For the past 40 years, Linda has worked in theatre, film, television, and video games.
Theatre
Years before her first appearance on TV and film, the actress was a familiar face on Broadway. Her most notable achievements on stage include:
- 1975: made her debut in Ah, Wilderness.
- 1983: played a middle-aged career woman in Top Girls. Her performance earned her an ensemble Obie Award.
- 1984: played Audrey Wood in End of the World. Her performance earned her a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play.
- 1984: played the main character in Mother Courage and Her Children.
- 1985: played the lead role in Aunt Dan and Lemon.
As a member of Connecticut’s Long Wharf Theatre Company, Hunt took part in many more plays.
Film
Hunt was catapulted to fame by her film roles. Her first appearance in a film was in Popeye, a musical comedy. It did not take long before she landed roles in other films.
- 1982: played Billy Kwan in The Year of Living Dangerously. Her portrayal of the male photographer character earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She was the first actress to win an award for playing a character of the opposite gender.
Although this was an Australian film, it was the first of its kind to be financed by an American studio. Hunter was not the first choice for the role; she was contacted after David Atkins failed to click with Mel Gibson, the movie’s lead.
- 1989: played Hooper in She-Devil.
- 1990: played Miss Schlowski in Kindergarten Cop.
- 1991: played Ilsa Grunt in If Looks Could Kill.
To date, the award-winning actress has had roles in many more movies, including Stranger Than Fiction (2006), A Lot Like Love (2005), Dragonfly (2002), The Relic (1997), Twenty Bucks (1993) and Rain Without Thunder (1993).
Television
Linda has appeared in The Practice and Without a Trace. However, she is best known for her portrayal of Henrietta Lange in NCIS: LA from 2009 to date. Viewers who enjoy watching Linda Hunt NCIS will notice that her stature, signature bob, and deep voice are characteristic of her TV persona.
Voice-overs
This talented actress has done voice-overs for animated films such as Pocahontas; TV shows such as Carnivale and the God of War video games. She has also narrated numerous documentaries.
