Jeffrey Hunter was an American actor, born Henry Herman McKinnies Jr. on November 25, 1926, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and developed an early interest in acting, performing in radio dramas and summer stock theater. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he studied at Northwestern University, where he earned a degree in speech and radio. He later attended UCLA for graduate studies in drama.

     Hunter began his film career in the early 1950s, signing with 20th Century Fox. He gained recognition for roles in Fourteen Hours (1951), Sailor of the King (1953), and The Searchers (1956), where he starred alongside John Wayne. His most famous role came in King of Kings (1961), where he portrayed Jesus Christ, earning praise for his performance.

     In Star Trek, Hunter played Captain Christopher Pike, the original commanding officer of the USS Enterprise, in the unaired pilot episode The Cage (1965). While the episode was rejected by NBC, footage was later incorporated into The Menagerie (1966). Hunter declined to return for the series, leading to the creation of Captain Kirk, played by William Shatner.

     Hunter continued acting in films and television throughout the 1960s, appearing in The Longest Day (1962), Brainstorm (1965), and A Witch Without a Broom (1967). Tragically, he suffered a stroke in 1969, leading to a fatal fall at his home. He passed away on May 27, 1969, at the age of 42.