Kim Hamilton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kim Hamilton
Hamilton with Ivan Dixon and Steven Perry in The Twilight Zone episode "The Big Tall Wish" (1960)
Born	Dorothy Mae Aiken (1932-09-12)September 12, 1932 Los Angeles, California, United States
Died	September 16, 2013(2013-09-16) (aged 81) Los Angeles, California, United States
Other names	Kim Rousseau
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1952–2010
Spouse(s)	Robert Henry Hamilton (1951-1969) Werner Klemperer (1997–2000; his death)
Children	2

Kim Hamilton (born Dorothy Mae Aiken) was an American actress, director, writer, and artist. She was born on September 12, 1932, and passed away on September 16, 2013. Her career in entertainment lasted for over 50 years, from the 1950s until 2010.

She appeared in early films like Odds Against Tomorrow (1959) and The Leech Woman (1960). Kim was one of the first African-American actors on the soap opera Days of Our Lives. She was also the only African-American actor with a speaking role on Leave It to Beaver. In 1962, she played Helen Robinson in the movie To Kill a Mockingbird. This film was based on the famous book by Harper Lee.

Kim Hamilton's Early Life and Career

Kim Hamilton was born in Los Angeles, California. When she was young, she wanted to be a model. However, she found it hard to get modeling jobs because of her height and race. Instead, she decided to try acting.

She saw an advertisement in the Los Angeles Times for acting classes. Kim signed up for these classes and then found an agent to help her get roles. Her first acting job was in the 1950s TV show Amos 'n' Andy. She played the girlfriend of a character named Andy for several episodes.

Acting in London

For a short time, Kim moved to London to continue acting. She found some roles there, but she had to return to the United States. This was because the British Actors' Equity Association and the Secretary of State for Employment did not give her a work permit. This was a common issue for American actors at that time.

Famous Roles and TV Shows

Kim Hamilton appeared in over 60 different TV shows and movies during her career. In 1960, she was a guest star in an episode of The Twilight Zone called "The Big Tall Wish." She also played a high-school librarian on My Three Sons in 1963 and 1964.

She was one of the first black actresses to appear on the soap opera Days of Our Lives. Kim also made guest appearances on many other popular shows. These included Adam-12, General Hospital, Sanford and Son, Good Times, The Jeffersons, All In The Family, and Law & Order. She played a character named Songi in a 1990 episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Her last TV role was in 2008 on the ABC series Private Practice.

Besides acting, Kim Hamilton was also an artist, a director, and a writer. Towards the end of her career, she was sometimes credited as Kim Rousseau.

In December 2007, Kim was honored for her long career. This event was held at the Museum of the City of New York. It was part of a program by Columbia University that focused on the book To Kill a Mockingbird.

Kim Hamilton's Personal Life

Kim Hamilton was married two times. Her first marriage was to Robert Henry Hamilton in 1951 when she was 18. They had two children together. They later divorced.

She then dated the German-born actor Werner Klemperer for over 20 years. They got married in 1997 and stayed together until Werner passed away in 2000.

In her later years, Kim lived in both Manhattan and her hometown of Los Angeles. She passed away in Los Angeles in 2013, shortly after her 81st birthday.

Filmography

Films

Television