On this day, May 27, 1969, actor Jeffrey Hunter died.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Hat tip, On This Day in Film and Television

Deaths in Film & TV

1969 Jeffrey Hunter, American actor (Star Trek Cage, The Searchers), dies of an intracranial hemorrhage at 43

Actor Jeffrey Hunter was #BornOnThisDay, Nov. 25, 1926. Remembered for his films & his TV role as "Capt. Pike" in the pilot episode of #StarTrek (1965). Passed in 1969 (age 42) from an intracranial hemorrhage, possibly from a concussion suffered while filming. #RIP #gonetoosoon

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Jeffrey Hunter


Hunter in 1960

Born: Henry Herman McKinnies Jr.; November 25, 1926; New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Died: May 27, 1969 (aged 42); Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place: Glen Haven Memorial Park; Sylmar, California
Other names: Jeff Hunter, Hank McKinnies
Almae mater: Northwestern University, University of California, Los Angeles
Occupations: Actor, producer
Years active: 1942–1969
Awards: Hollywood Walk of Fame

Jeffrey Hunter (born Henry Herman McKinnies Jr.; November 25, 1926 – May 27, 1969) was an American film and television actor and producer known for his roles in films such as The Searchers and King of Kings. On television, Hunter is known for his 1965 role as Captain Christopher Pike in the original pilot episode of Star Trek.

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Death

While in Spain in November 1968 to film Cry Chicago (¡Viva América!), a story about the Chicago Mafia, Hunter was injured in an on-set explosion when a car window near him, which had been rigged to explode outward, accidentally exploded inward. Hunter sustained a serious concussion. According to Hunter's wife Emily, he "went into shock" on the flight back to the United States after filming and "couldn't speak. He could hardly move." After landing, Hunter was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, but doctors could not find any serious injuries except for a displaced vertebra and a concussion.

On the afternoon of May 26, 1969, Hunter suffered an intracranial hemorrhage while walking down stairs at his home in Van Nuys, California. He fell, knocked over a planter and struck his head on the banister, fracturing his skull. He was found unconscious by his visiting friend Frank Bellow and taken to Valley Presbyterian Hospital, where he underwent brain surgery. He died at about 9:30 the following morning at the age of 42.

Hunter's funeral was held at St Mark's Episcopal Church in Van Nuys on May 31. He was interred at Glen Haven Memorial Park in Sylmar.

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Sat Nov 25, 2023: On this day, November 25, 1926, actor Jeffrey Hunter was born.

Fri Nov 25, 2022: On this day, November 25, 1926, actor Jeffrey Hunter was born.

[SheilaAnn]

1. I had such a crush on him while I was in high school. RIP. n/t

[oasis]

2. "No you don't Ethan, Ethan no

you don't". Every time I see a pic of Jeffrey, I remember that scene from "The Searchers" w/John Wayne.

[LessAspin]

3. Lord

MeTV recently aired an old Hawaii Five-0 episode with guest star William Shatner

Having heard Jack Lord was Gene Roddenberry's choice to replace Jeffrey Hunter on the original Star Trek -- the IMdB page from this episode of 5-0 was enlightening..

Trivia

According to William Shatner, Gene Roddenberry offered Jack Lord the role of Captain Kirk on "Star Trek" to replace Jeffrey Hunter whose wife was making too many demands. But Lord asked for a 50 percent ownership of the show, so Roddenberry offered the role to Shatner.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0598254/?ref_=nm_flmg_job_1_cred_eps_tt_1

I could imagine Jack Lord if he was so inclined gloating to guest star Shatner about landing the lead role in a much more successful series. Only to have the short-lived Star Trek series eventually become a cultural phenomenon and successful Movie franchise in subsequent years and decades.