George Hamilton (actor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Hamilton
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Hamilton in 2023
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| Born |
George Stevens Hamilton
August 12, 1939 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1952–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Alana Stewart
(m. 1972; div. 1975) |
| Children | 2, including Ashley Hamilton |
| Parent(s) | George Hamilton |
George Stevens Hamilton (born August 12, 1939) is an American actor. He is known for his charming style and his famous suntan. He has appeared in many films and TV shows.
George Hamilton won a Golden Globe Award for his first movie, Crime and Punishment U.S.A. (1959). He was also nominated for a BAFTA Award for this role. He has received other nominations for his acting.
Contents
Early Life and Education
George Hamilton was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He grew up in Blytheville, Arkansas. He is the oldest son of Ann Stevens and bandleader George "Spike" Hamilton.
He attended the Hackley School in Tarrytown, New York. He graduated from there in 1957.
Acting Career Highlights
Starting in Television and Film
Hamilton began his acting career on TV shows. He appeared in series like The Veil and The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin.
His first main movie role was in Crime and Punishment U.S.A. (1959). This film helped him get noticed. Soon after, he was cast in Home from the Hill (1960). This led to him signing a long-term contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).
Working with MGM and Other Studios
MGM gave Hamilton roles in different types of movies. He was in the drama All the Fine Young Cannibals (1960). He also starred in the popular beach comedy Where the Boys Are (1960).
He worked with famous actors like Lana Turner in By Love Possessed (1961). Hamilton also played a role in the Western film A Thunder of Drums (1961). He earned praise for his part in Light in the Piazza (1962). This movie was filmed in Italy.
Hamilton continued to take on diverse roles. He was in the anti-war drama The Victors (1963). He also played the famous writer Moss Hart in Act One (1963). In 1964, he played country music legend Hank Williams in Your Cheatin' Heart.
He appeared in the French film Viva Maria! (1965). The director, Louis Malle, chose Hamilton because of his talent. Hamilton also starred in the romantic comedy Doctor, You've Got to Be Kidding! (1967).
Moving to Television and Producing
In the late 1960s, Hamilton started working more in television. He was in the series Harold Robbins' The Survivors (1969–70). He also starred in Paris 7000 (1970).
Hamilton began producing movies to have more control over his projects. He produced and starred in Evel Knievel (1971). He also produced and appeared in Medusa (1973).
He made guest appearances on many TV shows. These included Police Story and Roots.
Comedy Success with Love at First Bite
In 1979, Hamilton starred in the comedy hit Love at First Bite. In this film, he played Count Dracula. The movie was very popular and showed his talent for comedy. Hamilton was also an executive producer for the film.
After this success, he produced and starred in Zorro, The Gay Blade (1981). He then focused more on TV roles. He appeared in the miniseries Malibu (1983). In the mid-1980s, he joined the cast of the popular TV show Dynasty.
Later Career and Appearances
In 1990, Hamilton had a role in The Godfather Part III. He played the Corleone family's lawyer. He continued to appear in films like Doc Hollywood (1991) and Once Upon a Crime (1992).
He also had roles in TV miniseries such as Rough Riders (1997). In this series, he played William Randolph Hearst. Hamilton also had a regular role on the TV series Jenny (1997).
In the 2000s, Hamilton performed on Broadway in the play Chicago. He played the role of Billy Flynn. In 2006, he competed on Dancing with the Stars. He charmed audiences with his fun dance moves.
He was considered to host The Price Is Right. Later, he hosted the live stage version of the show. In 2009, Hamilton was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.
In 2016 and 2018, Hamilton appeared in commercials for KFC. He played a tanned version of Colonel Sanders.
Business Ventures
In the late 1980s, George Hamilton started his own skin care and sun care product lines. He also opened tanning salons. In the 1990s, cigar lounges and a line of cigars were named after him.
Personal Life and Family
In 1966, Hamilton dated Lynda Bird Johnson, the daughter of U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson.
From 1972 to 1976, George Hamilton was married to actress Alana Stewart. They had a son named Ashley George in 1974. Even after their divorce, they remained friends. They co-hosted a talk show called George & Alana in the 1990s. They also starred in the reality show Stewarts & Hamiltons in 2015.
Hamilton also has another son, George Thomas Hamilton (nicknamed "GT"). He was born in 1999. Both of Hamilton's sons attended military schools.
George Hamilton is known for his good sense of humor. His friend Burt Reynolds once shared a funny story about a birthday card he made for Hamilton, which Hamilton found hilarious.
Selected Filmography
Film Roles
- Lone Star (1952) as Noah (uncredited)
- Crime and Punishment U.S.A. (1959) as Robert
- Home from the Hill (1960) as Theron Hunnicutt
- All the Fine Young Cannibals (1960) as Tony McDowall
- Where the Boys Are (1960) as Ryder Smith
- Angel Baby (1961) as Paul Strand
- By Love Possessed (1961) as Warren Winner
- A Thunder of Drums (1961) as Lt. Curtis McQuade
- The Light in the Piazza (1962) as Fabrizio Naccarelli
- Two Weeks in Another Town (1962) as Davie Drew
- The Victors (1963) as Cpl. Theodore Trower
- Act One (1963) as Moss Hart
- Looking for Love (1964) as himself (cameo)
- Your Cheatin' Heart (1964) as Hank Williams
- Viva Maria! (1965) as Flores
- That Man George (1966) as George
- Doctor, You've Got to Be Kidding! (1967) as Harlan Wycliff
- A Time for Killing (1967) as Capt. Dorrit Bentley
- Jack of Diamonds (1967) as Jeff Hill
- The Power (1968) as Prof. Jim Tanner
- Togetherness (1970) as Jack DuPont
- Elvis: That's the Way It Is (1970) as himself (uncredited)
- Evel Knievel (1971) as Evel Knievel
- The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing (1973) as Willard Crocker
- Medusa (1973) as Jeffrey
- Once Is Not Enough (1975) as David Milford
- The Magnificent Hustle (1978) as Donald Hightower
- Sextette (1978) as Vance Norton
- From Hell to Victory (1979) as Maurice Bernard
- Love at First Bite (1979) as Count Vladimir Dracula
- Death Car on the Freeway (1979) as Ray Jeffries
- Zorro, The Gay Blade (1981) as Zorro The Gay Blade / Don Diego Vega / Bunny Wigglesworth
- The Godfather Part III (1990) as B. J. Harrison
- Doc Hollywood (1991) as Doctor Halberstrom
- Once Upon a Crime (1992) as Alfonso de la Pena
- Amore! (1993) as Rudolpho Carbonera
- Double Dragon (1994) as Channel 102 News Anchor (uncredited)
- Playback (1996) as Gil Braman
- Meet Wally Sparks (1997) as himself
- 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag (1997) as Dick Bennett
- Bulworth (1998) as himself (uncredited)
- Casper Meets Wendy (1998) as Desmond Spellman
- She's Too Tall (1999) as Alonso Palermo
- Off Key (2001) as Armand
- Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles (2001) as himself (cameo)
- Reflections of Evil (2002) as Duncan Carlyle
- Hollywood Ending (2002) as Ed
- Pets (2002) as Von Steiger ('The Hand')
- The Little Unicorn (2002) as The Great Allonso
- The L.A. Riot Spectacular (2005) as The King of Beverly Hills
- Rumor Has It... (2005) as himself (cameo) (uncredited)
- Melvin Smarty (2012) as Hitman / Mexican Colonel
- Silver Skies (2015) as Phil
- The Congressman (2016) as Laird Devereaux
- Swiped (2018) as Phil Singer
- All Terrain (2022) as Graverly
Television Roles
- The Donna Reed Show (one episode, 1959) as Herbie Shields
- The Rogues (one episode, 1964) as Jamie
- Burke's Law (TV series) Who Killed Mother Goose? (one episode, 1965) as Little John
- A Farewell to Arms (1966) (miniseries) as Lt. Frederick Henry
- Harold Robbins' The Survivors (1969) as Duncan Carlyle
- Paris 7000 (1970) (canceled after 10 episodes) as Jack Brennan
- The Last of the Powerseekers (1971) as Duncan Carlyle
- The Dead Don't Die (1975) as Don Drake
- Columbo: A Deadly State of Mind (1975) as Dr. Marcus Collier
- Roots (1977) (miniseries) as Stephen Bennett
- McCloud: The Great Taxicab Stampede (1977) as Keith Hampton
- The Strange Possession of Mrs. Oliver (1977) as Greg Oliver
- Killer on Board (1977) as Glenn Lyle
- The Users (1978) as Adam Baker
- The Eddie Capra Mysteries (1978 – Episode: "Nightmare at Pendragon Castle") as Leo Gerling
- The Seekers (1979) (miniseries) as Lt. Hamilton Stovall
- Institute for Revenge (1979) as Alan Roberto
- Express to Terror (1979) as David Belnik
- Death Car on the Freeway (1979) as Ray Jeffries
- The Great Cash Giveaway Getaway (1980) as Hightower
- The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show (1982) (TV special) as himself
- Malibu (1983) (miniseries) as Jay Pomerantz
- Two Fathers' Justice (1985) as Trent Bradley
- Dynasty (cast member from 1985 to 1986) as Joel Abrigore
- Monte Carlo (1986) (miniseries) as Harry Price
- Spies (1987) as Ian Stone
- Poker Alice (1987) as Cousin John Moffit
- Columbo: Caution: Murder Can Be Hazardous to Your Health (1991) as Wade Anders
- The House on Sycamore Street (1992) as J.D. Gantry / Harry Lennox
- Birds of a Feather: It Happened in Hollywood (1993) as himself
- Paradise at the End of the Mountains (1993) as Earl Henry von Hohenlodern
- Two Fathers: Justice for the Innocent (1994) as Bradley
- The Bold and the Beautiful (1994)
- George & Alana (1995–1996) as himself
- Vanished (1995) as Malcolm Patterson
- The Guilt (1996) as Alan Van Buren
- Hart to Hart: Till Death Do Us Hart (1996) as Karl Von Ostenberg
- Rough Riders (1997) (miniseries) as William Randolph Hearst
- Miss USA & Miss Universe (1997) as Host
- Jenny (1997–1998) as Guy Hathaway
- Baywatch (1 episode, 1999) as Earl
- P.T. Barnum (1999) as Francis Olmsted
- Nash Bridges (2000) as Raymond Peck
- The Family (2003) as Host
- Las Vegas (guest appearance 2004) as Bernard Taylor
- Too Cool for Christmas (2004) as Santa Claus
- Joey (2005) as himself
- Dancing with the Stars (2006) as Contestant
- I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (2009) as himself
- Comedy Central Roast of David Hasselhoff (2010) as himself – Roaster
- Hot in Cleveland (2013) as Robin
- Stewarts & Hamiltons (8 episodes, 2015) as himself
- 2 Broke Girls (1 episode, 2016) as Bob
- American Housewife (recurring, 2017–2019) as Spencer Blitz
- General Hospital (July 6, 2018) as Colonel Sanders
- Grace and Frankie (1 episode, 2019) as Jack Patterson
Books by George Hamilton
- Life's Little Pleasures (co-authored with Alysse Minkoff) (1998) ISBN: 978-1575440866
- Don't Mind if I Do (co-authored with William Stadiem) (2009) ISBN: 978-1416545071
In Popular Culture
In the comic strip Doonesbury, George Hamilton is the inspiration for the "George Hamilton Cocoa Butter Open". This is a fictional tanning competition. The character Zonker Harris looks up to "Tanmaster Hamilton".
See also
In Spanish: George Hamilton (actor) para niños
