Ian Hunter
Biography
Ian Hunter (13 June 1900 – September 1975) was a British character actor born in Cape Town, South Africa. Over a career that spanned several decades he appeared in dozens of films, with his most remembered roles including the Bette Davis picture That Certain Woman (1937), the classic swash‑buckler The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) in which he portrayed King Richard the Lionheart, The Little Princess (1939) as Captain Reginald Crewe, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941) playing Dr Lanyon. In television he returned to the Robin Hood legend, appearing in the 1955 series The Adventures of Robin Hood as Sir Richard of the Lea. His work is documented in a filmography of ninety‑five credited performances.
Career overview
Ian Hunter (13 June 1900 – September 1975) was a British character actor born in Cape Town, South Africa. He began a prolific screen career in the 1930s, appearing in a range of studio productions. Among his early notable film roles were a supporting part in That Certain Woman (1937) opposite Bette Davis, the portrayal of King Richard the Lionheart in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), and the role of Captain Reginald Crewe in The Little Princess (1939). In 1941 he played Dr. Lanyon in the adaptation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Hunter continued to work steadily through the 1940s and 1950s, transitioning to television as the medium expanded. He returned to the Robin Hood legend in 1955, appearing in the TV series The Adventures of Robin Hood as Sir Richard of the Lea, a recurring character that linked his earlier cinematic portrayal of the legendary era with the new broadcast format. Over his career he accumulated dozens of film credits, contributing a reliable presence to both period pieces and contemporary dramas. His work remains remembered for the consistency of his performances across a variety of supporting roles in classic British and Hollywood productions.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
98 titles- Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage (1983) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Kali-Yug, Goddess of Vengeance (1963) as Robert Talbot
- The Mystery of the Indian Temple (1963) as Robert Talbot
- Guns of Darkness (1962) as Dr. Swann
- The Secret of Monte Cristo (1961) as Colonel Jackson
- The Queen's Guards (1961)
- Doctor Blood's Coffin (1961) as Dr. Robert Blood, Peter's Father
- Somerset Maugham Hour (1960) as Self - Host
- Somerset Maugham Hour (1960) as Mallowby
- The Bulldog Breed (1960) as Admiral Sir Bryanston Blyth
- North West Frontier (1959) as Sir John Wyndham
- Rockets Galore (1958) as Air Commodore Watchorn
- Fortune Is a Woman (1957) as Clive Fisher
- The Battle of the River Plate (1956) as Captain Woodhouse - H.M.S. Ajax
- Armchair Theatre (1956) as Sir Malcolm Saville
- Armchair Theatre (1956)
- The Door in the Wall (1956) as Henry Redmond
- The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955) as Sir Richard of the Lea
- The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955) as Sir Richard
- Eight O'Clock Walk (1954) as Geoffrey Tanner
- Don't Blame the Stork (1954) as Sir George Redway
- Appointment in London (1953) as Logan
- It Started in Paradise (1952) as Arthur Turner
- Edward, My Son (1949) as Doctor Larry Woodhope
- White Cradle Inn (1947) as Anton
- The White Unicorn (1947) as Philip Templar
- Bedelia (1946) as Charlie Carrington
- Forever and a Day (1943) as Dexter Pomfret
- It Comes Up Love (1943) as Tom Peabody
- Safeguarding Military Information (1942) as Spy (uncredited)
- Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6 (1942)
- A Yank at Eton (1942) as Roger Carlton
- Ziegfeld Girl (1941) as Geoffrey Collis
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941) as Dr. John Lanyon
- Billy the Kid (1941) as Eric Keating
- Come Live with Me (1941) as Barton Kendrick
- Smilin' Through (1941) as Reverend Owen Harding
- Andy Hardy's Private Secretary (1941) as Steven V. Land
- The Long Voyage Home (1940) as Smitty
- Strange Cargo (1940) as Cambreau
- Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940) as Bert C. Matthews
- Bitter Sweet (1940) as Lord Shayne
- Dulcy (1940) as Gordon Daly
- Gallant Sons (1940) as Natural Davis
- The Little Princess (1939) as Captain Crewe
- Tarzan Finds a Son! (1939) as Austin Lancing
- Yes, My Darling Daughter (1939) as Lewis Murray
- Tower of London (1939) as King Edward IV
- Broadway Serenade (1939) as Larry Bryant
- Maisie (1939) as Clifford 'Cliff' Ames
- Bad Little Angel (1939) as Jim Creighton (Sentinel editor)
- The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) as King Richard the Lion-Heart
- The Sisters (1938) as William Benson
- Comet Over Broadway (1938) as Bert Ballin
- Always Goodbye (1938) as Phillip Marshall
- Breakdowns of 1938 (1938) as Lloyd Rogers (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Secrets of an Actress (1938) as Peter 'Pete' Snowden
- Another Dawn (1937) as Colonel John Wister
- Confession (1937) as Leonide Kirow
- Breakdowns of 1937 (1937) as Self
- That Certain Woman (1937) as Lloyd Rogers
- Call It a Day (1937) as Roger Hilton
- Stolen Holiday (1937) as Anthony Wayne
- 52nd Street (1937) as Rufus Rondell
- The White Angel (1936) as Fuller
- The Devil Is a Sissy (1936) as Jay Pierce
- To Mary - with Love (1936) as Bill Hallam
- A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935) as Theseus
- The Phantom Light (1935) as Jim Pearce
- I Found Stella Parish (1935) as Keith Lockridge
- The Girl from 10th Avenue (1935) as Geoffrey D. 'Geoff' Sherwood
- Lazybones (1935) as Sir Reginald Ford
- A Dream Comes True (1935) as Theseus (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The Morals of Marcus (1935) as Sir Marcus Ordeyne
- Jalna (1935) as Renny Whiteoaks
- Something Always Happens (1934) as Peter Middleton
- Death at Broadcasting House (1934) as Detective Inspector Gregory
- The Silver Spoon (1934) as Capt Watts-Wynyard
- The Night of the Party (1934) as Guy Kennion
- The Church Mouse (1934) as Johnathan Steele
- No Escape (1934) as Jim Brandon
- The Man from Toronto (1933) as Fergus Wimbush
- Orders Is Orders (1933) as Capt. Harper
- The Sign of Four: Sherlock Holmes' Greatest Case (1932) as Dr. John Watson
- Marry Me (1932) as Robert Hart
- The Water Gipsies (1932) as Fred Green
- Sally in Our Alley (1931) as George Miles
- Cape Forlorn (1931) as Gordon Kingsley
- Escape! (1930) as William Brown, the Plainclothesman
- The Valley of Ghosts (1930) as Andrew McLeod
- The Thoroughbred (1929) as Allen Stockbridge
- Syncopation (1929) as Alexander Winston
- Easy Virtue (1928) as The Plaintiff's Counsel
- His House in Order (1928) as Hilary Jesson
- The Ring (1927) as Bob Corby
- Downhill (1927) as Archie
- Confessions (1925) as Charles Oddy
- Not For Sale (1924) as Martin Bering
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Ian Hunter best known for?
Ian Hunter is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Secret of Monte Cristo (1961), Seizure (1974), Seizure (1974), The Bulldog Breed (1960).
When and where was Ian Hunter born?
Ian Hunter was born on June 13, 1900 in Cape Town, South Africa. They passed away on September 23, 1975.
How many credits does Ian Hunter have?
Ian Hunter has accumulated over 98 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1924 to 1983.
What is Ian Hunter's background in cinema and television?
Ian Hunter (13 June 1900 – September 1975) was a British character actor born in Cape Town, South Africa. Over a career that spanned several decades he appeared in dozens of films, with his most remembered roles including the Bette Davis picture That Certain Woman (1937), the classic swash‑buckler The Adventures of Rob...
Ian Hunter by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) as King Richard the Lion-Heart — aged about 38
- North West Frontier (1959) as Sir John Wyndham — aged about 59
- The Battle of the River Plate (1956) as Captain Woodhouse - H.M.S. Ajax — aged about 56
- The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955) as Sir Richard of the Lea — aged about 55
- The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955) as Sir Richard — aged about 55
- The Bulldog Breed (1960) as Admiral Sir Bryanston Blyth — aged about 60
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