BONNIE HUNT (Kate Baker) has conquered the worlds of film, television and theatre as a performer, writer and director.
Growing up in one of Chicago’s blue-collar neighborhoods, Hunt worked as a nurses’ aid in high school, and later became a nurse at Northwestern University Hospital. Simultaneously, she pursued her acting career, performing at the renowned Second City. After moving to feature films, Hunt became familiar to audiences for her hilarious and unforgettable cameos. She made her feature debut in Barry Levinson’s “Rain Man” as a toothpick-dropping waitress. She played a comically dedicated White House tour guide in “Dave” (Audiences remember her signature line of dialogue: “We’re walking, we’re walking…”).
In 1996, Hunt portrayed Renée Zellweger’s quick-witted sister in Cameron Crowe’s smash “Jerry Maguire.” Other film credits include “Loggerheads” alongside Tess Harper, “Jumanji” with Robin Williams, Norman Jewison’s “Only You” as Marisa Tomei’s best friend, and Charles Grodin’s beleaguered wife in the family hits “Beethoven” and “Beethoven’s 2nd.”
In addition to her many onscreen successes, Hunt directed the feature motion picture “Return to Me,” which she co-wrote with longtime creative collaborator Don Lake. Starring David Duchovny, Minnie Driver, Carroll O’Connor, Robert Loggia, David Alan Grier, Joely Richardson, Jim Belushi and Hunt, “Return to Me” is a sweet romantic comedy that shows us that in love our hearts lead the way. “Return to Me” was shot almost entirely in the filmmaker’s hometown of Chicago.
Hunt lent her voice to Rosie, one of the delightful insects in the animated hit “A Bug’s Life,” and co-starred in two major features: “The Green Mile,” with Tom Hanks, and “Random Hearts,” alongside Harrison Ford and Kristin Scott Thomas.
Hunt was a regular on two television series, “Grand” and “Davis Rules.” In 1993, she became the first woman to write, produce and star in her own series, entitled “The Building.” The ensemble comedy, which she also executive produced, featured Hunt and her Second City colleagues playing young adults living in a Chicago apartment building. She then wrote, produced and starred in the critically acclaimed “Bonnie” for CBS. Her frequent and hilarious appearances on talk shows earned her Entertainment Weekly’s appellation as “the hands-down best [talk show] guest in America.”
Hunt appeared in the feature “Stolen Summer,” directed by Pete Jones and also starring Aidan Quinn and Kevin Pollack. Given it’s independent roots, “Stolen Summer” had remarkable visibility due to the HBO “Project Greenlight” series chronicling the film’s production. Hunt received raves for her performance in “Stolen Summer” when the film screened at the Sundance Film Festival in the spring of 2001.
Hunt’s most recent television series, ABC’s “Life with Bonnie,” garnered Hunt two Golden Globe nominations for Lead Actress in a Comedy in 2003 & 2004, as well as an Emmy nomination in 2004.
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