Born in Malibu, California, USA, into the family of actor Jim Hutton. He spent his childhood in Berkeley. He graduated from Fairfax High School in Los Angeles. At the age of 14 he began acting in amateur plays and theatrical productions in which his father also performed. He first appeared in film in 1965 in the movie "Never Too Late," where he played a bit part as a boy running to his father. The father was played by Jim Hutton. From 1978 on TV in the series "Zuma Beach." He played his first major film role in Robert Redford's drama "Ordinary People" (1980, "Oscar," "Golden Globe," National Society of Film Critics Award, 1981). Timothy Hutton became the youngest Oscar winner in history. The actor dedicated this award to his father Jim Hutton, who died of cancer in 1979.

In 1981 Timothy Hutton played the role of Brian Moreland in the war drama "Taps" (Golden Globe nomination). He played significant roles in director Sidney Lumet's films "Daniel" (1983) and "Q&A" (1990). Among the actor's best roles: Christopher in director John Schlesinger's film "The Falcon and the Snowman" (1985), Willie Conway in "Beautiful Girls" (1996), Archie Goodwin in the detective series "A Nero Wolfe Mystery" (2004). For the role of George Stark in the thriller "The Dark Half" (1991), Hutton received the APEX Award at the science fiction and horror film festival. Since 1986 Timothy Hutton has been known as a director and producer.