Linda Hunt

Hunt in 2009, photo by s_bukley/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Lydia Susanna Hunt

Place of Birth: Morristown, New Jersey, U.S.

Date of Birth: April 2, 1945

Ethnicity: English

Linda Hunt is an American actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for The Year of Living Dangerously, for 1983’s film year. She played Billy Kwan, a man of Chinese descent. Linda is the first person to win an Oscar for playing a character of the opposite sex.

Linda is the daughter of Elsie R., a piano teacher, and Raymond Davy Hunt, who was vice president of Harper Fuel Oil. Linda is married to psychotherapist Karen Klein.

Linda’s paternal grandfather was Charles Edwin Hunt (the son of Charles Phillips Hunt and Ella Maria Read/Reed). Linda’s grandfather Charles was born in Weymouth, Norfolk, Massachusetts, and was of Colonial American (English) descent. Linda’s great-grandfather Charles was the son of Charles Edwin Hunt and Marcia E. Phillips. Ella was the daughter of Milton Heywood Read and Eliza A. Ricker.

Linda’s paternal grandmother was Louise/Louisa Phipps Davy (the daughter of Manning Charles Davy and Helen/Ellen/Nellie F. Barter). Louise was born in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts. Manning was born in Montréal, Québec, Canada, the son of Manning S. Davy, who was born in England, and of Joanna M. Haverstock, who was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Helen was of Colonial American (English) descent, and was the daughter of James W. Barter and Frances R. Phipps.

Linda’s maternal grandfather was Howard Preston Doying (the son of James Doying and Mary Ann Cassell/Castle). Howard was born in Elmwood, Tuscola, Michigan, to Canadian parents. James was born in Ontario, and was the son of James Doying and Joanna/Johana Scott. Mary Ann was the daughter of Benjamin Cassell and Mary.

Linda’s maternal grandmother was Melissa/Mercy Almira Austin (the daughter of Edwin A. Austin and Susan Gordon). Melissa was born in Caro, Tuscola, Michigan. Edwin was the son of William Austin and Mary R., who was Canadian. Susan was the daughter of Canadian parents, Jacob/Jake Gordon and Martha.

Sources: Genealogy of Linda Hunt – https://famouskin.com

Marriage record of Linda’s parents – https://www.familysearch.org

Linda’s parents on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Linda’s father on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Linda’s paternal grandparents, Charles Edwin Hunt and Louise/Louisa Phipps Davy – https://www.familysearch.org

Linda’s mother on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Linda’s maternal grandparents, Howard Preston Doying and Melissa/Mercy Almira Austin – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Linda’s maternal great-grandparents, James Doying and Mary Ann Cassell/Castle – https://www.familysearch.org