Life and career

Hunt was born in Pasadena, California, the son of Gertrude (née Orphüls) and George Smith Hunt II, a Minnesota-born industrial designer. Hunt began his career as a lighting designer at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in 1958. He became Artistic Director in 1989, a post he held until 1995. In 1969, he helmed the Broadway musical 1776, winning the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for his efforts. His next project, Georgy, was less successful, closing after only four performances. He received a second Tony nomination for Goodtime Charley in 1975. His most recent Broadway project was The Scarlet Pimpernel in 1997. He has since directed several benefit shows for the Actors Fund in Los Angeles, including staged readings of Sunset Boulevard and Casablanca.

Hunt's feature film credits include the screen adaptation of 1776 and Give 'em Hell, Harry!. He has directed numerous television movies, including four based on the Hart to Hart series, Dead Man's Island starring Barbara Eden and episodes of Baywatch, Baywatch Nights, and Touched by an Angel, among others. He was producer-director of four of the feature adaptations in the Peabody Award-winning Mark Twain Series on PBS including Life on the Mississippi and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Hunt is the uncle of actress Helen Hunt, through his half-brother, director Gordon Hunt. He resides in Los Angeles, California. He is married to former actress Barbette Tweed, daughter of lawyer/civic leader Harrison Tweed. The couple have three children.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]