Arthur Hunnicutt was an American actor who was known for his portrayal of old, wise, grizzled rural characters. He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Big Sky (1952). He was also known for his role in the Western television series Sugarfoot (1957–1961). But how did he die and what was his cause of death?
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Early Life and Career of Arthur Hunnicutt
Arthur Lee Hunnicutt was born on February 17, 1910, in Gravelly, Arkansas. He attended the University of Central Arkansas and Arkansas State Teachers College, but dropped out in his third year due to lack of funds. He joined a theatre company in Massachusetts, then moved to New York City, where he began to find acting roles on Broadway and on tour. He played in numerous productions, including the leading role in Tobacco Road, a part his rangy country persona was made for. He took a few roles in small films in the early 1940s, then returned to stage work. In 1949 he came back to Hollywood permanently and resumed his film career.
Arthur Hunnicutt’s Oscar-Nominated Role in The Big Sky
He played a long string of supporting roles—sympathetic, wise rural types, as in The Red Badge of Courage (1951), The Lusty Men (1952), The Kettles in the Ozarks (1955), The Last Command (1955, as Davy Crockett), The Tall T (1957), Cat Ballou (1965, as Butch Cassidy), El Dorado (1966) and The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin. In 1952, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in the Howard Hawks film The Big Sky. In this film, he played Zeb Calloway, a trapper who joins a fur expedition to the Missouri River. His performance was praised by critics and audiences alike for its humor and authenticity.
Arthur Hunnicutt’s Television Appearances and Personal Life
Throughout the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, Hunnicutt made nearly 40 guest appearances on American television programs. He made two memorable appearances on Perry Mason in 1963: He played orange grower Amos Kennesaw Mountain Keller in “The Case of the Golden Oranges” and prospector Sandy Bowen in “The Case of the Drowsy Mosquito.” He also made guest appearances on Bonanza, Cheyenne, Gunsmoke, The Outer Limits, The Rifleman, Wanted: Dead or Alive, The Andy Griffith Show, The Wild Wild West, Adam-12, and The Twilight Zone.
He married Pauline “Pebbles” Lile in 1940 and they had one child together. He was also the honorary mayor of Northridge, a suburb of Los Angeles.
Arthur Hunnicutt’s Cancer Diagnosis and Death
In the mid-1970s, Hunnicutt was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue. He underwent surgery and radiation therapy, but the disease spread to his throat and lungs. He continued to work until his health deteriorated. His last film was Winterhawk (1975), and his last TV appearance was on Nakia (1974). On September 26, 1979, Hunnicutt died of cancer at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital at age 69. He was buried in the Coop Prairie Cemetery in Mansfield, Arkansas. His wife was his sole survivor.
Arthur Hunnicutt was a talented and versatile actor who left a lasting impression on the film and television industry. He will always be remembered for his Oscar-nominated role in The Big Sky and his many other memorable performances.
