Thomas Hayes Hunter (December 1, 1884 – April 14, 1944) was an American film director and producer of the silent era.

[1] He broke into the scene after directing for a number of theatrical firms including David Belasco and Klaw and Erlanger.

One of his unfinished films, rediscovered by the Museum of Modern Art, is Lime Kiln Field Day (1913), starring Bert Williams.

[7] The Dial Company chose Hunter to direct these films, which resulted in two of his most well known works, Earthbound and The Light in the Clearing.

Praised for his use of double exposure in Earthbound, people raved that Earthbound was the “most remarkable achievement since the birth of the Celluloid Drama” and one of the most “masterful sensations of the screen.” [8] With a long list of achievements accredited to his name, Hunter continued to create popular works.

He retired from his film career later that year and died of a heart attack on April 14, 1944, in London, England.