Helen Hunt began studying acting at the age of eight with her father, respected director and acting coach Gordon Hunt. A year later she made her professional debut and afterwards worked steadily in films, theatre and television.



Graduated from Providence High School in Burbank, California. Attended UCLA for 1 month. Did a guest voice on "The Simpsons" (1989) in episode: #9.16 "Dumbbell Indemnity," as Moe's girlfriend, Renee. The voice of Moe is Hank Azaria, Helen's real-life love at that time. Daughter of Gordon Hunt. Got the lead in As Good as It Gets (1997) after Holly Hunter turned it down. Dated Eric Stoltz, her The Waterdance (1992) co-star. In the early 1990s she dated her agent at Creative Artists Agency, Doc O'Conner. Witnessed the World Trade Center attacks from the roof of her brand new New York apartment and decided to leave the city right away, but could not get a flight out. She booked a private jet at considerable expense and flew herself and her staff out of Connecticut three days later, the first day they allowed private jets to fly. [September 2001] Only the second actress to win a Golden Globe, an Oscar, and an Emmy in the same calendar year. The first was Liza Minnelli in 1973. Beat Teri Hatcher for the role of Jamie Buchman in "Mad About You" (1992) at the final auditions. Her daughter, Makena Lei, was named after a friend's dream. The name means "many flowers of heaven." The baby's middle name, Gordon, is in honor of Helen's father, Gordon Hunt. Asked novelist Robert B. Parker to create a female private detective for her to play. The result was Parker's series of novels featuring Sunny Randall.