'NCIS: Los Angeles' Star Linda Hunt Has Been With Wife Karen For Over 36 Years And Forgives Her 'For Being Younger'

Feb 11, 2022

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 April 2, 1945, in Morristown, New Jersey, Hunt 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, Hunt 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 Hunt 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 Hunt as an actress.

Furthermore, she has been nominated and won several awards throughout the course of her career, and has earned recognition amongst critics and fans alike. Hunt 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, Hunt was a big fan of the arts. Her father, Raymond, was the vice president of Harper Fuel Oil, while her mother, Elsie, was a piano teacher. They were very encouraging of their daughter’s ambitions. 

Hunt 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, Hunt 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, Hunt 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 Hunt’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, which is currently airing. 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 showrunner of "NCIS: Los Angeles," R. Scott Gemmill told TV Line in an interview, that the reason Hunt appeared less on the show this latest season was due to the pandemic. He said:

"As you know, Linda (Hunt) was away a lot more this season because of COVID and us trying to keep her safe. The couple of episodes that she was in, where she was supposed to be in the Middle East, we actually shot in her driveway. That was getting a little more difficult to do, and then finally, Linda had both her vaccines, she was feeling great, and she came back. And she was so happy to be back."

He added that they had spoken about her returning next season, so it seems like Hunt hasn't stepped away from her iconic role just yet.

Outside of her work in show business, Hunt is a keen activist for causes she believes in. She's served as an ambassador for the Best Friends Animal Society since 2011 and is a supporter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, according to Celebrity Net Worth. With such a brilliant career behind her, it's no surprise to learn that Hunt's net worth is estimated at $12 million. She's earned $80,000 per episode of “NCIS: Los Angeles,” which totals about $2 million per year before royalties.  

While the actress has had a very successful career, she's also been incredibly lucky in the romance department too. Known for her caring demeanor on "NCIS: Los Angeles," it seems that Hunt has pulled from her personal life to add some authenticity to her character, as she's proved time and again to be a kind-hearted individual in her personal life too.

Although she's kept much of her private life out of the public eye and chosen to relish in the personal moments she gets to share with her loved ones, she has shared a few details about her relationship over the years. Since 1987, Hunt has been in a long-lasting relationship with psychotherapist Karen Kline. In an interview with CBS in 2013, Klein revealed what it was about Hunt that initially got her attention:

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

That moment began the start of a 36-year relationship and in 2008, Hunt and Klein tied the knot. In the same interview with CBS, Hunt revealed that despite their love for 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."

At 79 years old, Hunt 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.