George Hamilton

Vanity Fair published this extract from George Hamilton's memoirs. It's great to see Hamilton still up and about - he's been one of Hollywood's great survivors, has Hamilton. John Milius quoted him once as saying, "you all think I'm a second-rate actor when in fact I'm a first-rate conman".

Hamilton became famous in the early 60s as a ridiculously good looking tanned teen idol - he had those sort of pretty boy looks that really irritate men. His career got off to a terrific start with a meaty role in a solid, popular film, Home from the Hill (the movie that also helped launch George Peppard's career). This earned him a contract at MGM, for whom he played the romantic lead in Where the Boys Are. Such are the ways of popular culture, Where the Boys Are would be the better-remembered film today.

Hamilton became one of the bright lights of MGM during its Vogel-Siegel years. He turned in some good performances in strong movies - but unfortunately the public didn't really go for them: Light in the Piazza, Act One, Two Weeks in Another Town, Angel Heart. My Cheatin' Heart, in which Hamilton played Hank Williams, was another such film, perhaps the best he ever made.

His last big hit was The Victors (also with Peppard), although he popped up supporting Bardot and Moreau in Viva Maria and kept in the public eye by dating LBJ's daughter. His career as a movie star tapered off in the late 60s with some unsuccessful films for MGM such as Jack of Diamonds and The Power; he went into TV, tried producing (a film about Evil Kenevil written by Milius), hosting TV shows and went into real estate.

He made a comeback with a terrific performance in a popular film, Love At First Bite. A follow up, Zorro the Gay Blade didn't do as well but Hamilton has kept busy. He has been wonderful in small parts in Godfather 3, Doc Hollywood and Hollywood Ending, as well as his business interests and habits of dating high profile women.

Hamilton's current status is as a sort of camp/cool icon but you don't last as long as he did without hard work and some ability. It's a shame some of his early 60s performances aren't better known or at least appreciated - but everything has it's time and I think that day will come. Here's hoping Hamilton gets the chance to enjoy it before he dies.

There are some interviews with Hamilton are here and here.