# Harry Hamlin

Harry Robinson Hamlin (born October 30, 1951) is an American actor, author, and entrepreneur. He is best 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.

## 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. As a teenager, he attended Flintridge Preparatory School, near Pasadena, and The Hill School, a private boarding school in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, where he played soccer and lacrosse and acted in the school's musicals and plays. He also attended classes at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts. 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 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.
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 then became a recurring cast member.
In June 2010, Hamlin starred in the Hallmark Channel film 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 was developed by TV Land and premiered on October 6, 2010.
In 2012, Hamlin began playing Lloyd Lishman, an older lover to Ian Gallagher (Cameron Monaghan) on the US version of Shameless (7 episodes before the end of Season 3).
Hamlin appeared in an adult diaper commercial with his wife during a primetime television program.
Beginning on April 28, 2013, Hamlin appeared in several episodes of season six (1968) of Mad Men as ad executive Jim Cutler after the merger of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce and Cutler Gleason and Chaough. Hamlin was nominated for a 2013 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his appearance in "A Tale of Two Cities".
In 2016, Hamlin was cast in the Epix comedy Graves starring Nick Nolte, and in 2017, Hamlin was cast as Addison Hayes, a mysterious and powerful mastermind whose agenda collides with Swagger, in the USA Network show Shooter.
In 2022, Hamlin was cast as Cortland Mayfair in AMC's Mayfair Witches, based on the gothic supernatural trilogy Lives of the Mayfair Witches by author Anne Rice.

### Stage

Hamlin made his Broadway debut in 1982 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.

### 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).

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1978 | Movie Movie | Joey Popchik |
| 1981 | Clash of the Titans | Perseus |
| 1981 | King of the Mountain | Steve |
| 1982 | Making Love | Bart McGuire |
| 1983 | Blue Skies Again | Sandy Mendenhall |
| 1985 | Maxie | Himself |
| 1993 | Save Me | Jim Stevens |
| 1993 | Under Investigation | Detective Harry Keaton |
| 1994 | Ebbtide | Jeff Warren |
| 1997 | Allie & Me | Dustin Halaburton |
| 1998 | Frogs for Snakes | Klench |
| 2001 | Perfume | Hancock |
| 2002 | Shoot or Be Shot | Jack Yeager |
| 2002 | Roads to Riches | Dan Smith |
| 2008 | Strange Wilderness | Sky Pierson |
| 2015 | Bleeding Heart | Ed |
| 2015 | The Meddler | TV Dad |
| 2016 | Director's Cut | Godfrey Winters |
| 2016 | Rebirth | Gabe |
| 2016 | The Bronx Bull | Lenny |
| 2018 | No Alternative | William Harrison |
| 2023 | 80 for Brady | Dan O'Callahan |

### Television films

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1987 | Laguna Heat | Tom Shephard | |
| 1989 | Dinner at Eight | Larry Renault | |
| 1990 | Deceptions | Nick Gentry | |
| 1991 | Deadly Intentions... Again? | Charles Raynor | |
| 1992 | Deliver Them from Evil: The Taking of Alta View | Richard Worthington | |
| 1993 | Poisoned by Love: The Kern County Murders | Steve Catlin | Also known as Murder So Sweet |
| 1994 | In the Best of Families: Marriage, Pride & Madness | Fritz Klenner | |
| 1995 | Tom Clancy's 'OP Center' | Paul Hood | |
| 1995 | Her Deadly Rival | Jim Lansford | |
| 1997 | Badge of Betrayal | Sheriff Dave Ward | |
| 1997 | Night Sins | Chief Mitch Holt | |
| 1998 | Like Father, Like Santa | Tyler Madison | |
| 1998 | The Hunted | Doc Kovac | |
| 1998 | Stranger in Town | Jack | |
| 1999 | Silent Predators | Vic Rondelli | |
| 2000 | Quarantine | President Kempers | |
| 2001 | Sex, Lies and Obsession | Cameron Thomas | |
| 2002 | Disappearance | Jim Henley | |
| 2002 | L.A. Law: The Movie | Michael Kuzak | |
| 2010 | You Lucky Dog | Jim Rayborn | |
| 2012 | Christmas High School Reunion | Mr. Taylor | |
| 2012 | Shadow of Fear | Richard Steele | |

### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1979 | Studs Lonigan | Bill 'Studs' Lonigan | 3 episodes |
| 1984 | Master of the Game | Anthony James 'Tony' Blackwell | 3 episodes |
| 1985 | Space | John Pope | 5 episodes |
| 1986–91 | L.A. Law | Michael Kuzak | 102 episodes |
| 1988 | Favorite Son | Senator Terry Fallon | Episode: "Part One" |
| 1992 | Batman: The Animated Series | Anthony Romulus, Cameron Kaiser | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 1992 | The Legend of Prince Valiant | Sir Lymon | Voice, episode: "The Traitor" |
| 1997 | Ink | Brian | 4 episodes |
| 1997 | The Nanny | Professor Steve | Episode: "Educating Fran" |
| 1998 | The Outer Limits | Ford Maddox | Episode: "Monster' |
| 1999–2000 | Movie Stars | Reese Hardin | 21 episodes |
| 2001 | Touched by an Angel | Liam | Episode: "Winners, Losers & Leftovers" |
| 2004–06 | Veronica Mars | Aaron Echolls | 12 episodes |
| 2005 | Arrested Development | Himself | Episode: "For British Eyes Only" |
| 2007 | Law & Order | Randall Bailey | Episode: "The Family Hour" |
| 2009 | Harper's Island | Uncle Marty Dunn | 2 episodes |
| 2010–11 | Army Wives | Professor Chandler | 8 episodes |
| 2010 | Harry Loves Lisa | Himself | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Dino | Episode: "The Smiley Face" |
| 2011 | Franklin & Bash | Rick Paxton | Episode: "Bro-Bono" |
| 2012–14 | Shameless | Lloyd "Ned" Lishman | 8 episodes |
| 2013–14 | Mad Men | Jim Cutler | 15 episodes |
| 2014 | Rush | Dr. Warren Rush | 4 episodes |
| 2014–15 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Chief Charles Patton | 2 episodes |
| 2014–22 | The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills | Himself | Appearing as Lisa Rinna's husband (guest) |
| 2015 | Glee | Walter | 4 episodes |
| 2016 | Mom | Fred Hayes | 2 episodes |
| 2016–17 | Graves | Jonathan Dalton | 5 episodes |
| 2017–18 | Shooter | Addison Hayes | 3 episodes |
| 2017 | Law & Order True Crime | Barry Levin | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Angie Tribeca | Leonard Scholls | Episode: "Heading to the Legal Beagle" |
| 2021 | Bless the Harts | Rod | Voice, episode: "Hot Tub-Tation" |
| 2021 | The Hot Zone: Anthrax | Tom Brokaw | 2 episodes |
| 2022 | Flowers in the Attic: The Origin | Mr. Winfield | Episode: "Part One: The Marriage" |
| 2023–present | Mayfair Witches | Cortland Mayfair | Main role |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2007 | God of War II | Perseus | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 1979 | Golden Globe Awards | New Star of the Year – Actor | Movie Movie | Nominated |
| 1988 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor – Television Series Drama | L.A. Law | Nominated |
| 1989 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor – Television Series Drama | L.A. Law | Nominated |
| 1990 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor – Television Series Drama | L.A. Law | Nominated |
| 2013 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series | Mad Men | Nominated |