Biography
Described by Entertainment Weekly as "the hands-down best (talk show) guest in America," Chicago comedy veteran Bonnie Hunt wore a number of creative hats in Hollywood before outdoing EW's compliment to become the creator and host of her own talk show, "The Bonnie Hunt Show" (Syndicated, 2008- ). The irreverent, chatty, daytime outlet proved a good fit for the comedienne whose accessible Midwestern persona and warmth had won over middle …
Bonnie Hunt SlideShow
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Career Milestones
| Co-starred in the sitcom "Davis Rules" (ABC then CBS), portraying Jonathan Winters' daughter | ||
| Had a part-time job as nurse's aide during high school | ||
1982 | Worked as an oncology and emergency room nurse at Northwestern University Hospital (dates approximate) | |
1984 | Co-founded Chicago improvisational group, An Impulsive Thing, centered at Bob's Bar across from Wrigley Field (date approximate) | |
1986 | Joined Chicago's Second City comedy troupe | |
1988 | Feature acting debut, "Rain Man"; first onscreen collaboration with Tom Cruise; still working as a nurse, she took three days off to film her cameo | |
1989 | Helped form the L.A. offshoot of Second City | |
1990 | TV series debut, co-starring in the NBC sitcom "Grand" | |
1992 | First feature in a lead role as Charles Grodin's beleaguered wife in "Beethoven" | |
1993 | Created, wrote and co-executive produced (with David Letterman) the TV sitcom "The Building"; despite great critical response, ratings were not stellar; CBS ofered to renew the series if Hunt replaced all of her co-stars (Chicago friends) with more well-known actors; when she refused, the axe fell | |
1993 | Enjoyed hilariously memorable cameo as White House tour guide in "Dave" | |
1994 | Portrayed Marisa Tomei's best friend in Norman Jewison's "Only You" | |
1995 | Was Robin Williams' love interest in "Jumanji" | |
1995 | Wrote, created and co-executive produced (again with Letterman) the TV sitcom "The Bonnie Hunt Show/Bonnie" (CBS) | |
1996 | Reteamed onscreen with Tom Cruise in "Jerry Maguire" | |
1997 | Signed to direct first feature, "Convenience"; project eventually put on hold | |
1997 | Starred as Fern McDermott, a woman who becomes trapped in a subway exit overnight, in "Fern's Heart of Darkness", a segment of HBO's "Subway Stories: Tales From the Underground" | |
1998 | Contributed voice of Rosie (the black widow spider) to animated "A Bug's Life" | |
1999 | Cast as Kristen Scott Thomas' old friend in Sydney Pollack's "Random Hearts" | |
1999 | Played Tom Hanks' plain-speaking wife in "The Green Mile" | |
2000 | Feature directing and co-screenwriting (with longtime collaborator Don Lake) debut with "Return to Me" | |
2002 | Acted in the "Project Greenlight" winning feature "Stolen Summer"; screened at Sundance | |
2002 | Starred in the comedy series "Life With Bonnie"; received Golden Globe (2002, 2003) and Emmy (2004) nominations for Best Actress | |
2003 | Co-starred with Steve Martin in the comedy "Cheaper by the Dozen" | |
2005 | Reprised role as the matriarch of 12 kids in "Cheaper By the Dozen 2" | |
2006 | Appeared in Jeff Garlin's feature directing debut, "I Want Someone to Eat Cheese with" | |
2006 | Voiced Sally in the Pixar animated feature "Cars" | |
2010 | Voiced the character of Dolly in the animated feature "Toy Story 3" | |
Awards
2000 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in The Green Mile |
2002 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Comedy Or Musical in Life With Bonnie |
2003 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Comedy Or Musical in Life With Bonnie |
2004 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in Life With Bonnie |