Peter Huls Hunt (December 19, 1938 â€" April 26, 2020) was an American
theatre, film, and television director and theatrical lighting
designer.Hunt was born in Pasadena, California, the son of Gertrude
(née Orphüls) and George Smith Hunt II, a Minnesota-born industrial
designer. He attended Hotchkiss School and then Yale University, where
he received a BA in 1961 and an MFA from the Yale School of Drama in
1963. Hunt began his professional career as a lighting designer at the
Williamstown Theatre Festival in 1958. He became Artistic Director in
1989, a post he held until 1995. He had an active career on Broadway
as well, first as a lighting designer and then director. 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 last Broadway
project was The Scarlet Pimpernel in 1997. He 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 directed
numerous television movies, including four based on the Hart to Hart
series and Dead Man's Island starring Barbara Eden. He also directed
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.
theatre, film, and television director and theatrical lighting
designer.Hunt was born in Pasadena, California, the son of Gertrude
(née Orphüls) and George Smith Hunt II, a Minnesota-born industrial
designer. He attended Hotchkiss School and then Yale University, where
he received a BA in 1961 and an MFA from the Yale School of Drama in
1963. Hunt began his professional career as a lighting designer at the
Williamstown Theatre Festival in 1958. He became Artistic Director in
1989, a post he held until 1995. He had an active career on Broadway
as well, first as a lighting designer and then director. 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 last Broadway
project was The Scarlet Pimpernel in 1997. He 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 directed
numerous television movies, including four based on the Hart to Hart
series and Dead Man's Island starring Barbara Eden. He also directed
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.
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