Bonnie Lynn Hunt, born on September 22, 1961, in Chicago, Illinois, is an acclaimed American actress, comedian, writer, director, television producer, and voice artist. Raised in a large Catholic family, she is the daughter of Alice, a homemaker of Polish descent, and Robert Hunt, an electrician of Irish and Belgian ancestry.

She is one of seven siblings and has credited her Chicago upbringing and close family for shaping much of her comedic style. She attended local Catholic schools and worked as a nurse’s aide before becoming an oncology nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago in the early 1980s.

While working as a nurse, she developed a passion for comedy and performance, co-founding the improv troupe An Impulsive Thing in 1984 and joining Chicago’s iconic Second City in 1986.

Her film career began with a breakout role as Sally Dibbs in “Rain Man” (1988), and she went on to appear in films like “Beethoven,” “Beethoven’s 2nd,” “Jumanji,” “Jerry Maguire,” “The Green Mile,” “Cheaper by the Dozen,” and its sequel. She is also renowned for her voice roles in several Pixar and Disney films, including “A Bug’s Life,” the “Monsters, Inc.” franchise, “Cars,” “Zootopia,” and the “Toy Story” series.

On television, she created, wrote, and starred in the sitcoms “The Building,” “Bonnie,” and “Life with Bonnie,” and earned critical acclaim with an Emmy nomination for her role in “Life with Bonnie.” From 2008 to 2010, she hosted her own talk show, “The Bonnie Hunt Show”.

Throughout her career, Bonnie Hunt has been recognized for her quick wit, improvisational talents, and genuine on-screen warmth. She is celebrated for her collaborations with fellow Chicago comedians and for championing improvisation in scripted television.

Bonnie Hunt was previously married to investment banker John Murphy, and she is known for her strong Chicago Cubs fandom, never missing an opening game since 1977.