Kim Hunter

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Birthday:

12 November 1922, Detroit, Michigan, USA

Birth Name:

Janet Cole

Height:

161 cm

Her father, Donald Cole, was a consulting engineer, and died in 1926 when Kim was only 3 years old. Her mother, Grace Lind, once performed as a concert pianist. She had one brother who was eight years older than she, and she was educated at Miami Beach High.According to an in-depth article on Kim Hunter by Joseph Collura in the October 2009 issue of "Classic Images", Kim was quiet and painfully shy as a child and overcame it through the guidance of a local dramatics teacher, a Mrs. Carmine. Included were diction, voice and posture lessons.She studied at the Actors Studio and her first professional appearance was as "Penny" in "Penny Wise" in Miami in November 1939. Then, she joined a repertory group called "Theatre of Fifteen", but it disbanded in 1942 when WWII took away most of its male members.She made her Broadway debut performance as "Stella" in "A Streetcar Named Desire" at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York, in December 1947 that was the 1947-1948 season's success and for which she won the Critics Circle and Donaldson awards.A one-time student of the Pasadena Playhouse, she was appearing in the 1942 production of "Arsenic and Old Lace" when she was discovered by an RKO talent hunter who signed her to a seven-year contract for David O. Selznick's company. Selznick suggested she change her first name to "Kim" and a RKO secretary suggested the last name of "Hunter". A few years later, Irene Mayer Selznick, David's ex-wife by then, recommended Kim for her reprise role of "Stella" in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), for which she won an Oscar. Show less «

[about her "blacklisting"] For a long while, I wouldn't talk about it at all. I do now, because there's a whole new generation that doesn't ...Show more »

[about her "blacklisting"] For a long while, I wouldn't talk about it at all. I do now, because there's a whole new generation that doesn't remember. And the more one knows, the more one can see, and not allow history to repeat itself. Show less «

[on being known as an actress rather than a star] That's fairly accurate, I think, for a great number of us. Becoming a star wouldn't have b...Show more »

[on being known as an actress rather than a star] That's fairly accurate, I think, for a great number of us. Becoming a star wouldn't have bothered me, but what is a star? A star isn't anything. An actor acts. That's the important thing. Show less «

[about Marlon Brando] The great thing about Marlon is his incredible sense of truth--he may make some bad choices in the roles he does, but ...Show more »

[about Marlon Brando] The great thing about Marlon is his incredible sense of truth--he may make some bad choices in the roles he does, but the one thing he cannot be is false. I think that's why he didn't like acting very much, because it always drew up painful things from within him about his life that he then transferred to his character. But to work with that great sense of truth was simply wonderful. Show less «

[about her Oscar-winning role in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)] It was not at all certain I would do the movie. As a matter of fact, I had...Show more »

[about her Oscar-winning role in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)] It was not at all certain I would do the movie. As a matter of fact, I had to test for it twice. First, I did a film test in New York with Elia Kazan. Then I got a call telling me to come to California for another test. They weren't happy with my hair. Vivien Leigh was going to wear a blonde wig, and for some reason they wanted me to be blonde as well--as if sisters always have the same hair color. So I bleached my hair and got the part. Later Kazan said to me, "There was no way I was going to direct the film with anybody else but you playing Stella". Show less «

[on Marlon Brando] An absolutely gorgeous actor! And a beautiful human being... Also: he dearest, most thoughtful, considerate human being I...Show more »

[on Marlon Brando] An absolutely gorgeous actor! And a beautiful human being... Also: he dearest, most thoughtful, considerate human being I've ever met. Wild sense of humor; practical joker, no end. An extraordinary human being, no question! Show less «

[on Vivien Leigh] Vivien was an incredibly charming woman!When she spoke to you - to anybody - you were the only person in the world.

[on Bette Davis] I love Bette. What a dame! Absolutely straight on - no nonsense!

[on her blacklisting] I was never a Communist or even a pro-Communist, but I was very pro-civil rights, and I signed a lot of petitions. I t...Show more »

[on her blacklisting] I was never a Communist or even a pro-Communist, but I was very pro-civil rights, and I signed a lot of petitions. I think my big "Sin" was agreeing to be a sponsor of a (1949) World Peace Conference held in New York during the time I was in "Streetcar." I never actually attended it, but "Life" magazine came out with a big picture spread of all the (Gcelebrity) sponsors - I was in mighty good company - and I think this fanned the flames." Show less «

[In a 1986 interview] As a child, I considered being a concert pianist. At 11, I decided to be a writer. Then a drama teacher moved nearby. ...Show more »

[In a 1986 interview] As a child, I considered being a concert pianist. At 11, I decided to be a writer. Then a drama teacher moved nearby. I d always loved the movies, and I asked to take some acting lessons. Show less «

[on "Lilith" in a 1986 interview] The tensions on the set contributed to his (Rossen's) death. I don't think I want to talk about it. Since ...Show more »

[on "Lilith" in a 1986 interview] The tensions on the set contributed to his (Rossen's) death. I don't think I want to talk about it. Since then, Warren has grown so; at that time, he wasn't ready to be a star. He knew it and was scared! In rehearsal, he'd be great. The closer he got to the camera, the more he'd retreat. He'd cut half his lines, which made Warren interesting and the rest of us talky as hell! He gave Jean no help whatsoever. She was damn good in a demanding role. At the wrap party, a group of people threw Warren into a stream. Show less «