Harry Hamlin is a well-known American actor, author, and entrepreneur. He is particularly famous for his performance as Perseus in the 1981 fantasy film Clash of the Titans, a role he reprised in the 2007 Santa Monica Studio video game God of War II, and for his character Michael Kuzak in the legal drama series L.A. Law, for which he received three nominations for the Golden Globe.
Early Life & Education
Harry Hamlin, originally named Harry Robinson Hamlin, was born on October 30, 1951, in Pasadena, California. His mother, Bernice, was a socialite, while his father, Chauncey, worked as an aeronautical engineer.
Harry received his education at Flintridge Preparatory School and also attended a boarding institution in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, known as The Hill School.
He also engaged in studies at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts. After completing high school, Harry registered at the University of California, Berkeley, where he joined the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, Theta Zeta chapter.
He later went on to Yale University, graduating in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and drama. Following this, Hamlin enrolled in the advanced actor training program at the American Conservatory Theater, where he caught the eye of director Stanley Donen while performing in a production of “Equus.” In 1976, Harry received a Master of Fine Arts in acting.
Career
In 1976, Harry Hamlin featured in a television adaptation of “The Taming of the Shrew,” and three years later, he portrayed Joey Popchik in “Movie Movie” while also taking on the lead role in the miniseries “Studs Lonigan.”
His significant breakthrough came when he was cast as Perseus in the 1981 film “Clash of the Titans,” after which he appeared in the movies “King of the Mountain” (1981), “Making Love” (1982), and “Blue Skies Again” (1983), as well as the miniseries “Master of the Game” (1984) and “Space” (1985).
In 1986, Harry Hamlin began his role as Michael Kuzak on NBC’s “L.A. Law,” where he appeared in over 100 episodes before leaving the series in 1991; he later reprised this role in the 2002 film “L.A. Law: The Movie.”
While he was a part of the show, “People” magazine named him the “Sexiest Man Alive” in 1987, and he also featured in television films such as “Laguna Heat” (1987), “Dinner at Eight” (1989), and “Deceptions” (1990).
After departing from “L.A. Law,” Harry lent his voice to “Batman: The Animated Series” (1992) and “The Legend of Prince Valiant” (1992), and he made a comeback to feature films with appearances in “Save Me” (1993), “Under Investigation” (1993), and “Ebbtide” (1994).
In 1995, Harry Hamlin took on the role of Paul Hood in the miniseries “Tom Clancy’s Op Center,” and he made a guest appearance on “The Nanny” in 1997. From 1999 to 2000, he portrayed Reese Hardin in the WB sitcom “Movie Stars,” and in 2001, he guest-starred on “Touched by an Angel.”
In 2008, he co-starred alongside Steve Zahn and Jonah Hill in the Adam Sandler-produced film “Strange Wilderness,” and subsequently appeared in “Bleeding Heart” (2013), “The Meddler” (2015), “Director’s Cut” (2016), and “Rebirth” (2016).
Harry Hamlin featured in eight episodes of “Shameless” from 2012 to 2014, and in 2013, he became part of the cast of “Mad Men,” portraying ad executive Jim Cutler in 15 episodes.
Personal Life
Harry Hamlin started a relationship with Ursula Andress after they met while filming the 1979 movie “Clash of the Titans,” and they became parents to a son, Dimitri, in 1980. Hamlin tied the knot with Laura Johnson, a star from “Falcon Crest,” on March 9, 1985, but they divorced in September 1989.
He then married actress Nicollette Sheridan on September 7, 1991, but their marriage ended in divorce in less than a year.
On March 29, 1997, Harry Hamlin tied the knot with Lisa Rinna, and they have two daughters, Delilah Hamlin (born June 10, 1998) and Amelia (born June 13, 2001).
Hamlin and Rinna starred in the 2010 reality television series “Harry Loves Lisa,” and they played a married couple in the inaugural season of “Veronica Mars” (2004–2005) and the Lifetime film “Sex, Lies, and Obsession” (2001).
Net Worth
Harry Hamlin is a renowned American actor, entrepreneur, and author with a net worth estimated at $10 million. He boasts over 80 acting credits throughout his career, making his cinematic debut in the 1978 film “Movie Movie.”
Hamlin is particularly recognized for his role in the visually impressive film “Clash of the Titans” (1981) and for his performances in the television series “L.A. Law” (1986–1991), “Veronica Mars” (2004–2006), and “Mad Men” (2013–2014).
