Harry Robinson Hamlin (born October 30, 1951) is an American actor, author, and entrepreneur. He is widely known for his roles as Perseus in the 1981 fantasy film Clash of the Titans, a role he reprised in 2007's Santa Monica Studio video game God of War II, and as Michael Kuzak in the legal drama series L.A. Law, for which he received three Golden Globe nominations. For his recurring role as Jim Cutler on the AMC drama series Mad Men, Hamlin received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.
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Early life
Hamlin was born October 30, 1951, in Pasadena, California, the son of Bernice (née Robinson), a socialite, and Chauncey Jerome Hamlin, Jr., an aeronautical engineer.
Hamlin graduated from Yale University in 1974 with dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in drama and psychology. He then attended the American Conservatory Theater's advanced actor training program, from which he was awarded a Master of Fine Arts degree in acting in 1976. There, Hamlin starred in a production of Equus, attracting the attention of director Stanley Donen.
Career
Film and television
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 starred in Movie Movie with George C. Scott in 1978, for which he received his first Golden Globe Award nomination. 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 films as Making Love in 1982 (the first gay themed love story to be produced by a major studio, Twentieth Century Fox) and Blue Skies Again (1983). He returned to television appearing in the miniseries Master of the Game (based on the novel by Sidney Sheldon) in 1984 and Space (based on the novel by James A. Michener) in 1985.
Hamlin appeared on the NBC legal drama series L.A. Law, playing attorney Michael Kuzak. He remained on the series from 1986 to 1991 during which time he was voted People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1987. Hamlin left the series at the end of the fifth season having been nominated three times for Best Actor in a Television Series - Drama by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
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 in Operation Desert Storm. In 1992, Hamlin guest starred in two episodes of Batman: The Animated Series as Cameron Kaiser and Anthony Romulus. 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 film.
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 who had a turbulent relationship with him. 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. Hamlin appeared beginning in the sixth episode of the first season, "Return of the Kane", and made his last appearance in the second season finale, "Not Pictured". In 2006, Hamlin took part in the third season of Dancing with the Stars with Ashly DelGrosso, but was voted off the show in the third week.
Stage
Hamlin made his Broadway debut in 1984 playing Moe Axelrod opposite Frances McDormand in the Broadway revival of Clifford Odets' Awake and Sing!
An avid Shakespearean actor, Hamlin played the title role in Hamlet at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey, where he played Faust in Doctor Faustus the following year.
In 1994, Hamlin received a Helen Hayes Award nomination for his portrayal of the title role in Henry V at the Shakespeare Theater Company in Washington, D.C.
In 1996, Hamlin returned to Broadway as Michael Buchanan in Tennessee Williams' Summer and Smoke at the Roundabout Theater. In 2018, Hamlin starred in A Shakespeare Jubilee! directed by Louis Fantasia at The Wallis in Beverly Hills.
Other work
In 2010, Hamlin authored Full Frontal Nudity: The Making of an Accidental Actor, published by Scribner, wherein he shares stories of his early life before becoming a film actor. (ISBN 1-4391-6999-3)
Entrepreneurship
Hamlin is an advocate for fusion power and was an angel investor and co-founder of TAE Technologies, formerly known as Tri Alpha Energy. TAE Technologies states that it is in the final stages of the research and development of a clean, non-radioactive fusion power generator.
Hamlin delivered a talk on fusion at the TEDX LA conference in 2016 entitled, "You Don't Have To Be a Rocket Scientist To Be a Futurist!" Hamlin was also a board member of Advanced Physics Corporation.
Hamlin was president and CEO of the Belle Gray women's clothing boutiques in Los Angeles. Hamlin launched The Lisa Rinna Collection with Lisa Rinna for QVC in 2012.
Hamlin is also on the board of governors of the National Space Society.
Personal life
Hamlin was in a relationship with actress Ursula Andress after meeting on the set of Clash of the Titans in 1979. They had a son, Dimitri Hamlin, in 1980. Although an engagement was announced, the couple never married. In 1983, Hamlin ended their relationship.
From 1985 to 1989, he was married to actress Laura Johnson and, between 1991 and 1992, to actress Nicollette Sheridan.
Since 1997, Hamlin has been married to actress Lisa Rinna, whom he met in 1992. They have two daughters, Delilah (born 1998) and Amelia (born 2001), who both appeared in the reality shows Harry Loves Lisa and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills with their parents. Hamlin and Rinna starred as married couples in the first season of Veronica Mars and in the 2001 Lifetime film Sex, Lies & Obsession.
Hamlin's wives have all been prime time soap-opera actresses: Rinna starred on Melrose Place, Sheridan was a regular on Knots Landing, Desperate Housewives, and the Dynasty reboot, and Johnson was a regular on Falcon Crest (on which Andress later made guest appearances).