Jamie Buchman / Helen
Hunt 
Jamie Stemple Buchman Born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut., Jamie graduated from Yale. Having gone through 2 majors and 7 boyfriends and spent some time hanging out at a biker bar (sporting a tattoo), she went to work at the Public Relations firm of Farrer, Gantz.
After 5 years, she was promoted to be the Regional VP, succeeding her mentor Fran Devanow, and landed many big accounts like Computron, the N.Y. Tourism campaign and the Central American Tourism account. She quit her PR job because her boss Jack Farrer didn't give her credit for her good ideas.
Jamie went back to school, and then joined forces with Fran to form her own PR business. After a slow start with Ira as the sole client, they do publicity for the Mayor and soon are running the mayoral campaign of Lance Brockwell. Jamie is still working for that campaign.
Jamie usually does not interfere in other people's affairs, except when her older sister Lisa is concerned. She avoids involvement in Paul and Ira's squabble even when Fran and Mark separate, she does not judge the matter. She genuinely dislikes her mother's interference in her life.
She lived in an apartment at 142 West 81st Street before
moving in with Paul on Valentine's Day, 1991 and marrying him a
year later. She likes to shop at sales, has a weakness for
chocolates and ice-cream, but fudge is another matter. Oddly
enough, she cannot program a VCR.
Helen Hunt enters her fifth season on "Mad About You" as an Emmy winner (Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series for her role as Jamie Buchman) as well as a producer for the multi-award-winning comedy series.
This year continues to be an exciting one for Hunt, who recently enjoyed big screen success in her role as a steely storm chaser who still carries a torch for her soon to be ex-husband (co-star Bill Paxton) in the summer blockbuster "Twister." This year Hunt begins production on the feature film "Old Friends," co-starring with Jack Nicholson and Greg Kinnear ("Late Night with Greg Kinnear").
After a childhood career co-starring on various TV series, two-time Golden Globe winner Hunt worked hard to establish herself in feature films and never seriously considered a lengthy commitment to another series. That is, until she got a call from actor/comedian Paul Reiser. "Paul called me at home to discuss the role as his wife in his new pilot," says Hunt. "I saw that he had a passion about marriage. He talked about things like, `Once you set up shop in a married relationship, how do you set the rules and still keep the magic going?' And I responded favourably."
A Los Angeles native, Hunt is the daughter of Gordon Hunt, a prominent acting coach and director. She made her acting debut as a child in the 1973 television movie "Pioneer Woman." Some of her other TV films include "Bill: On His Own," "Choices of the Heart," "Land of Little Rain" (for PBS) and "The Miracle of Kathy Miller." Hunt's other television movies include "Into the Badlands," "Murder in New Hampshire: The Pamela Smart Story," "In the Company of Darkness" and ShowTime's "Sexual Healing." She had a recurring role on "St. Elsewhere" and starred on the series "My Life and Times." Her series guest roles include HBO's "The Hitchhiker," which earned her a CableACE nomination.
After completing the feature film "Project X," Hunt headed for New York to gain more stage experience. In 1989 she achieved her dream of performing on Broadway when she was cast in "Our Town." Her other stage work includes the role of Bianca in "The Taming of the Shrew" (with Tracey Ullman and Morgan Freeman), as produced by Shakespeare in the Park in 1990. Between her TV and stage appearances she continued to work in features, including "Mr. Saturday Night," "Peggy Sue Got Married" and "Miles from Home" (with Richard Gere). She won critical raves for her performance in "The Waterdance" (which she freely admits she "pursued like a bloodhound"). Hunt also portrayed an alcoholic wife in the feature "Kiss of Death" (opposite David Caruso).
Other Films include: Incident at Dark River, Dark Rivers: A Fathers Revenge
Hunt received two Golden Globes (in 1994 and 1995) when she was named Best Actress, Series, Musical or Comedy. She is also the recipient of two American Comedy Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award. In 1994, the Viewers for Quality Television named Hunt Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series.
In her leisure time, she enjoys studying dance, yoga and painting. Sometimes she invites fellow actors to her home to conduct informal play readings. Hunt's birthday is June 15.
KAYPEE
LAST EDITED 19/09/97
