(April 2, 1974 – February 17, 2006)
Harold Hunter was a New York City-born skateboarder and actor who was a foundational figure in the East Coast skateboarding scene of the 1990s. Raised in the East Village’s Campos Plaza housing project, Hunter became one of the earliest professional skateboarders to emerge from downtown Manhattan.
As an original member of the Zoo York team, Hunter helped define the identity of New York skateboarding. His part in the 1997 Zoo York Mixtape video is a defining document of that era; with footage filmed in lower Manhattan and filled with the energy that came to characterize his skating. Hunter’s charismatic personality and style on a board had him regularly featured in Thrasher and Big Brother Magazine.
In 1995, he played a version of Harold in Larry Clark’s Kids, a film that exposed New York’s youth culture to a wider audience. Though not a trained actor, Hunter’s brief performance stood out for its authenticity, his real-life charm and a natural sense of humor.
On February 17, 2006, at 31 years old Hunter passed away in his Lower East Side apartment. His funeral was attended by hundreds. The moment captured the spirit in which he lived: surrounded by friends, rooted in community and loved by many. The Harold Hunter Foundation was created in his name; providing access, mentorship, and opportunity to undeserved youth through skateboarding. Every year, Harold Hunter Day is held in New York, bringing the city’s skate community together to remember one of its most beloved figures.
Harold Hunter’s legacy lives on in the footage, in the foundation, and in the streets of New York. His voice, style, and presence remain central to the story of skateboarding in the city. He is remembered not just for what he did on a skateboard, but for the joy and energy he gave to the people around him.
The Life of Harold Hunter: Called Home, a book by Larry Clark for Living Proof. www.livingproofnewyork.com
The Harold Hunter Foundation (HHF) a nonprofit organization was created in 2007 by Ron Hunter, the brother of Harold Hunter, following Harold Hunter’s passing in 2006. The foundation was established to honor Harold’s life, values, and influence within the New York City skateboarding community and to provide structured support and opportunities for undeserved youth. www.haroldhunter.org