GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

Former Child Star From ‘Cheaper by the Dozen’ Dead at 85

The star, immortalized in classic films, passed away after a heart attack.

Jimmy Hunt, known for his roles in the original Cheaper by the Dozen and Invaders From Mars, died Friday at 85 years old. His daughter-in-law had told The Hollywood Reporter that Hunt had suffered a heart attack a few weeks prior, passing away in a Simi Valley Hospital in California just a few days ago. Hunt, a child actor, began his career at the ripe age of seven. He starred in 35 films between 1945 and 1953 before retiring from acting at the age of 14. He is recognized for his role as William Gilbreth, one of the 12 children in the 1950 film Cheaper by the Dozen. Hunt also appeared in classic films like Invaders From Mars as David MacLean and Pitfall as Tommy Forbes. Hunt said in a 2017 interview that he decided to leave his acting career because he “would rather play sports in high school than make movies,” leading to his early retirement. Hunt attended college and eventually joined the army for three years. He would go on to become a sales manager in the San Fernando Valley for an industrial tool and supply company that serviced aerospace firms. Hunt married Roswitha Jager in 1963 after meeting her while stationed in Germany during his military service. The couple had three children.