The political [people] are happy to use your persona. British bus driver stops to give loose sheep a lift. The two met when Hamilton was invited to a 1965 White House dinner after the Johnson family saw his portrayal of legendary country crooner Hank Williams in Your Cheatin Heart. He was in competition with me (to be) an investment adviser to Imelda, said Joseph Bernstein, former property manager of the Marcoses once-secret real estate holdings in New York. For United Artists, he supported Lana Turner in thr melodrama By Love Possessed (1961). Additional Philippine funds financed Hamilton real estate investments, including a Mississippi plantation and his former Benedict Canyon home, built by screen legend Charlie Chaplin. In August 2008, Hamilton co-starred in Coma, a web series on Crackle. Hamilton credits his larger-than-life Southern belle socialite mother, Anne, known as Teeny, and nine-years-older gay half brother Bill as defining influences. It was unclear whether Khashoggi put up any of his own cash to complete the deal. But these days, as his life arcs through its final act, and so many of the fellow players who shared in those stories with him are gone, Hamilton acknowledges a certain wistfulness. New York Times ] October 29, 1966: 1. George Stevens Hamilton (born August 12, 1939)[1] is an American actor. Yet when inquiry turns to pricklier matters, memory blurs. Latinx Files: In praise of Jenna Ortega, Aubrey Plaza and moody, deadpan Latinas, Jaguars, narcos, illegal loggers: One mans battle to save a jungle and Maya ruins, CPAC shows the GOP has deep divisions heading into 2024, Abortion clinics crossing state borders not always welcome, Black Vietnam veteran awarded Medal of Honor after decades-long wait, Toxic forever chemicals about to get their first U.S. limits, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids. Or, at any rate, he became who he was feigning to be. Johnson.[29]. And although the $12 million in Hamilton transactions represent only a fraction of the $5 billion that the Marcoses are suspected of bleeding from their nations economy, the transactions are regarded by federal investigators as typical Marcos deals.. I couldnt help thinking it might have been me, Hamilton wistfully wrote in his 2008 memoir, Dont Mind If I Do. The famously tanned actor was spotted in Los Angeles this week running errands and grabbing some food at a McDonalds drive-thru looking a little weathered. Photo by 9EkieraM1 CC BY-SA 3.0. He guest-starred on episodes of Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre and Burke's Law. But Hamiltons attorney said that the actor thought he was dealing only with Khashoggi, Floirendo and their agents. For the second time, he portrayed a murderer on the television series Columbo, starring as the host of a TV true-crime show in the 1991 episode "Caution: Murder Can Be Hazardous to Your Health". Once, when Bernstein suggested that Mrs. Marcos should consider investing in a 200,000-acre Utah site, he said Hamilton came up to his office to investigate the deal on her behalf. Hamilton invited Johnson to join him in Acapulco, and she, surprisingly, accepted. Hamilton was great pals with the former first lady of the Philippines, Imelda Marcos,. Los Angeles lawyers Alan I. Bersin and Ronald L. Olson, representing the Aquino government in a civil fraud action against the Marcoses, are expected to deliver the deed to officials in Manila next week. Los Angeles, A $150,000 executive protection dog? He and his wife fled to Hawaii, where Marcos died last year. I think he slops bronzer on and hopes itll last till the evening easy to put on, probably a spray tan: less fussy and camera-ready, says Hamilton, whom Trump once employed as a host of Miss Universe and later bestowed with a Lifetime Achievement Award for debonair style., For anyone seeking more than skin-deep analysis of the president, Hamilton is not your man. Yet as a peddler, his most prominent pop culture moment has been his big-budget commercial turns as the KFC Colonel, appearing on a branded yacht cruising through crystal-clear skies, talking up a double-breaded chicken sandwich thats extra-crispy, like me. (Hamilton says he dug deep on the role, recalling meeting Colonel Harland Sanders when the two crossed paths while both were handling respective press duties at an Ohio radio station four decades ago.). Hamilton lobbied hard for the role of the Italian husband in Light in the Piazza (1962), with Olivia de Havilland. Prosecutors contend that Mrs. Marcos, on trial here for fraud and racketeering, looted her nations wealth and spent it to satisfy a voracious appetite for art, jewelry and Manhattan real estate. National Park Service: 'Never push a slower friend down' in a bear encounter, March 2 (UPI) -- The National Park Service offered some sage advice for park visitors who encounter bears: "Never push a slower friend down. Glecy Tantoco was used as a front (in) . His first film role was a lead, Crime and Punishment U.S.A. (1959), directed by Denis Sanders. . Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Column: Did the DOJ just say Donald Trump can be held accountable for Jan. 6? I dont believe (Hamilton) had any reason to believe he was dealing with money belonging to Mrs. Marcos, Greenberg said. He soaked it up. New York Times (October 6, 1966: 1. 18,198, This story has been shared 13,816 times. Hamilton had an excellent part in The Victors (1963), an anti-war drama from Carl Foreman. [17][18][19] Hamilton was considered one of the favorites to win the series. . He made headlines testifying that hed received a multimillion-dollar loan from a Marcos associate that hed used for a Beverly Hills mansion (later repossessed by the Manila government) and financed an ill-fated film about Gen. Douglas MacArthurs wartime experiences in the region. In arguments outside the presence of jurors, Assistant U.S. Atty. Furthermore, the funds had been converted from Philippine pesos into U.S. dollars by siphoning hard currency away from the vital dollar reserves of the government-owned Philippine National Oil Co. Ferdinand Marcos. Hamilton began his film career in 1958, and although he has a substantial body of work in film and television, he is perhaps most famous for his debonair style, perpetual suntan, and commercials for Ritz Crackers. The estate was sold by Hamilton for about $6 million 10 days ago to a company based in the Grand Cayman Islands, according to documents on file in the office of the Los Angeles County Assessor. It was in this transaction that the seeds of the Philippine governments successful claim to the 13,436-square-foot Beverly Hills house were sown. Marcoswho was famous for her high-flying lifestyle, endless socializing, and taste for designer clothesspent more than two decades as the First Lady of the Philippines, during which time she. However, Floirendo declared in his affidavit that all the money went to other individuals or shell corporations on orders from Mrs. Marcos, and that she dictated who controlled the loans. Barnum (1999), and She's Too Tall (1999). According to the late nationally syndicated gossip columnist Sheila Graham, [Hamilton] was determined to see Lynda and still maintain his bachelor status, which he had declared was an actors lifeblood.. While serving as the First Lady of the Philippines, she was instrumental in the establishment of the Cultural Center of the Philippines . He had been in the 1975 episode "A Deadly State of Mind". He broke up with the first daughter not long afterward. Rafael Fernando, a representative of the Philippine commission charged with recovering Marcos's wealth, said he has turned over document regarding the Hamilton estate to the commission. [8] Hamilton's draft deferment was highly controversial at the time because it was thought that his relationship with the president's daughter gave him preferential treatment. . It turned out, he said, that the story was to be built around the generals very unrequited love affair. Starting in Fall 2011, Hamilton starred as "Georges" for the national tour of the Tony-winning revival of La Cage aux Folles. The joke being on me, says George, smiling. Age, Height, and Weight Being born on 12 August 1939, George Hamilton is 83 years old as of today's date 24th February 2023. 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And, perennially, Hamilton is a pitchman. His playboy image was born. He admitted fronting for secret Marcos interests in a Long Island estate called Lindenmere and a posh 5th Avenue apartment suite in Olympic Tower. Thanks for contacting us. In the mid-1980s, Hamilton starred in the sixth season of the Aaron Spelling-produced television serial Dynasty. In 2006, it was rumored that Hamilton would replace Bob Barker on The Price Is Right. [34] According to Burt Reynolds ' autobiography, [35] Hamilton has a healthy sense of humor, even when the humor is directed at him. "[6] The film was popular in Europe, but less so in the US. New York Times October 7, 1966: 38. The remaining $2 million was loaned with no security. However, Zorro was not as popular as Love at First Bite, and film leads dried up quickly. George Hamilton's House (former) Beverly Hills, California (CA), US Like Tweet Share Pin The film and television actor and occasional film director lived here. . He played the roles from November 21, 2001 to February 17, 2002; June 04, 2002 to July 29, 2002; and from September 14, 2007 to October 07, 2007. His notable films include Home from the Hill (1960), By Love Possessed (1961), Light in the Piazza (1962), Your Cheatin' Heart (1964), Once Is Not Enough (1975), Love at First Bite (1979), Zorro, The Gay Blade (1981), The Godfather Part III (1990), Doc Hollywood (1991), 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag (1997), Hollywood Ending (2002), and The Congressman (2016). Court documents show that $12 million flowed from secret Marcos bank accounts in the Philippines through Hamilton investments in the United States to other banks and foreign companies allegedly controlled by the Marcoses. LaBella said the dollars given to Hamilton went for personal use . He knows everyone in high society, finance, fashion, and he could have been the first Hollywood son-in-law in the White House.. Homes - Celebrity - Entertainment - Actors, Homes - Celebrity - Former Eventually, Hamilton relinquished the money to a Hong Kong bank and the funds ended up in London, where a Filipino architect gave the $5.5 million to two swarthy men linked to Mrs. Marcos, according to investigators. The actor would cite extreme hardship to dependents as a reason for not serving, since Hamilton was supposedly supporting his mother and, for a time, his two brothers. Reynolds wrote that he made up a birthday card for Hamilton with a composite photograph of Tony Curtis and Anthony Perkins, titled "To George, love from Mum and Dad". Marcos, who also was indicted, died in exile in Hawaii in September. He was in Meet Wally Sparks (1997), 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag (1997), and the miniseries Rough Riders (1997), where he portrayed William Randolph Hearst. This story has been shared 60,063 times. Very elegantly dressed and able to make you laugh: You cant say that of many people., Hamiltons no crank about the good old days. March 3 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Britain responded to a home to rescue a horse that had fallen into its owner's swimming pool and was unable to get itself out. MGM tried to change his image by putting him in the Western A Thunder of Drums (1961); the film was mildly popular. Read another story from us:How a Movie About a Pig Inspired James Cromwell to Change his Life, Ah, but what might have been. It features anecdotes that Hamilton had told to Merv Griffin. Hamilton, who has been named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the case, could testify as early as this afternoon. Hamilton, an unindicted co-conspirator in the case, was granted immunity at the trial. The thing to remember about George is hes the best-connected actor in the history of the film business, said William Stadiem, co-author of Hamiltons memoir, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. Theyre given an unusual amount of credibility, he says. Furthermore, The Times has learned, the former Hamilton house--a one-acre hillside estate in exclusive Benedict Canyon--is about to become property of the Philippine government. Hamilton's name . U.S. District Judge John F. Keenan said in his Monday order that prosecutors sought immunity because Hamilton had indicated he would invoke his Fifth Amendment right not to answer questions that might incriminate him. Hamilton remains vigorous, in all connotations. In his 2008 memoir, Dont Mind If I Do, he called the experience my own sexual bar mitzvah. But now, post-#MeToo reckoning, theres no romance to molestation, and hell speak of the perpetrator only elliptically, if still sympathetically, as a discontented housewife, slightly off, quite beautiful too., (Though Hamilton is all for gender parity in the industry, he doesnt retreat from his past description of himself as an enlightened male chauvinist, the kind who once issued such wisdom in a self-help book as Women are like a fine violin: They just need to be appreciated and bowed properly.), Hamilton is hard to pin down on the least-fun scandal of his life, the Justice Departments accusation that he was a front for the 1980s looting of the Philippine treasury at the hands of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos. Although Hamilton maintains that he has had no involvement with the house since selling it to Khashoggi in 1986, he nonetheless is laying claim to art and furnishings in the house that he says are personal belongings of great sentimental value to his mother. [3][4], Hamilton attended the Hackley School in Tarrytown, New York, graduating in 1957.[5]. A lot of young actors do it and they shouldnt. A week earlier they had him over to dinner at their Virginia home. A week earlier, the $5.5 million had been in a numbered Manila bank account secretly controlled by the Marcoses. Hamilton had the script rewritten by John Milius, and the latter called Hamilton "a wonderful guy, totally underrated. [9]), Hamilton went into television in 1969, supporting Lana Turner in the all-star series Harold Robbins' The Survivors (196970).[10]. He was an impish, elfish, humorous person always very nice. The leading men of "The Rogues" were David Niven, Gig Young and Charles Boyer, and they. The family settled into a house along the upper residential stretch of Rodeo Drive, where by Hamiltons account they entertained the likes of Clark Gable, whose supposedly false teeth were all I could look at, and Gloria Swanson (Very strong-minded. Hamilton responded that, in fact, he was a movie star. At Columbia, he co-starred with Glenn Ford in A Time for Killing (1967), originally directed by Roger Corman, then by Phil Karlson. . He says he hasnt voted in his life and believes its irresponsible for actors, who have no qualifications, to express opinions on such matters. In 1990, Hamilton was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in a federal fraud and racketeering case against the Marcoses involving the looting of government funds; Imelda was acquitted in the case. A January 1998 article in Cigar Aficionado described Hamilton's style as "Cary Grant meets Pat Riley". Johnson and Chuck Robbs wedding at the White House, December 9, 1967. They had a short-lived mid-90s morning syndicated talk show, George & Alana, which competed with Live With Regis & Kathie Lee. He almost immediately landed the lead in a low-budget film, Crime and Punishment, U.S.A. MGM put him under contract. This was something that several months ago he was told he would have to have, his rep told E! March 2 (UPI) -- A Florida woman earned a Guinness World Record when she completed 23 ultra-marathon runs -- 31.1 miles -- in a 23-day period. An unindicted co-conspirator is someone who prosecutors claim took some step that advanced a conspiracy but is not charged with a crime. U.S. Dist. Over the years, Hamilton and Mrs. Marcos have traveled the world together, met the Pope together, even shopped together. The inquiry, whose machinations became public only five years ago, turned up nothing that could potentially be weaponized except that Bill was gay. In 1990, Hamilton was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in a federal fraud and racketeering case against the Marcoses involving the looting of government funds; Imelda was acquitted in the case.[34]. Also a durable punchline. He returned to TV for The Seekers (1979) and The Great Cash Giveaway Getaway (1979), then he did 1981's Zorro, The Gay Blade, which he produced. Bo Derek wrote in her autobiography that "there was an ongoing contest between John Derek and George Hamilton as to who was tanner. Hes uniquely qualified to assess the countrys only better-known perma-tanner, Donald Trump. Hes developing two films and a TV series as a producer out of a well-staffed office suite in Beverly Glen, where he first invites THR to meet him, taking a seat beneath a large chalk pastel portrait of his more youthful self. In one transaction, $5.5 million in U.S. currency, raised by the government-owned Philippine National Oil Co., was siphoned into an abortive Hamilton movie production on the wartime love life of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Floirendo said it was Mrs. Marcos who directed that the check be endorsed to White. Hamilton, 51, used portions of the $12 million to finance a lavish house in Beverly Hills and launch a film development project. Maybe he was a tool for someone, an innocent, Greenberg said in an interview at his Century City office. But Tantoco jumped bail in Rome while awaiting extradition to the United States in 1988 and has been a fugitive since. A property like that brings you friends you dont want and relatives who come to stay and dont go, he says. He was a fervid soldier at MGMs backlot boot camp, where hed honed the all-purpose practical arts: fencing, riding, shooting and whatever else might be needed in everything from comedies to Westerns. His trainer has him boxing. Hamilton acknowledged receiving the money, but in his previously sealed deposition the actor denied knowing the money came from Mrs. Marcos. It doesnt make any sense, said Ted Laguatan, U.S.-based special counsel to President Corazon Aquinos Commission on Good Government. In the book "The Untold Story of Imelda Marcos" by Carmen Navarro Pedrosa, the garage is described as: "a carport with roof, posts, and cement flooringThe flooring was barely a foot from the ground. He summoned beauty expert extraordinaire, George Masters, to his home to oversee Johnsons hair and makeup for the big event, knowing the cameras would be zeroing in on the couple. The divorced Hamiltons reunited in the mid-1990s to co-host the daytime talk show George & Alana, and again in 2015, as stars of the reality show Stewarts & Hamiltons. While Hamilton had said it to razz Peppard, he realized he meant it. In 2001, Hamilton starred on Broadway in the play Chicago in the role of Billy Flynn. As for why he consorted with the Marcoses in the first place, given that Ferdinand had placed the country under martial law a decade earlier, he claims he was naive at the time of what he chalks up to broadly as unrest in the country., Hamiltons at his most forthright when describing the emotional bond he shares with his loved ones, such as ex-wife Stewart. He called them personal gifts. 49,964, This story has been shared 18,169 times. March 3 (UPI) -- A sheep spotted wandering loose on a British highway was given a lift back to its owner by a concerned bus driver on her first day on the job. The two have remained friends over the years. The actor, recently featured on the television program Dynasty, also denied rumors linking him romantically with the former Philippine first lady, Imelda Marcos. LOS ANGELES -- Actor George Hamilton, who recently sold his lavish Beverly Hills estate for $6 million, denies that exiled Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos or his wife owned the property. Now one of the last remaining products of the old studio system still actively working, he offers a singular perspective on a transforming industry. From 1995 to 1999, Hamilton dated Kimberly Blackford, whom he met in Fort Lauderdale when she was a swimsuit model. The Philippine businesswoman, who owns Manilas largest department store, was indicted on the same charges pending against Mrs. Marcos. He appeared in the TV movie The Last of the Powerseekers (1973), and had a supporting role in The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing, starring Burt Reynolds (1973). HAMILTON TELLS OF BUSY CAREER: But Sought-After Actor Is Silent on Role as Suitor By VINCENT CANBY. Previously, the Philippines had gained control of Lindenmere, four Manhattan skyscrapers and the posh Olympic Tower suites. Smart move: Emcee Bob Hope used the twosome as fodder for much of his opening monologue. Hamilton undertook an extensive remodeling of the home, which was built by Charlie Chaplin. [13] However, Drew Carey was named as Barker's successor. 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All Rights Reserved, in an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2017, All the celebs at Paris Fashion Week February-March 2023: Halsey and more, Billboard Women in Music Awards 2023 red carpet: Lana Del Rey, more, Costume Designers Guild Awards 2023 red carpet: Cate Blanchett, more, All the celebrities at Milan Fashion Week February 2023: Dua Lipa, more. Hes an author, every so often, of fizzy ghostwritten books.