Profile of Arthur Hunnicutt on Famous Like Me

Arthur Hunnicutt (February 17, 1911 – September 26, 1979) was an American actor known for his portorayal of wise grizzled, old rural characters.

A native of Arkansas, Hunnicutt attended Arkansas State Teachers College but dropped out during his junior year when he ran out of money. He moved to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts where he joined up with a theatre company before moving to New York where he quickly found himself landing 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 appeared in a number of films in the early 1940s before returning to the stage. In 1949 he moved back to Hollywood and resumed his film career. He played a long string of supporting role characters – sympathetic, wise rural types.

In 1952 he earned an Oscar nomination for Supporting Actor in the Howard Hawks western The Big Sky.

Throughout the 50s, 60s, and 70s, Hunnicutt made nearly 40 guest appearances on American television programs such as Bonanza and Gunsmoke.

In his later years, Hunnicutt developed tongue cancer. He died in 1979.

Filmography

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