Marcia Virginia Hunt, known by her stage name of Marsha Hunt is a former American film and television actress, humanitarian worker and social activist who is best known as one of the most sought-after actresses of the decades between 1930s to 1950s. Hunt was signed by big studios like Paramount Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and has appeared in several successful films like ‘Born to the West’, ‘Pride and Prejudice’, ‘Kid Glove Killer’, ‘Cry Havoc’, ‘Raw Deal’, ‘The Happy Time’ and ‘Johnny Got His Gun’ among others.
During the McCarthy era in the early 1950’s Hunt was believed to be a communist sympathizer for which she was blacklisted from working in Hollywood by studio executives. She received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. Hunt is an activist and supports several progressive causes including same-sex marriage, climate change awareness, ending global poverty, and promoting peace worldwide.
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Early Life and Education
Hunt was born on 17 October 1917 in the city of Chicago, Illinois as the youngest of the two daughters born to her parents, lawyer turned Social Security Administrator Earl Hunt and his wife, vocal teacher and organist, Mirabel Hunt. She was raised in New York City in a close-knit, devout methodist Christian household along with her only sibling, an elder sister named Marjorie who served as a teacher and passed in 2002.
As a youngster in New York City, Hunt participated in several church functions and school plays. She attended the Horace Mann High School for Girls from where she graduated in 1934, at the age of 16. Although Hunt aspired to be an actress, her parents persuaded hr to obtain a college degree. After being unable to find any institution that taught acting, Hunt began a career in modelling and started taking acting lessons at Theodora Irvine Studio.
Marsha Hunt – Young Pictures
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Career Rise
Hunt debuted on the silver screen at the age of 17, after being signed by Paramount Pictures in June 1935. She marked her debut with the film ‘The Virginia Judge’ in which she played Mary Lee Calvert. Hunt was offered a 7-year contract by Paramount Pictures during which time she appeared in 12 films for the studio, mostly playing ingénue roles. In 1937, Hunt appeared in the role of Judy Worstall in ‘Born to The West’ with John Wayne. After Hunt’s contract with Paramount expired, she appeared in several B-films produced by smaller studios. She then starred as Betty Ainsbridge in MGM’s 1939 cult classic ‘These Glamour Girls’. She also appeared in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and ‘Cheers for Miss Bishop’ and in 1941 was signed by MGM for a 6-year contract.
While at MGM, Hunt appeared in starring roles in more than 20 films, the most prominent ones being ‘The Penalty’, ‘Pilot No. 5’, ‘The Valley of Decision’. She starred as Marja Pacierkowski in the 1994 film ‘None Shall Escape’ which was the first ever film made that spoke about the Holocaust. During the 1950’s Hunt was among 151 other actors who were black-listed from Hollywood after being named a Communist sympathizer, which resulted in her receiving no work. Hunt returned to acting in the 1960’s and appeared in smaller TV and film roles. Some of her work during the era include episodes on the TV shows ‘Breaking Point’, ‘Gunsmoke’ and ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ and the films ‘Johnny Got His Gun’ and ‘ On Golden Pond’.
Personal Life
Hunt has been married twice. Hunt was first married to Jerry “Jay” Hopper who first served as an editing assistant at Paramount Pictures and later became a director. The couple did not have any children and divorced in 1945.
In 1946, Hunt married screenwriter Robert Presnell Jr. who also worked as a radio director. Hunt gave birth to a premature daughter in July 1947. The baby girl passed the next day. After the tragedy, Hunt and her husband registered to become foster parents. They were married for 40 years until Presnell passed in 1986. Since 1946, Hunt has been living in a two-storey home in California’s Sherman Oaks.