Born Janet Cole,she performed in the original Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire (1947), playing a role of Stella Kowalski. She appeared in the 1951 film, for which Hunter won both a Academy Award and the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. She was blacklisted from film & television when you took a Hollywood communism paranoia created by McCarthyism.

Her more major film roles include David Niven's fiance in the classic film A Matter of Life and Death (1945), and Zira a ape man of science in the number one 3 of the Planet of the Apes series. She likewise appeared around many soap operas, most notably when Nola Madison on The Edge of Night.

For her contribution to the motion picture industry Kim Hunter has the star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1617 Vine Street and another star at 1715 Vine Street.

Kim Hunter died of the heart attack within New York City in 2002.