At 78, Linda Hunt Found Lasting Love With Wife Who Accepts Her & They Share Elegant Home Full Of ‘Whimsy’

Jul 04, 2023

Linda Hunt is an established actress both on stage and on the big and small screens. She has appeared in a variety of productions, films and television shows over the years as she's shared the spotlight with her brilliant co-stars and shown her talent to the world. Her filmography is impressive and shows off her stunning range as a performer — she's lent her voice to animated films and shows, as well as shown just how far she can push herself in more serious roles, too.

Born on Apr. 2, 1945, in Morristown, New Jersey, Linda was raised in Westport, Connecticut. She is one of two children in her family and grew up enjoying the arts and participating in them. In a leap of faith, Linda went forward and pursued her passion for acting, and it's safe to say that all of her hard work and dedication has truly paid off.

While Linda has appeared in many productions throughout her lifetime, one of her most notable and recognizable roles is as Hetty Lange on the television show "NCIS: Los Angeles." She has appeared on the show for 12 seasons and even made a guest appearance later on. Fans grew to not only love the character but also love Linda as an actress.

Furthermore, she has been nominated for and won several awards throughout the course of her career and has earned recognition amongst critics and fans alike. Linda has also shared some insights into both her personal and professional life, including her decades-long relationship and some of the struggles she experienced during the start of her career. Read on to find out more about this accomplished actress' life story. 

During her upbringing in Connecticut, Linda was a big fan of the arts. Her father, Raymond Hunt, was the vice president of Harper Fuel Oil, while her mother, Elsie Hunt, was a piano teacher. They were very encouraging of their daughter's ambitions. 

Linda became completely mesmerized by the idea of becoming an actress after she saw a stage performance of "Peter Pan" during her childhood, according to Britannica. She was so determined to make her dreams come true that she began pursuing her passion by implementing it into her studies. She attended the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, as well as the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago. 

She focused heavily on directing since it seemed like her physical frame limited her opportunities as an actress. According to Britannica, Linda was diagnosed with hypopituitary dwarfism in her youth and, in adulthood, has a short height, standing at 4 feet 9 inches tall. Since she was not conventionally beautiful as deemed by Hollywood, her appearance was something that sadly held her back.

But nevertheless, she didn't let that get her down, and fortunately, her acting dreams became a reality when she began to appear in stage productions and Broadway shows during the 1970s. She was even nominated for a Tony Award for her work in 1984's "End of the World."

In 1982, Linda made her mark on the film industry when she portrayed a male character named Billy Kwan in "The Year of Living Dangerously," which earned her plenty of praise and recognition for the complex and dramatic role. It even landed her an Academy Award, and she became the first person to win an Oscar for playing a character of the opposite sex, according to Britannica. She also went on to appear in "Kindergarten Cop," "Pocahontas" and "Solo: A Star Wars Story." 

One of Linda's most recognized and loved roles is as Hetty Lange on "NCIS: Los Angeles." She appeared on the show for the first 12 seasons as a main character and is a special guest star during the 13th season. Lange is the Supervisory Special Agent and Operations Manager of the Office of Special Projects, and she embarks on dangerous missions and cares deeply for others. 

The actress has also been incredibly lucky in the romance department too. Although she's kept much of her private life out of the public eye, she has shared a few details about her relationship over the years. Since 1987, Linda has been in a long-lasting relationship with former psychotherapist Karen Kline. In an interview with CBS in 2013, Klein revealed what it was about Linda that initially got her attention:

"I was kind of struck (by) Linda's corduroys."

That moment began the start of a decades-long relationship, and in 2008, Linda and Klein tied the knot. In the same interview with CBS, Linda revealed that despite their love for one another, they still know how to have fun and kid around. She said:

"Karen's six years younger, but I forgive her daily ... I do, I forgive you for being younger."

The pair do not share any children together but care for three dogs named Willa, Sophie and Stella. They adopted their fur babies from the Best Friends Animal Society, where Linda has also served as an ambassador since 2011. An avid animal lover, Linda took in Stella even though she was a special needs dog. Linda said:

“You love them and take them into your life and give them the richest life you possibly can. You accept them for who they are and you become their medical advocate. Then you just let it be.”

Linda and Klein live in a charming area in Hollywood away from the hustle and bustle and instead filled with revived period homes. Their own craftsman home was built in 1919, although the pair have since renovated and redecorated it with colorful interiors adorned with custom finishes and details. With pops of lavender and graphic wallpaper, the pair have worked hard to make their jewel-box house welcoming. Linda told the Los Angeles Times:

“This house has whimsy and a special kind of elegance.”

Among the changes the couple made to the original two-bedroom property was adding a colorful stained-glass skylight in the expanded hallway and replacing an underutilized deck with a 200-square-foot sunroom.

“We wanted to make better use of the space. We wanted to use the house in a different way,” Linda explained. 

She added one bedroom, which had been refurbished into a den and library, or a guestroom if necessary, is where Linda usually goes to practice her lines and “look at the window of the sunroom and think how pretty it is.”

At 78 years old, Linda can easily say she has accomplished a lot in her life and has become a true inspiration to any aspiring actor. While she doesn't appear to have any projects currently in the works, we're excited to see what she does in the upcoming years. However, it isn't clear how much longer she plans to keep on acting. She told CBS:

"I look forward to a time when I don't have to work anymore ... Which is close at hand, I think."  

Did you know about Linda Hunt's personal and professional life? What's your favorite show or movie that she's starred in? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your friends and family, too.