Stage and screen actor. Born Russell Ellis in Glasgow, he served an apprenticeship in a Clydebank ship-yard before taking up amateur acting. Turning professional in 1946, Hunter appeared in a variety of theatres in Glasgow, London and Stratford. He performed in the first Edinburgh Festival in 1947. Another notable early performance was with Archie Duncan (1914-79) in the film The Gorbals Story (1950). However, Hunter is perhaps best remembered for playing 'Lonely', opposite Edward Woodward, in the television thriller series Callan (1967-73; together with a film in 1974). Other television work included Rule Britannia! (1975) and Deacon Brodie (1997), together with episodes of The Sweeney (1975), Lovejoy (1992), A Touch of Frost (1996) and the Ruth Rendell Mysteries.
Hunter married his frequent co-star, the actress Una McLean, in 1991.
Despite battling lung cancer, Hunter received rave reviews for his role in American Cousins (2003), which was his final film performance. He died in Edinburgh's Western General Hospital.
