Harry Hamlin

Harry Hamlin

Hamlin at the 39th Emmy Awards, 1987
Born Harry Robinson Hamlin
(1951-10-30) October 30, 1951
Pasadena, California, U.S.
Education UC-Berkeley
Yale University, B.A. 1974
American Conservatory Theatre, MFA
Occupation Actor
Years active 1976–present
Spouse(s)
Partner(s) Ursula Andress (1979–83)
Children 3

Harry Robinson Hamlin (born October 30, 1951) is an American film and television actor, known for his roles as Perseus in the 1981 fantasy film Clash of the Titans, and as Michael Kuzak in the legal drama series L.A. Law.

Youth

Hamlin was born October 30, 1951, in Pasadena, California, the son of Berniece (née Robinson), a socialite, and Chauncey Jerome Hamlin, Jr., an aeronautical engineer.[1][2][3] As a teenager, he attended Flintridge Preparatory School, near Pasadena, and The Hill School, a private boarding school in Pennsylvania, where he played soccer and lacrosse and acted in the school's musicals and plays. Hamlin attended University of California, Berkeley and is an alumnus of the Theta Zeta chapter of the national fraternity Delta Kappa Epsilon, of which he was President in 1972. Hamlin graduated from Yale University with a BA degree in Drama and Psychology in 1974. Hamlin then attended the American Conservatory Theatre's Advanced Actor Training Program from which he was subsequently awarded a Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting.

Career

Hamlin appeared in the 1976 television production of Taming of the Shrew and also had the title role in the 1979 television miniseries Studs Lonigan. He had a role in Movie Movie with George C. Scott in 1978, but his big-screen break was a starring role in the 1981 Greek mythology fantasy epic Clash of the Titans. Afterwards, his career faltered somewhat with such controversial box office films as Making Love (1982) and Blue Skies Again (1983). He returned to television appearing in the miniseries Master of the Game (based on novel by Sidney Sheldon) in 1984 and Space (based on the novel by James A. Michener) in 1985.

Following this, Hamlin's popularity skyrocketed when he starred on the highly popular NBC legal drama series L.A. Law. Playing principled attorney Michael Kuzak, he remained on the series from 1986 to 1991, during which time he was voted as People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1987.[4] Hamlin decided to leave the series at the end of the fifth season and tried to revive his movie career. However, this was unsuccessful and so far he has only starred in B movies and direct-to-video features.

In early 1991, Hamlin appeared in the music video and sang in the choir on the song "Voices That Care", which was made in support of U.S. troops who were stationed in the Middle East and involved at that time in Operation Desert Storm. He then appeared in two 1992 episodes of Batman: The Animated Series, in each episode as a separate character. In the episode "Joker's Wild", Hamlin played the role of Cameron Kaiser, a ruthless businessman who sinks all his money into a casino, then counts on the Joker to destroy it in order to collect on the insurance policy from a reputable company, and in the other episode, "Moon of the Wolf", he provided the voice of Anthony Romulus, a greedy athlete who takes a potion to enhance his skills, only to realize too late that it has transformed him into a werewolf. In 1995, he participated in the documentary film, The Celluloid Closet where he discussed his role in the film Making Love.

In 2001, he starred in the television comedy Bratty Babies, and in 2002 he reprised the role of Michael Kuzak in an L.A. Law reunion television movie.

In 2004, Hamlin began a recurring role on the television series Veronica Mars. He played fading action hero Aaron Echolls, father to central show character Logan Echolls who had a turbulent relationship with him. Hamlin's character states that he (like the real-life Hamlin) was People magazine's 'Sexiest Man Alive' in 1987. Aaron's wife, Lynn, was played by Hamlin's real-life wife, Lisa Rinna. Hamlin appeared beginning in the sixth episode of the first season, "Return of the Kane", and made his last appearance in the second season finale, "Not Pictured". In 2006, Hamlin took part in the third season of Dancing with the Stars with Ashly DelGrosso, but was voted off the show in the third week.

Hamlin reprised the role of Perseus in the 2007 video game God of War II. In the game, Perseus was trapped in a room while searching for the Sisters of Fate to revive his dead lover, and believes Kratos to be sent by the gods to test him.

In 2009, Hamlin starred in the series Harper's Island as Uncle Marty. He was killed abruptly in the first episode by being cut in half while he dangled from a broken wooden bridge.

In June 2010, Hamlin guest-starred in an episode of Army Wives, and has since become a recurring cast member.[5]

In June 2010, Hamlin starred in the Hallmark movie You Lucky Dog.[6]

On December 4, 2008, TV Guide reported that Hamlin and Rinna signed a deal to create a reality television series[7] called Harry Loves Lisa that is based around their family life. The series was developed by TV Land and premiered on October 6, 2010.

In 2010, Hamlin published a book Full Frontal Nudity: The Making of an Accidental Actor wherein he shares stories of his career as an actor. (ISBN 1-4391-6999-3)

In 2012, Hamlin began playing Lloyd Lishman, an older lover to Ian Gallagher (Cameron Monaghan) on the U.S version of Shameless (7 episodes circa the end of Season 3).

On April 15, 2012, he appeared in an adult diaper commercial with his wife during a primetime television program.

Beginning on April 28, 2013, Hamlin appeared in several episodes of season six (1968) of Mad Men as ad executive Jim Cutler after the merger of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce and Cutler Gleason and Chaough. Hamlin was nominated for a 2013 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his appearance in "A Tale of Two Cities."

Personal life

Hamlin with then-wife, Laura Johnson at the 1987 Emmy Awards.

Hamlin was in a relationship with Swiss actress Ursula Andress, his co-star in the film Clash of the Titans, from 1979 to 1983.[8] In 1980, Hamlin had a son (Dimitri Alexander Hamlin) with Andress. From 1985 to 1989, he was married to actress Laura Johnson and between 1991 and 1992 to actress Nicollette Sheridan.[9][10]

Since 1997, Hamlin has been married to former Days of Our Lives actress and television host Lisa Rinna. They have two daughters, Delilah Belle Hamlin and Amelia Gray Hamlin, who both featured in the reality show Harry Loves Lisa with the couple. The couple also starred in the first season of Veronica Mars as Aaron and Lynn Echolls, a married couple.

All three of Hamlin's wives have been prominent prime time soap-opera actresses: Rinna starred on Melrose Place, Sheridan was a regular on Knots Landing and more recently on Desperate Housewives, whereas Johnson was a regular on Falcon Crest (on which even Andress later made guest appearances).

Hamlin is an advocate for Fusion energy and has invested in Tri-Alpha Energy, Inc. and is also a board member of Advanced Physics Corporation.[11][12]

His wife Lisa Rinna joined the fifth season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, where she revealed that Hamlin quit drinking alcohol and has been sober for three years at the time of filming due to two of his brothers dying from drug abuse and alcoholism, with Rinna stating that Hamlin had to "break the cycle."

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1969 Hercules N/A
1978 Movie Movie Joey Popchik Nominated—Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor
1979 Studs Lonigan Bill 'Studs' Lonigan
1981 Clash of the Titans Perseus
1981 King of the Mountain Steve
1982 Making Love Bart
1983 Blue Skies Again Sandy
1985 Maxie Himself
1993 Save Me Jim Stevens
1993 Under Investigation Detective Harry Keaton
1994 Ebbtide Jeff Warren
1997 Allie & Me Dustin Halaburton
1998 Frogs for Snakes Klench
2000 Shoot or Be Shot Jack Yeager
2001 Perfume Hancock
2002 Roads to Riches Dan Smith
2008 Strange Wilderness Sky Pierson
2013 Shiva and May Ed
2016 Director's Cut Godfrey Winters
2016 Rebirth Gabe

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1984 Master of the Game Anthony James 'Tony' Blackwell 3 episodes
1985 Space John Pope 5 episodes
1986–1991 L.A. Law Michael Kuzak 102 episodes
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama (1988–90)
1987 Laguna Heat Tom Shephard Television movie
1988 Favorite Son Senator Terry Fallon Episode: "Part One"
1989 Dinner at Eight Larry Renault Television movie
1990 Deceptions Nick Gentry Television movie
1991 Deadly Intentions... Again? Charles Raynor Television movie
1992 Deliver Them from Evil: The Taking of Alta View Richard Worthington Television movie
1992 Batman: The Animated Series Anthony 'Tony' Romulus Episode: "Moon of the Wolf:
1992 Batman: The Animated Series Cameron Kaiser Episode: "Joker's Wild"
1992 The Legend of Prince Valiant Sir Lymon Episode: "The Traitor"
1993 Poisoned by Love: The Kern County Murders Steve Catlin Television movie, also known as, Murder So Sweet
1994 In the Best of Families: Marriage, Pride & Madness N/A Television movie
1995 Tom Clancy's 'OP Center' Paul Hood Television movie
1995 Her Deadly Rival Jim Lansford Television movie
1997 Ink Brian 4 episodes
1997 The Nanny Professor Steve Episode: "Educating Fran"
1997 Badge of Betrayal Sheriff Dave Ward Television movie
1997 Night Sins Chief Mitch Holt Television movie
1997 Time to Say Goodbye? N/A Television movie
1998 Like Father, Like Santa Tyler Madison Television movie
1998 The Hunted Doc Kovac Television movie
1998 Stranger in Town Jack Television movie
1999 Silent Predators Vic Rondelli Television movie
1999–2000 Movie Stars Reese Hardin 21 episodes
2000 Quarantine President Kempers Television movie
2001 Sex, Lies and Obsession Cameron Thomas Television movie
2001 Touched by an Angel Liam Episode: "Winners, Losers & Leftovers"
2002 Disappearance Jim Henley Television movie
2004–2006 Veronica Mars Aaron Echolls 12 episodes
2005 Arrested Development Himself Episode: "For British Eyes Only"
2007 Law & Order Randall Bailey Episode: "The Family Hour"
2009 Harper's Island Uncle Marty Dunn 2 episodes
2010–2011 Army Wives Professor Chandler 8 episodes
2010 Harry Loves Lisa Himself 2 episodes
2010 You Lucky Dog Jim Rayborn Television movie
2011 Curb Your Enthusiasm Dino Episode: "The Smiley Face"
2011 Franklin & Bash Rick Paxton Episode: "Bro-Bono"
2012 Christmas High School Reunion N/A Television movie
2012 Shadow of Fear Richard Steele Television movie
2012–2014 Shameless Lloyd 'Ned' Lishman 8 episodes
2013–2014 Mad Men Jim Cutler 15 episodes
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
2014 Rush Dr. Warren Rush 4 episodes
2014–2015 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Chief Charles Patton 2 episodes
2015 Glee Walter 4 episodes
2016 Mom Fred Hayes 2 episodes

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2007 God of War II Perseus

References

Wikinews has related news: Hamlin on Dancing with the Stars
  1. ↑ "Harry Hamlin Biography (1951-)". filmreference.com.
  2. ↑ Harry Hamlin Biography - Yahoo! Movies Archived October 15, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ "Last of the Great Romantics". people.com.
  4. ↑ "All the Sexiest Man Alive Covers". Retrieved 2015-07-20.
  5. ↑ "Exclusive: Harry Hamlin to Guest-Star on Army Wives". TVGuide.com.
  6. ↑ "Original Hallmark Movie You Lucky Dog". hallmarkchannelpress.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2010.
  7. ↑ Harry Hamlin, Lisa Rinna Snag TV Land Reality Show" TV Guide. December 4, 2008. Retrieved on December 5, 2008.
  8. ↑ Hutchings, David. "For Harry Hamlin, Life After Ursula Andress Is a Time to Awake and Sing".April 09, 1984. Retrieved on March 08, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Friday was 'TV Stars' Divorce Day' in L.A.". The Palm Beach Post, p. 353. September 3, 1989.
  10. ↑ "Show Stoppers". Democrat and Chronicle, p. 91. September 20, 1992.
  11. ↑ Kanellos, Michael. "Hollywood, Silicon Valley and Russia Join Forces on Nuclear Fusion". Forbes.March 11, 2013. Retrieved on October 30, 2013.
  12. ↑ "HARRY HAMLIN INTERVIEWED ON ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE FUSION ENERGY TECHNOLOGY - Free Online Library". PRNewswire. September 29, 1993. Retrieved on October 30, 2013.
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