Helen Hunt

Season 7, Episode 709

Original Airdate: April 15, 2001

Born in Los Angeles on June 15, 1963, Helen Elizabeth Hunt made her acting debut in the TV movie Pioneer Women (1973).

Daughter of famed director and acting coach Gordon Hunt, Helen decided at age six to become an actress. By the time she was nine she already studied acting, hired an agent, and appeared as Murray Slaughter's daughter in the popular The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Helen then went on to appear in many television series and TV movies. She appeared as a regular on Swiss Family Robinson (1975), and The Fitzpatricks (1977). Helen also appeared in 14 TV movies before 1985, including The Miracle of Kathy Miller (1981) and Quarterback Princess (1983).

Hunt's film assignments improved with sizeable roles in Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985), Peggy Sue Got Married (1986), Project X (1987), and The Waterdance (1991). She also gained a sci-fi following in movies such as Trancers 2 (1991) and Trancers 3 (1992). In 1992, she came into the role of urban wife Jamie Buchman in NBC's Mad About You. She won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a comedy series during the show's 7-year run.

While working on the hit show, Helen landed a starring role in the blockbuster, Twister (1996). The following year, she won the Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of waitress Carol Connolly in As Good As It Gets (1997). Co-star Jack Nicholson also took home the Best Actor trophy.

Since her Oscar, Helen seemed to be everywhere at once, with leading roles in What Women Want (2000) with Mel Gibson, Dr. T. and the Women (2000) opposite Richard Gere, Pay It Forward (2000) with Kevin Spacey, and Castaway (2000) opposite Tom Hanks. She also starred in the latest Woody Allen film, The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001).