Burt Hummel is Kurt's father. He is a mechanic and a single parent. On the surface Burt is very much the stereotype of a Midwestern guy's guy. Burt's wife died when Kurt was a child and the result is the two seem to have a particularly unique father-son bond. Burt is very protective of his son. This becomes important when Kurt faces the nerve-wracking process of coming out of the closet.