Antony Hamilton

Antony Hamilton Smith (4 May 1952 – 29 March 1995) was an English-Australian actor, model and dancer. Hamilton began his career as a ballet dancer with The Australian Ballet before becoming a model. He later transitioned into acting and won his first notable role in the 1984 television film Samson and Delilah. That same year, he took over the lead role in the series Cover Up after the death of the series' lead actor, Jon-Erik Hexum. One of Hamilton's best-known roles was that of Max Harte, an agent in the 1988 revival of Mission: Impossible.

For those of a similar name, see Anthony Hamilton (disambiguation).

Antony Hamilton
Born
Antony Hamilton Smith

(1952-05-04)4 May 1952
Liverpool, England
Died29 March 1995(1995-03-29) (aged 42)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
CitizenshipEnglish[1]
Australian
EducationScotch College
Australian Ballet School
Occupation(s)Actor, model, dancer
Years active1972–1992

In March 1995, Hamilton died of AIDS-related pneumonia at the age of 42.

Early life

Hamilton was born in Liverpool, England and was orphaned when he was two weeks old. He was adopted by Donald Smith and his wife Margaret as a baby and named Antony Hamilton Smith. His adoptive father was a highly decorated Australian Squadron commander who fought in World War II. His adoptive mother was an English nurse. When he was three years old, his father retired to South Australia where Hamilton grew up on a 640-acre sheep farm.[1][2][3] From age 10 he attended Scotch College in Adelaide,[4] where he studied dance and ballet and played Australian rules football, cricket, basketball and other sports.[1]

At the age of 15, he won a scholarship at the Australian Ballet School. After leaving school, he began a career as a professional dancer with The Australian Ballet Company where he toured Europe and the Soviet Union for two years.[3][5]

Career

Modelling

In 1973, during a dance tour in Europe with The Australian Ballet, he was discovered by Vladimir Bliokh, a world-famous Russian global photojournalist and premier performing-arts photographer. Hamilton stopped dancing at the age of 21 and decided to pursue a career as a model. Hamilton later said, "Dancing was too confining and regimented for me. [...] I became a model not because I was interested in fashion or styles, but because I knew it was a good way to see the world. [...] It gave me independence. [..] The money was good too."[3][6]

After signing with a London modelling agency,[2] he worked extensively as a model in Europe, America, Asia and Africa, becoming a favourite subject of world-famous photographers as Richard Avedon and Bruce Weber, often working with designers such as Gianni Versace, and frequently appearing in magazines such as Vogue and GQ.

Acting

While modelling, Hamilton also began taking acting classes in an effort to expand his career. His first major role was as Samson in the 1984 television film Samson and Delilah.[5] Later that year, producers of the crime drama series Cover Up offered Hamilton the leading role after the series' previous star, Jon-Erik Hexum, died after an on-set accident in October 1984. Hamilton had known Hexum having previously met him at an acting class when they both lived in New York. They shared the same acting coach and also competed for the same roles (both were up for the role in Samson and Delilah, which Hamilton won). Hamilton initially had misgivings about taking the role but ultimately accepted it.[6][7] Producers as well had misgivings about having the lead be found out to be a gay man, still taboo in the 1980s.[8] Hamilton's first episode aired on 24 November 1984. After Hexum's death, the series struggled in the ratings. CBS cancelled Cover Up the following year.[9] After the cancellation of Cover Up, Hamilton was in talks to replace Roger Moore as the new James Bond in the 007 film series.[10] Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli was reportedly hesitant to cast Hamilton as the womanising James Bond because, in real life, Hamilton was gay.[11][8] Timothy Dalton was ultimately cast as James Bond.[12] In 1986, Hamilton had a small role in the comedy film Jumpin' Jack Flash starring Whoopi Goldberg. He also guest-starred on several television series including The Hitchhiker, The New Twilight Zone, The Charmings and L.A. Law.

In 1988, Hamilton landed the role of Impossible Missions Force agent Max Harte, a former ANZAC commando, in the 1988 revival of Mission: Impossible.[13] The series aired for two seasons before being canceled due to low ratings in 1990. In 1991, he guest-starred on two episodes of crime drama series P.S. I Luv U. Hamilton's final role was in the 1992 thriller Fatal Instinct.

Death

On 29 March 1995, Hamilton died from AIDS-related pneumonia in Los Angeles.[14] His family requested that contributions be made in his name to AIDS Project Los Angeles.[15] Hamilton was cremated and his ashes were scattered off the coast of Malibu.

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1979 Nocturna: Granddaughter of Dracula Jimmy Alternative title: Nocturna
1984 Samson and Delilah Samson Television movie
1984–1985 Cover Up Jack Striker 14 episodes
1985 Mirrors Gino Rey Television movie
1986 Jumpin' Jack Flash Man in Restaurant Credited as Anthony Hamilton
1986 The Hitchhiker Jim Buckley Episode: "Man of Her Dreams"
1986 The New Twilight Zone Simon Locke Segment: "Nightsong"
1987 The Charmings Lionel Davenport III Episode: "Modern Romance"
1987 L.A. Law Dan Sapin Episode: "The Lung Goodbye"
1988 Sonny Spoon Episode: "Too Good to Be True, Too Good to Get Caught"
1988–1990 Mission: Impossible Former ANZAC Sgt. Maxwell Hart 35 episodes – credited as Tony Hamilton
1988 Howling IV: The Original Nightmare Tom Direct-to-video release
1991 P.S. I Luv U Dodger 2 episodes – credited as Tony Hamilton
1992 Fatal Instinct Bill Hook Credited as Tony Hamilton, (final film role)

Author Joel Rothschild recalls his friendship with Hamilton and his final years in his 2001 book Signals: An Inspiring Story of Life After Life.

References
  1. Smith, Stacy Jenel (12 February 1985). "Antony Hamilton's doing OK in Jon-Erik Hexum's shoes". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane. p. 2 Metro. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  2. "Michelle Will Tell". Record-Journal. Meridian, Conn. 8 September 1985. p. 17 TV Update. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  3. "Actors' Paths Often Crossed". The Victoria Advocate. 16 December 1984. p. 12TV. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  4. "The Living Daylights: Antony Hamilton". BondFanEvents.com. 6 April 2017.
  5. Hall, Jane (2 April 1984). "Two New Stars Turn ABC's Samson and Delilah into a Biblical Body Heat". People. 21 (13). Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  6. Scott, Vernon. "Destiny sometimes hands you something". The Pittsburgh Press. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  7. Carman, Jay (1 January 1985). "Antony Hamilton takes role of Jon-Erik Hexum". The Rock Hill Herald. p. 17. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  8. Snauffer, Douglas (10 March 2015). The Show Must Go On: How the Deaths of Lead Actors Have Affected Television Series. McFarland. pp. 91–95. ISBN 978-0786455041.
  9. Elber, Lynn (29 May 1998). "The Show May Go On". The Daily News. Bowling Green, Ky. p. 6B. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  10. Bricker, Rebecca (17 June 1985). "Take One". People. 23 (24). ISSN 0093-7673. Archived from the original on 9 March 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  11. Simpson, Paul, ed. (2002). The Rough Guide to James Bond. Rough Guides. p. 30. ISBN 978-1-843-53142-5.
  12. "Timothy Dalton Tamed Vanessa Redgrave and Gets Named the Next James Bond". People. 26 (8). 25 August 1986. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  13. Richmond, Ray (24 August 1988). "Paramount TV unveils cast for new 'Mission: Impossible'". The Vindicator. Youngstown, Ohio. p. 30. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  14. "Pop Culture News: Monitor". Entertainment Weekly. 28 April 1995. Archived from the original on 26 March 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
  15. "Antony Hamilton; Dancer, TV Actor". Los Angeles Times. 2 April 1995.
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