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

Early life

Hamlin was born in Pasadena, California, the son of Berniece (née Robinson), a socialite, and Chauncey Jerome Hamlin, Jr., an aeronautical engineer who once worked with scientist Wernher von Braun. 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 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 such as Making Love (1982) and Blue Skies Again (1983). He returned to television appearing in the miniseries Master of the Game 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. 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 realise 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. 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. In 2006, Hamlin took part in the third season of Dancing with the Stars, 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.

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

On December 4. 2008, TV Guide reported that Hamlin and Rinna signed a deal to create a reality television series called Harry Loves Lisa that is based around their family life. The series is 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 # 1439169993)

On April 15, 2012, he was seen in an adult diaper commercial with his wife during a prime time television program.

Personal life

In 1980, Hamlin had a son (Dimitri Alexandre Hamlin) with Swiss actress Ursula Andress (some 15 years his senior), his co-star in the film Clash of the Titans. From 1985 to 1989, he was married to actress Laura Johnson and between 1991 and 1993 to actress Nicollette Sheridan.

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.

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 Andress later made guest appearances).

Filmography

Feature films

2008 Strange Wilderness

2001 Roads to Riches (AKA: Strange Hearts)

2001 Perfume

2000 Shoot or Be Shot

1998 Frogs for Snakes

1997 Allie & Me

1994 Ebbtide (Australian)

1993 Under Investigation

1993 Save Me

1985 Maxie

1983 Blue Skies Again

1982 Making Love

1981 King of the Mountain

1981 Clash of the Titans

1978 Movie, Movie

Made for television films

2012 Christmas High School Reunion

2010 You Lucky Dog

2002 Disappearance

2001 Sex, Lies and Obsession

2000 Quarantine

1999 Silent Predators

1998 Stranger in Town

1998 The Hunted

1998 Like Father, Like Santa

1997 Time to Say Goodbye?

1997 Night Sins

1997 Badge of Betrayal

1995 Her Deadly Rival

1995 Tom Clancy's 'OP Center'

1994 In the Best of Families: Marriage, Pride & Madness

1993 Poisoned by Love: The Kern County Murders

1992 Deliver Them from Evil: The Taking of Alta View

1991 Deadly Intentions... Again?

1990 Deceptions

1989 Dinner at Eight

1988 Target: Favorite Son

1987 Laguna Heat

Made for television miniseries

1988 Favorite Son

1985 James A. Michener's Space

1984 Master of the Game

1979 Studs Lonigan

Television series

2012 Shameless

2011 Curb Your Enthusiasm

2010 Harry Loves Lisa

2010 Army Wives

2009 Harper's Island

2006 Dancing With the Stars

2004 Veronica Mars

1999 Movie Stars

1997 Ink

1992 Batman: The Animated Series

1986 L.A. Law

1983 The Hitchhiker

Video games

2007 God of War II

This biography article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Harry Hamlin". Reality TV World is not responsible for any errors or omissions this article may contain.