Hunter McCracken is an American actor, known for his single, acclaimed performance in Terrence Malick's film *The Tree of Life* (2011). In the film, he portrays the young version of the protagonist, Jack O'Brien, the eldest son of a 1950s Texas family whose parents are played by Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain. His performance was widely praised by international critics for its emotional depth and remarkable maturity, capturing the character's complex inner turmoil. For this role, he shared the Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Performance with the rest of the cast and received a nomination for the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer. Following the success of the film, which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, McCracken did not pursue an acting career, making his role in *The Tree of Life* his only film appearance.