Mark Hunter

Associate Professor of theatre Mark Hunter died Nov. 6, 2011, in Iowa City, Iowa. He was 61.

Hunter joined the faculty in 2002.

During his 10 years at Cornell, the theatre department increased its national reputation, and Hunter directed and produced dozens of shows.

In all, he directed hundreds of productions including his stage adaptation of Lee Smith’s award-winning novel “Fair and Tender Ladies” (re-titled “Ivy Rowe” on stage), which received an off-Broadway production and was presented at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Hunter began acting at age 8. His child acting credits include Broadway, off-Broadway, television, and voiceover work. He played the role of Little Yonkers in the Broadway run of “Gypsy” starring Ethel Merman, and the role of Tom in the Broadway production of “Camelot” starring Julie Andrews.

He received a J.D. in 1978 from Syracuse University and practiced law for several years before returning to the theatre. He earned a master’s degree in directing at the University of Iowa and a Ph.D. in theatre history and criticism from the University of Texas at Austin.

Hunter is survived by his wife, Claire Joseph, a daughter and son and two grandchildren.

He was remembered by students at a Nov. 14 memorial service in Kimmel Theatre, and by his colleagues at Riverside Theatre with a memorial service on Nov. 21. Dozens of friends, students, and colleagues also left their memories of him on an online obituary.