Hunter Carson

Hunter Carson, born December 26, 1975 in Culver City, California, is the son of Academy‑Award‑nominated actress Karen Black and veteran actor‑producer‑screenwriter L. M. Kit Carson. From the moment he was cradled on national television during his mother’s Saturday Night Live debut in October 1976, the camera seemed to follow him, foreshadowing a lifelong partnership with the film industry. Growing up in a household saturated with scripts, set lights, and cinematic legends, Carson absorbed the craft of storytelling not only through his parents’ work but also through his stepfather, Stephen Eckelberry, who further broadened his artistic perspective. He attended Wesleyan University, where he refined his understanding of narrative structure and production theory, laying the groundwork for a multifaceted career that would later span acting, writing, producing, and directing. His early immersion in Hollywood gave him a unique blend of practical experience and academic insight, allowing him to navigate both independent projects and mainstream productions with equal confidence.

Carson’s professional debut arrived in 1984 with the iconic road‑movie Paris, Texas, where he portrayed the precocious Hunter Henderson, a role that earned him a Young Artist Award nomination in 1986. He followed this breakout with the 1986 remake of Invaders from Mars, sharing the screen with his mother, and continued to build a diverse résumé that included the comedic drama Mr. North alongside Harry Dean Stanton. After a brief stint as Bud Bundy in an unaired Married… with Children pilot, he resurfaced in the early 2000s with Perfume and later delivered a memorable performance as a “crazy killer boyfriend” in the horror film She’s Crushed (2010). Transitioning behind the camera, Carson co‑directed the romantic drama Single in South Beach (2013) with Alejandro Itkin, and earlier helmed the short With It (2004), showcasing his versatility. Married to Elyse Tyler since 2011, the couple raises three daughters in Kingwood, Texas, where Carson continues to develop original stories, blending his heritage of classic Hollywood with contemporary storytelling techniques.