. In 1949 he returned to Hollywood and resumed his film career. He played a long string of supporting roles—sympathetic, wise rural types, as in The Red Badge of Courage (1951), The Lusty Men (1952), The Kettles in the Ozarks (1955), The Last Command (1955, as Davy Crockett ), The Tall T (1957), Cat Ballou (1965, as Butch Cassidy ), El Dorado (1966) and The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin . In 1952, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in the Howard Hawks film The Big Sky.

Arthur Hunnicutt’s Illness and Death

Hunnicutt was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue in the late 1970s. He underwent surgery and radiation therapy, but the disease spread to his throat and lungs. He continued to work until his health deteriorated. His last film was Winterhawk (1975), and his last TV appearance was on Nakia (1974).

On September 26, 1979, Hunnicutt died of cancer at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital at age 69. He was buried in the Coop Prairie Cemetery in Mansfield, Arkansas. His wife Pauline “Pebbles” Lile, whom he married in 1940 and had one child with, was his sole survivor.

Arthur Hunnicutt was a beloved actor who left behind a legacy of memorable performances. He was praised for his naturalistic and authentic portrayal of old, wise, grizzled rural characters. He was also known for his warm and friendly personality off-screen. He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contribution to the film industry

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