Kim Hamilton
{{short description|American actress}}
{{For|gymnast and motivational speaker|Kim Hamilton (gymnast)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kim Hamilton
| image = File:Ivan Dixon Steven Perry Kim Hamilton Twilight Zone 1960.JPG
| imagesize =
| caption = Hamilton with Ivan Dixon and Steven Perry in The Twilight Zone episode
"The Big Tall Wish" (1960)
| birth_name = Dorothy Mae Aiken
| birth_date = {{birth date|1932|9|12}}
| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, United States
| death_date = {{death date and age|2013|9|16|1932|9|12}}
| death_place = Los Angeles, California, United States
| other_names = Kim Rousseau
| occupation = Actress
| years active = 1952–2010
| spouse = Robert Henry Hamilton (1951-1969)
Werner Klemperer (1997–2000; his death)
| children = 2
}}
Kim Hamilton (born Dorothy Mae Aiken; September 12, 1932 – September 16, 2013) was an American film and television actress, as well as a director, writer, and artist. Her career spanned more than half a century, from the early 1950s to 2010. Hamilton's early film credits included the 1959 film noir Odds Against Tomorrow opposite Harry Belafonte and The Leech Woman in 1960.{{cite news |first=Alan K. |last=Robe |title=Kim Hamilton interview with Alan K. Rode-PtS 1 and 2 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js3PALKaM5w&list=PL1FFD3E380E245AB0&index=1 |website=Film Noir Foundation |date=2007-04-13 |access-date=2013-10-13}} She was also one of the first African-American actors to appear on the soap opera Days of Our Lives and was the only African-American to appear in a speaking role on Leave It to Beaver.{{cite news |title=Kim Hamilton, one of the first African-American actresses on "Days", passes away |url=http://www.salemspectator.com/threads/kim-hamilton-one-of-the-first-african-american-actresses-on-days-passes-away.22964 |journal=SalemSpectator |date=2013-08-29 |access-date=2013-10-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225054057/http://www.salemspectator.com/threads/kim-hamilton-one-of-the-first-african-american-actresses-on-days-passes-away.22964/ |archive-date=2014-12-25}}
Hamilton portrayed, in an uncredited role, Helen Robinson in the 1962 film adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird, based on Harper Lee's novel of the same name. She was the film's last surviving African-American adult cast member with a speaking role.{{cite news |title=Harlem community honors 'Mockingbird' actress |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2007-12-11-mockingbird_N.htm |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=USA Today |date=2007-04-13 |access-date=2013-10-13}}
Early life and career
Hamilton was born in Los Angeles, California and, as a young woman, initially wanted to work as a model. However, she said she could not find work in the fashion industry, owing to her short stature and race. Instead, prompted by an advertisement in the Los Angeles Times, she enrolled in acting classes and enlisted the services of an agent. Hamilton made her professional acting debut in the 1950s television sitcom Amos 'n' Andy, playing the girlfriend of Andy (Spencer Williams) in several episodes.
She briefly moved to London to pursue acting there. Hamilton was able to find some roles but returned to the United States after the British Actors' Equity Association and the Secretary of State for Employment denied her a work permit, a practice commonly used against American actors at the time.
Hamilton appeared in more than 60 television series and television films throughout her career. In 1960, she guest-starred in an episode of The Twilight Zone titled "The Big Tall Wish." In 1963 and 1964, she played a high-school librarian on two episodes of the popular series My Three Sons.{{cite web| url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0358001/| title=Kim Hamilton| website=IMDb| access-date=August 23, 2017}} She was also one of the first black actresses to appear on the soap opera Days of Our Lives. She made numerous guest appearances on popular television shows, including Adam-12, The Thin Man, General Hospital, Sanford and Son, Good Times, The Jeffersons, In the Heat of the Night, All In The Family, and Law & Order.{{cite news |title =Kim Hamilton Joins General Hospital Cast |newspaper=Jet |date =September 26, 1969 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9jcDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA66 |access-date=October 13, 2013}} She portrayed Songi in "Final Mission," a 1990 episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Her last television credit was a 2008 episode of the ABC series Private Practice.
Hamilton was also an artist, director, and writer. In her final works, she was credited as Kim Rousseau.
In December 2007, Hamilton was honored for her career achievements by Columbia University and the Harlem community at an event held at the Museum of the City of New York. Hamilton's honor was part of series of Columbia University's Big Read program, which focused on To Kill a Mockingbird through guest lectures, productions, and panel discussions.
Personal life and death
Kim Hamilton was married twice. Her first marriage, at age 18, was to Robert Henry Hamilton in 1951. They had two children and divorced ten years later. Her son Robert predeceased her.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}. She then dated German-born actor Werner Klemperer for more than two decades before they married in 1997. They remained together until Klemperer's death on December 6, 2000.{{cite news |first=Elaine |last=Woo |title=Werner Klemperer; Played Col. Klink in 'Hogan's Heroes' |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-dec-08-me-62884-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=2000-12-08 |access-date=2013-10-13}}
In her later years, Hamilton divided her time between her home in Manhattan and her other residence in her hometown of Los Angeles. In 2013, four days after her 81st birthday, she died of undisclosed causes while in Los Angeles.{{Cite web |url=http://1701news.com/node/444/kim-hamilton-tngs-final-mission-dies-68.html |title=Actress Kim Hamilton, From TNG's 'Final Mission', Dies |access-date=2013-10-13 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131006112844/http://1701news.com/node/444/kim-hamilton-tngs-final-mission-dies-68.html |archive-date=2013-10-06 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news| url=https://variety.com/2013/film/people-news/actress-kim-hamilton-dies-at-81-1200803013/| title=Actress Kim Hamilton Dies at 81| date=November 6, 2013| first=Carmel| last=Dagan| newspaper=Variety| access-date=March 12, 2019}}
Filmography
=Films=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1957
| Kipi's Wife | Uncredited |
| 1959
| Ruth Ingram | |
| 1960
| {{sortname|The|Leech Woman}} | Young Malla | |
| 1961
| {{sortname|The|Wizard of Baghdad}} | Teegra, Yasmin's Servant | Uncredited |
| 1962
| A Public Affair | Mrs. Hendrickson | |
| 1962
| Helen Robinson, Tom's Wife | Uncredited |
| 1966
| {{sortname|The|Wild Angels}} | Nurse | |
| 1971
| Kotch | Emma Daly | |
| 1973
| | Voice |
| 1981
| Mrs. Johnson | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 1955
| |Season 1 Episode 5: "Numbers and Figures" |
| 1955
|{{sortname|The|Amos 'n Andy Show|Amos 'n' Andy#Television}} |Charmaine |Season 4 Episode 8: "Kingfish Teaches Andy to Fly" |
| 1957
|Miranda |Season 6 Episode 1: "The Questioning Note" |
| 1958
|{{sortname|The|Thin Man|The Thin Man (TV series)}} |Emmeline |Season 1 Episode 37: "The Screaming Doll" |
| 1960
| {{sortname|The|Twilight Zone|The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)}} | Frances | Season 1 Episode 27: "The Big Tall Wish" |
| 1961
|Martin Watling |Season 1 Episode 15: "The Remittance Man" |
| 1961
|First Sunbather |Season 1 Episode 1: "The Floater" |
| 1962
|{{sortname|The|New Breed|The New Breed (TV series)}} |Sally Wick |2 episodes |
| 1962
|Miss Williams (Mrs. in credits) |Season 2 Episode 24: "Trial by Midnight" |
| 1962
| The Maid | Season 7 Episode 36: "First Class Honeymoon" |
| 1962
|Beth Ann Sutter |Season 1 Episode 5: "The Mob Riders" |
| 1962–1963
|Dorothy Garrison / Jane Demarest |2 episodes |
| 1963
| Letha | Season 6 Episode 6: "White Lie" |
| 1963
| The Maid | Season 6 Episode 17: "The Parking Attendants" |
| 1963–1964
|Librarian |2 episodes |
| 1965
|Nurse Hammond |Season 5 Episode 1: "Behold the Great Man" |
| 1966
|Naomi |Season 3 Episode 8: "Onatha" |
| 1967
|Me and Benjy |Vivian |TV Movie |
| 1967
|Barbara Walton / Diane |2 episodes |
| 1967–1974
| Mannix | Alice Bradley / Hallie Woods / Diana Lee | 3 episodes |
| 1968
|Dr. Tracy Adams |Episode 1412: "Episode #1.1412" |
| 1968–1982
|Nurse West / Miss Jenkins / Nurse Leona / Penelope Wade |7 episodes |
| 1969–1972
| {{sortname|The|Mod Squad}} | Delores Sutton / Mildred Jameson | 2 episodes |
| 1971
|Jane the Office Manager |Season 4 Episode 1: "Lucy and Flip Go Legit" |
| 1971
|{{sortname|The|Man and the City}} | |Season 1 Episode 10: "Run for Daylight" |
| 1972–1975
| Carol Davis / Grace | 2 episodes |
| 1973
|Harriet Parsons |Season 1 Episode 0: "Slow Boy" |
| 1973
| Adam-12 | Mrs. Hardy / Mrs. Anderson | 2 episodes |
| 1973–1974
|{{sortname|The|Rookies}} |Duty Nurse / Irene |2 episodes |
| 1974
|Marcia Tyler |Season 1 Episode 5: "Shaft and the Cop Killer" |
| 1974
| Kojak | Sergeant Donna Mill | Season 2 Episode 3: "Hush Now, Don't You Die" |
| 1974
| Mrs. Helen Willis | Season 4 Episode 20: "Lionel's Engagement" |
| 1974
|Nurse |Season 1 Episode 10: "Deadly Carrier" |
| 1974
|Nurse |TV Movie |
| 1974
|Melvina |Season 1 Episode 5: "Clifton's Sugar Mama" |
| 1975
|Estelle Lee Dickens |Season 5 Episode 2: "The Old Engine Cram" |
| 1975
| Betty Edwards | Season 3 Episode 5: "Florida's Rich Cousin" |
| 1975
|Elsbeth Byars / Velma Stokes |2 episodes |
| 1975
|Hannah |Season 1 Episode 12: "Deception" |
| 1977
|June Bundy |Season 1 Episode 4: "Carlisle Girl" |
| 1977
|{{sortname|The|Fat Albert Christmas Special|nolink=1}} |Marge Franklin / Nurse (voice) |TV Movie |
| 1978
|Diane Armstrong |Season 1 Episode 3: "Sighting 4003: The Fremont Incident" |
| 1978
|Kitty |TV Movie |
| 1978
|Paula |TV Movie |
| 1978
|Mary |TV Movie |
| 1978
|Ernie |Season 1 Episode 9: "Lost Women" |
| 1978–1979
|Microwoman / Christy Cross / Mother Plant (voice) |33 episodes |
| 1979
|Stone |Carla Brown |TV Movie |
| 1979
|Carla Brown |Season 1 Episode 0: "Pilot" |
| 1979
|{{sortname|The|White Shadow|The White Shadow (TV series)}} |Carol Simpson |Season 2 Episode 5: "A Silent Cheer" |
| 1980
|Mrs. Hester |Season 5 Episode 19: "T.K.O." |
| 1981
|Admitting Clerk |Season 2 Episode 3: "Fred Has the Big One" |
| 1981
|Buck Rogers in the 25th Century |Nurse Paulton |Season 2 Episode 4: "Mark of the Saurian" |
| 1983
| {{sortname|The|Jeffersons}} | Pauline | Season 9 Episode 14: "My Maid... My Wife" |
| 1983
|Mrs. Stowe |Season 6 Episode 4: "All the Money in the World" |
| 1983–1984
|Judge / Nathaniel's Mother |2 episodes |
| 1984
|Judge Dr. Linda Purcell |Season 2 Episode 12: "Hearing" |
| 1984
|Eleanor |4 episodes |
| 1984
| Victoria Tamerlaine Spaulding | Episode dated December 3 |
| 1984
|Mrs. Collins |Season 2 Episode 8: "It's a Vial Sort of Business" |
| 1985
|Della |Season 4 Episode 18: "Alabamy Bound: Part 2" |
| 1985
| Alice | Mrs. Reynolds | Season 9 Episode 15: "Vera's Grounded Gumshoe" |
| 1986
|Nurse Elsa Jelkes |Season 6 Episode 12: "Tonsillitis" |
| 1987
|Annabelle |Season 2 Episode 3: "Anthony Jr." |
| 1990
|Star Trek: The Next Generation |Songi |Season 4 Episode 9: "Final Mission" |
| 1991–1994
| Mrs. Johnson / Ellen Shore | 2 episodes |
| 1992–1996
|Judge Vivian Jackson / Marcella Klein |2 episodes |
| 1993
|Trade Winds |Madame DeGaulle |Miniseries |
| 1996
|{{sortname|The|Client|The Client (TV series)}} |Rosine Chalmers |Season 1 Episode 20: "Past Imperfect" |
| 2002
|Mother Dent (voice) |Season 2 Episode 14: "Willie or Won't He II: The Last Chapter?" |
| 2002
|{{sortname|The|Practice}} |Supreme Court Justice |Season 7 Episode 2: "Convictions" |
| 2008
| Frances | Season 2 Episode 6: "Serving Two Masters" |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0358001}}
- {{iobdb name|13959}}
{{Memoryalpha|Kim_Hamilton|Kim Hamilton}}
{{Amos 'n' Andy}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hamilton, Kim}}
Category:American expatriate actresses
Category:American expatriates in England
Category:Actresses from Los Angeles
Category:American television actresses
Category:American film actresses
Category:20th-century African-American actresses
Category:20th-century American actresses