Robert Charles Hunter: A Legacy Remembered
Robert Charles Hunter, the former CEO of PepsiCo Food Systems and a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, has passed away at the age of 77. His family announced that he died on Thursday in Texas while visiting his children.
Hunter dedicated 23 years of his career to PepsiCo, the parent company of well-known restaurant chains like Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and KFC, serving as CEO for an impressive 11 years. In 1999, he co-founded Exxcell Entertainment in Ojai, California, alongside his wife, the acclaimed three-time Oscar-nominated actress Diane Ladd, whom he married that same year. Hunter also showcased his acting talent by portraying Detective Hutchinson in David Lynch’s 2006 thriller, Inland Empire, which starred Ladd and her daughter, Laura Dern, an Oscar-winning actress in her own right.
Born in Germany on April 2, 1948, Hunter was not only a business leader but also a talented author. He penned the novel Curious Journey: Origins in 2008 and its follow-up, Curious Journey: Energy, in 2011, works that reflected his deep intellect and insatiable curiosity about the world around him. His family shared that “Robert always loved Texas,” noting that “the wide skies, the bold spirit, and the warmth of Fort Worth were part of his soul.” They explained that returning to Texas brought him “peace and joy,” a sentiment he often expressed as “like coming back to the rhythm of my heart.”
Hunter and Ladd first crossed paths in Sedona, Arizona. In her 2023 memoir, Ladd revealed that Hunter was there seeking self-discovery, having recently gone through a divorce and retiring at the age of 50.
In addition to his beloved wife and stepdaughter, Hunter is survived by his children: Brandon, Amy, and Emily, along with his ten grandchildren. Diane Ladd, who has received Academy Award nominations for her performances in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974), Lynch’s Wild at Heart (1990), and Rambling Rose (1991), was previously married to two-time Oscar-nominated actor Bruce Dern from 1960 to 1969 and businessman William Shea Jr. from 1973 to 1976.
Robert Charles Hunter will be remembered not only for his professional achievements but also for the warmth and love he shared with family and friends. His legacy will undoubtedly continue to inspire those who knew him and admired his remarkable journey.
