Jeffrey Hunter was a talented and handsome actor who starred in many films and TV shows, such as The Searchers, King of Kings, and the original pilot of Star Trek. He had a promising career ahead of him, but his life was cut short by a fatal head injury at the age of 42. How did Jeffrey Hunter die? What were the circumstances of his tragic accident? This article will explore the cause and date of Jeffrey Hunter’s death, as well as his legacy and achievements.
Early Life and Career
Jeffrey Hunter was born Henry Herman McKinnies Jr. on November 25, 1926, in New Orleans, Louisiana. His family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when he was a child, where he developed an interest in acting and sports. He graduated from Whitefish Bay High School in 1945 and joined the United States Navy during World War II. He did not see any combat duty due to a foot injury he sustained in high school football
After the war, he attended Northwestern University, where he majored in radio and drama. He also appeared in several stage and radio productions, including a version of Julius Caesar with a young Charlton Heston. He graduated from Northwestern in 1949 and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a master’s degree in radio at UCLA. He also started his film career with a small role in Fourteen Hours (1951)
He soon caught the attention of 20th Century Fox, who signed him to a contract and changed his name to Jeffrey Hunter. He appeared in many films for the studio, such as Belles on Their Toes (1952), Sailor of the King (1953), and Princess of the Nile (1954). He also married actress Barbara Rush in 1950, with whom he had a son, Christopher. They divorced in 1955
Hunter’s breakthrough role came in 1956, when he played Martin Pawley, the adopted nephew of John Wayne’s character, in the classic western The Searchers, directed by John Ford. The film was a critical and commercial success and established Hunter as a leading man. He went on to star in other films, such as The Last Hurrah (1958), The Proud Ones (1956), and Hell to Eternity (1960). He also remarried in 1957 to Joan Bartlett, with whom he had three more children: Todd, Scott, and Steele
Star Trek and King of Kings
One of Hunter’s most memorable roles was as Captain Christopher Pike, the original commander of the USS Enterprise, in the pilot episode of Star Trek, titled “The Cage”. The episode was filmed in 1964, but was rejected by NBC for being too cerebral and complex. The network ordered a second pilot, with a different cast and a new captain, James T. Kirk, played by William Shatner. Hunter declined to reprise his role as Pike, preferring to focus on his film career
“The Cage” was later re-edited and incorporated into a two-part episode of Star Trek, titled “The Menagerie”, in 1966. In this episode, Pike was shown as a severely injured and mute former captain, who was rescued by his loyal first officer, Mr. Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy. Hunter’s footage from “The Cage” was used as flashbacks to show Pike’s previous adventures. Hunter received credit for his original performance, but did not appear in any new scenes
Another notable role that Hunter played was as Jesus Christ in the 1961 film King of Kings, directed by Nicholas Ray. The film was a lavish and epic retelling of the life and death of Jesus, with Hunter portraying him from his baptism to his crucifixion. The film received mixed reviews, with some critics praising Hunter’s performance and others finding it bland and unconvincing. Hunter himself was proud of the role, but also feared that it would typecast him as a religious figure
Death and Legacy
In 1967, Hunter divorced his second wife, Joan, and moved to Spain, where he continued to work in films, mostly in the spaghetti western genre. He also met his third wife, Emily McLaughlin, an actress best known for her role as Jessie Brewer on the soap opera General Hospital. They married in February 1969
In November 1968, Hunter was filming a movie called Cry Chicago in Spain, when he was injured in an on-set explosion. A car window that was supposed to explode outward, accidentally exploded inward, hitting Hunter in the head and causing a severe concussion. He was taken to a hospital, but was released after a few days. He flew back to Los Angeles, but suffered from shock and speech problems during the flight. He was admitted to Good Samaritan Hospital, where doctors found a displaced vertebra and a concussion, but no other serious injuries. He was discharged after a week
On May 26, 1969, Hunter was at his home in Van Nuys, California, when he suffered an intracranial hemorrhage, a bleeding inside the skull. He fell down a three-stair set of steps, knocked over a planter, and hit his head on the railing, fracturing his skull. He was found unconscious by his friend and fellow actor, Frank Bellow, who came to visit him. He was rushed to Valley Presbyterian Hospital, where he underwent brain surgery. He died the next morning, on May 27, 1969, at the age of 42
His funeral was held at St Mark’s Episcopal Church in Van Nuys on May 31. He was buried at Glen Haven Memorial Park in Sylmar, California. He was survived by his wife, Emily, and his four children
Jeffrey Hunter was a talented and versatile actor, who starred in many genres and mediums. He left behind a legacy of memorable performances, especially in The Searchers, King of Kings, and Star Trek. He was also a devoted father and husband, who loved his family and friends. He died too young, but his work lives on in the hearts of his fans and admirers.
