TV Director Gordon Hunt, Father of Helen Hunt, Dies at 87

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Gordon Hunt, television director and father of actress Helen Hunt, died on Saturday at his home in Sherman Oaks, California, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He was 87.

"Gordon was a master of reinvention. A journeyman artist," Helen said in a statement released to ET. "He knew and taught that the work doesn't always find you. You need to create and recreate the work every day."

"If you asked 100 people who knew him 100 of them would say he was the kindest man they ever knew," she continued.


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Gordon worked for years running the voice department at Hanna-Barbera animation studios, eventually moving on to serve as the recording director on beloved cartoon series such as The Jetsons, The Flintstones, The Smurfs, Scooby-Doo, Richie Rich and countless others.

In the 1990s, Gordon began working in live TV, directing sitcoms such as Caroline in the City, Frasier, Suddenly Susan and Coach. He also helmed 31 episodes of his daughter's popular hit, Mad About You.


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The show business veteran also ran a celebrated acting class for decades, and he continued to teach until shortly before his death.

Gordon is survived by his wife, B.J. Ward, daughters Helen and Colleen, his brothers, George and Peter, as well as three grandchildren, Makena, Emmett and Lizzie.