Native Texan Deborah Jo Hunter, born in Fort Worth, is a renowned equestrian with a pre-med degree from Fordham University in New York.
She began her acting career in Dallas, Texas, performing in plays such as "Vanities", "The Marriage-Go-Round", "I Ought To Be in Pictures", "The Odd Couple", and "The Dining Room".
Hunter's early television career started in 1984, with three major contract roles, eventually landing a 23-year stint on CBS's The Bold and the Beautiful (1987) as "Dr. Taylor Forrester".
She has appeared on numerous magazine covers, received many awards, and is consistently voted as "Most Popular Actress" in "Soap Digest" and "CBS Daytime".
Hunter has guest-starred on prime-time shows, including Diagnosis Murder (1993),The Nanny (1993),and Zorro (1990),as well as movies for the Hallmark Channel and mini-series such as The Maharaja's Daughter (1994),co-starring with Bruce Boxleitner and Ann-Margret.
She has been named one of People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" twice and has been the spokesperson for over 50 international products.
Hunter has done more than 500 commercials, including the notable "Pantene Girl" campaign.
She is launching a skin care line, featuring an exclusive patented rejuvenating molecule, derived by cutting-edge technology, which she helped create.
In her book, "Making a Miracle" (1999),Hunter shares her experiences after being fired from Melrose Place (1992) for becoming pregnant and her daughter Katya's battle with rare eye cancer, "Retinoblastoma", at the age of three-months-old.
Hunter has a sister, Elizabeth, and a brother, Cliff. She became pregnant at a young age, with a son, Christopher, born around 1980.
She met future husband Michael Tylo while working on the soap All My Children (1970) in the mid-1980s. They had a son, Michael (nicknamed Mickey),born around 1987.
Although their marriage faced challenges, they managed to overcome them. In the mid-1990s, Hunter reaffirmed her faith in Christianity and has become an active Christian.
Hunter is a public speaker, giving messages of hope and encouragement to parents and families of children facing fatal childhood illnesses.
In October 2007, her son, Michael E. Tylo II, died due to epilepsy. Hunter is an advocate for working mothers and has won a landmark case setting a precedent for the Pregnancy Discrimination Act.
She works with "Retinoblastoma International" and her own charity, "Hunter's Chosen Child".
Hunter has studied acting with Gene Frankel, Alan Arkin, Roy London, and Ivana Chubbuck. Her skills include dialects, martial arts, gourmet cooking, kick-boxing, mountain biking, snowboarding, and horseback riding.
