Who is George Hamilton?
American actor and producer George Stevens Hamilton was born in Memphis, Tennessee USA, on 12 August 1939, making Leo his zodiac sign. He’s had roles in over 120 TV series and movies, but is probably still known best for playing the lead character Don Viego Vega in the hit 1981 action adventure comedy movie “Zorro: The Gay Blade”, directed by Peter Medak, and which also starred Lauren Hutton and Brenda Vaccaro. It follows the legendary swordsman Zorro who’s passed on his duty to his son Diego, but now that Diego’s suffered an injury, his twin brother Ramon has to take over the responsibility; the film won three of its five award nominations.
George is currently shooting for the upcoming movie “All Terrain”.
Education and early life
George was raised in Memphis alongside his younger brother and older maternal half-brother, by their father George ‘Spike’ Hamilton who was a bandleader, and mother Ann Stevens who was a housewife.
George was raised by his stepmother June Howard from the age of 12, and has revealed that he began having sexual relations with her at that age, as well as later on when he was older. He studied at Hackley School and became interested in acting during his time there; George appeared in both theatre and school plays, and was encouraged by his father to pursue a career in the film industry.
He matriculated in 1957, and then began pursuing an acting career rather than a college degree.
Roles in TV series
George made his debut TV series appearance in the 1958 episode “The Return of Madame Vernoy” of the mystery horror “The Veil”, and the following year saw him appear in an episode of the family western “The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin”, the western “Cimarron City” and the family comedy “The Donna Reed Show”.
In 1964 and 1965, he played both Clint Perry and Little John Lester in the action crime adventure “Burke’s Law”, which Frank D. Gilroy created, and which starred Regis Toomey, Gary Conway and Gene Barry. It follows the life of Los Angeles Police Department’s millionaire captain, and the series won one of its three award nominations. Some of George’s roles in the remainder of the decade were in the drama mini-series “A Farewell to Arms”, the animated family fantasy “Off to See the Wizard” (voice role), and the drama “The Survivors”.
He had only a couple of TV series roles in the ‘70s, appearing in an episode of the crime action “Police Story”, another crime action “McCloud” and the biographical historical mini-series “Roots”, and George’s following notable performance was playing Joel Abrigore in 16 episodes (1985-1986) of the romantic drama “Dynasty”, which starred Linda Evans, Joan Collins and John Forsythe, and was created by Esther Shapiro and Richard Alan Shapiro. It follows the feud between the wealthy oil families Colby and Carrington, the series aired from 1981 through 1989, and won 25 of its 92 award nominations.
George appeared in an episode of more than 10 TV series in the first half of the ‘90s, such as the comedy “The John Larroquette Show”, the romantic comedy “NewsRadio” and the comedy “Bonnie”, and the year 1997 saw him star as Guy Hathaway in the comedy “Jenny”, created by Howard Gewirtz and Mark Reisman, and which also starred Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg and Heather Dubrow. It follows Jenny who’s inherited a property in Hollywood, and is now renting it to two moviemakers; the series won only a single award.
George appeared in only three TV series in the 2000s: the crime drama “Las Vegas”, the romantic comedy “Joey” and the fantasy comedy “Pushing Daisies”, and his most recent role has been playing Spencer Blitz in eight episodes (2017-2019) of the comedy “American Housewife”.
Roles in movies
George’s debut film role was playing Robert in the drama “Crime & Punishment, USA”, while some of his following roles were in the 1960 romantic musical drama “All the Fine Young Cannibals”, the 1962 romantic drama “Light in the Piazza” and the 1964 musical “Looking for Love”.
The year 1967 saw him star as Captain Dorrit Bentley in the western “A Time for Killing”, directed by Phil Karlson and Roger Corman, and which also starred Inger Stevens and Glenn Ford; it follows a group of Confederate soldiers who’ve escaped from a Union camp.
Some of George’s most notable performances in the ‘70s were perhaps in the 1973 romantic western “The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing”, the 1975 romantic drama “Once Is Not Enough” and the 1977 romantic musical comedy “Sextette”.
In 1983, George played Jay Pomerantz in the drama “Malibu”, directed by E. W. Swackhamer, and which starred William Atherton, James Coburn and Susan Dey; it follows a recently married couple who’ve moved into a wealthy Malibu beach community. The remainder of the decade saw George appear in the 1984 comedy “Poor Richard”, the 1985 drama “Two Fathers’ Justice” and the 1987 romantic western “Poker Alice”.
He portrayed Alfonso de la Pena in the 1992 crime mystery comedy “Once Upon a Crime…”, which Eugene Levy directed, and which starred Cybill Shepherd, Jim Belushi and John Candy. It follows two friends who’ve found a lost dog in Rome, and have been accused of murdering its owner; the film was nominated for only a single award. The following year saw George appear in the comedy “Amore!”, while he was then cast to play supporting characters in the 1994 action adventure comedy “Double Dragon”, the 1996 thriller “Playback”, and the 1997 adventure crime comedy “8 Heads in a Duffel Bag”.
In 2005, he played The King of Beverly Hills in the comedy “The L. A. Riot Spectacular”, written and directed by Marc Klasfeld, and which also starred Snoop Dogg, T. K. Carter and Charles S. Dutton; it follows a group of people attending the 1992 Los Angeles riot.
Some of George’s most recent film roles have been in the 2016 drama “The Congressman”, the 2016 family comedy “Silver Skies”, and the 2018 romantic comedy “Swiped”.
TOMORROW on Home & Family! George Hamilton & Ryan Merriman talk about their new movie “The Congressman” & author Marcia…
Posted by Home & Family on Monday, May 16, 2016
Other credits
George has seven producing credits, which include the 2009 biographical adventure comedy movie “My One and Only”, the 2011 comedy film “The Last Resort” and the 2015 biographical action documentary movie “Being Evel”.
He received special thanks for the 1990 documentary movie “The Godfather Family: A Look Inside”, the 2009 episode “Best of Bridget’s Sexiest Beaches” of the documentary series “Bridget’s Sexiest Beaches” and the 2020 biographical documentary movie “Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind”.
Some of George’s most recent talk-show appearances have been in “Entertainment Today”, “Celebrity Page” and “Good Morning Britain”.
Awards and accolades
George’s won three of his eight award nominations – a 1960 Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer – Male, for his performance in “Crime & Punishment, USA”, a 1980 Saturn Award for Best Actor, for “Love at First Bite”, and a 1981 ShoWest Convention Special Award for Showman Star of the Year.
George received his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2009.
Business ventures
George founded his two companies George Hamilton Sun Care System and George Hamilton Skin Care System in the second half of the ‘80s, and the following decade saw the launch of a line of cigars and a cigar lounge bearing his name.
Marriage and divorce
George has been married once, and has two children. He dated Lynda Bird Johnson Robb in 1966, who’s probably only known for being the daughter of the late US President Lyndon Baines Johnson.
George married American actress and former model Alana Hamilton Stewart in 1972, and she gave birth to their son Ashley George in 1974; he’s today a successful actor, singer-songwriter and comedian. George and Alana divorced in 1976.
From 1996 through 1999, he was in a relationship with American former swimsuit model Kimberly Blackford, and she gave birth to their son George Thomas Hamilton, also known as George Jr. in December 1999; George Jr. and his half-brother Ashley both attended military schools.
While competing in the 2009 game-show “I’m a Celebrity…”, George revealed that he had dated four Miss Worlds.
He seems to be unattached as of April 2023, was once married to Alana Hamilton Stewart and has a son with her, while he also has a son with his former girlfriend Kimberly Blackford.
Interesting facts and hobbies
George was involved in a scandal in 1990, when named a co-conspirator in a fraud to loot government funds, together with Filipino politician Imelda Romualdez Marcos, who was the First Lady of the Philippines from 1965 through 1986.
His half-brother William Potter’s today a successful interior decorator, and was in 1975 hired to decorate a $1 million-valued mansion bought by American industrialist James Randall.
George was the grand marshal of the 79th Annual Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in April 2006.
He appeared as ‘Crispy Colonel’ in a 2016 and a 2018 KFC commercial.
George competed in the 2005 season of the game-show “Dancing with the Stars”.
His favorite actor is George Clooney, and some of George’s favorite movies include “From Dusk Till Dawn”, “Ocean’s Eleven” and “Batman & Robin”.
Height, eyes and wealth
George’s age is 83. He has blue eyes and grey hair, is 6ft 1in (1.85m) tall and weighs around 200lbs (89kgs).
George’s net worth’s been estimated at over $20 million, as of April 2023.
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