Harry Hamlin Movies
Handsome American actor Harry Hamlin studied his craft at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theatre. Hamlin made his film debut as a John Garfieldesque prizefighter in the 1930s spoof Movie, Movie (1978). Three years later, he played Perseus in the Ray Harryhausen co-produced Clash of the Titans (1981). Also appearing in this film was international sex symbol Ursula Andress, who became Hamlin's "constant companion" over the next few years, a liaison that resulted in a son. Even as his film career dwindled down to such forgettable fare as Blue Skies Again (1983), in which he played an immature Ted Turner type, Hamlin's career flourished on television. He starred in a 1979 TV miniseries adaptation of James T. Farrell's Studs Lonigan, played a courageous astronaut on the 1985 multi-episode production Space, and essayed the role of a straying politician in the 1988 two-parter Favorite Son. Hamlin's best-known TV assignment, which he launched in 1986, was the role of amorous litigation attorney Michael Kuzak on the popular NBC series L.A. Law. He is divorced from actress Nicollette Sheridan.Hamlin continued to find steady work throughout the 90s, appearing on numerous TV shows such as The Outer Limits, Remember WENN, and The Nanny, and even providing voice work for Batman: The Animated Series. The actor also took roles in various films and TV movies like Allie & Me and Badge of Betrayal. After marrying soap actress Lisa Rinna in 1997, he entered the new millennium with no plans to slow down, reuniting with the L.A. Law cast in 2002 for L.A. Law: The Movie, and taking a recurring role on the TV show Veronica Mars as the movie star father of the character Logan. Interestingly enough, in an episode of the show Hamlin's character swears under oath that in 1987 he was People Magazine's Sexiest Man of the Year, and Hamlin was in fact given that very title that same year.
He returned to the small-screen to compete in the third season of the reality show Dancing With the Stars, and tried his hand at scripted series television yet again in 2009 with Harper's Island. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
In this 13 episode mystery series, a group of family and friends arrive at an island destination for a wedding, but plans go awry when somebody turns up dead. Old conflicts bubble up to the surface as everyone becomes a suspect, and bonds of love and family are tested as the murderer continues to pick off guests, leaving everyone in a battle for survival against an unknown killer. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi
- Starring:
- Elaine Cassidy, Katie Cassidy, (more)
A pair of animal enthusiasts desperate to boost the ratings of their failing television series "Strange Wilderness" set out for the Andes in search of the elusive Bigfoot in this comedy directed by Fred Wolf and starring Justin Long, Steve Zahn, Kevin Heffernan, and Ernest Borgnine. Peter Gaulke (Zahn) and Fred Wolf (Allen Covert) are the energetic hosts of "Strange Wilderness" -- television's most unconventional nature show. When the ratings take a nosedive and they are confronted with cancellation, Peter finds himself resorting to desperate measures in order to stay on the air. Perhaps if the "Strange Wilderness" crew could somehow track down the most elusive creature ever to stalk the woodlands, they could keep their show on the air and go down in history as the adventurers who solved one of nature's greatest mysteries. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Steve Zahn, Allen Covert, (more)
- 2005
- Add The Untold Secrets of Television's Greatest Hits to Queue Add The Untold Secrets of Television's Greatest Hits to top of Queue
The Untold Secrets of Television's Greatest Hits offers stories about the productions of eight famous programs. Among the shows discussed are Cheers, L.A. Law, Hill Street Blues, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, he Addams Family, The Munsters, and I Love Lucy. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
This eerie cable-TV movie begins as married couple Jim and Patty (played by one-time L.A. Law costars Harry Hamlin and Susan Dey), accompanied by their children, drive through the Nevada desert in their SUV. Through an unfortunate set of circumstances, the family finds itself marooned in a deserted (and uncharted) town called Weaver. Or is it truly deserted? The spectral images encountered by Jim and Patty may be the spirits of Indians interred in a local burial mound, or they might be the hideously misshapen victims of a botched nuclear test. Whatever the case, it is what the audience doesn't see that induces the goose pimples. Filmed in Australia, Disappearance originally appeared over the TBS cable service on April 21, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2001
Kindhearted technology-firm executive Liam Cadegan (Harry Hamlin) is worried about his professional future--to say nothing about the welfare of his family--when his company is taken over by a conglomerate known for its ruthless weeding out of "weaklings." As the company's new vice-president of community relations, Monica advises head man Harlow (Grant Albrecht) that it would be good P.R. if he were to sponsor the Special Olympics, in which Liam's own handicapped son is a contestant. Instead, the selfish and manipulative Harlow orders his executives to attend a fiercely competitive weekend retreat, in which "survival of the fittest" is the order of the day. Fortunately for Liam, the retreat is being stage-managed by Monica's fellow angel Tess (Della Reese), who has a few fascinating "survival" ideas of her own. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
As a number of luminaries on the international fashion scene converge for a major show, their personal and professional crises come to a head in this comedy-drama. Lorenzo Mancini (Paul Sorvino) is an internationally famous designer who has learned he has only a short time to live. As Mancini tries to make his peace with both his ex-wife (Sonia Braga) and his long-time companion (Peter Gallagher), he also tries to mend fences with his son (and heir) Mario (Michael Sorvino) while persuading him to not merge the family business with the hip-hop fashion empire of J.B. (Omar Epps. Anthony (Jared Harris), a famous and influential fashion photographer, is having a career crisis as his marriage to Francene (Michelle Forbes) begins to collapse. Cutting-edge designer Roberta (Rita Wilson) is scrambling to complete her latest line as her underlings start leaving her one by one. Camille (Leslie Mann), Roberta's business partner, may be the next to hit the road, as she becomes involved with Jamie (Jeff Goldblum), who works for a firm run by arch-rival designer Phillip (Harris Yulin). And Janice (Joanne Baron), the editor of a leading fashion journal, is facing a deadline when she gets an unexpected visitor -- her daughter Halley (Michelle Williams), whom she hasn't seen in over a decade. Taking an unusual approach, director Michael Rymer and screenwriter L.M. Kit Carson wrote a detailed outline for Perfume and in-depth background sketches for all the characters, but allowed the cast to improvise all the dialogue used in the film. Perfume had its world premiere at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Joanne Baron, Angela Bettis, (more)
A pair of mismatched, down-and-out L.A. misfits find that their luck is about to change -- thanks to a charismatic, oblivious young buck from the Lone Star state -- in this psychological drama. Robert Forster plays Jack Waters, a con man whose best days are behind him when Henry (Kip Pardue) steps off a bus and stumbles into his life. Young, naïve, and attractive, Henry's everything Jack once was, and the old man plans to be a defacto agent of sorts, farming Henry out to appear on game shows and whatever else Tinseltown has to offer. But when Jack's unstable, erstwhile stripper girlfriend, Moira (Rose McGowan), sets her sights on Henry, she's determined to get a piece of the action -- both literally and figuratively. Meanwhile, Henry's career takes off, and the two hangers-on struggle desperately to take control of their "sure thing." ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi
- Starring:
- Robert Forster, Rose McGowan, (more)
Star Fleet commander-turned-kitsch icon William Shatner stars in this satirical comedy that takes aim at the Dogme 95 filmmaking movement. Shatner plays Harvey Wilkes, an escaped mental patient who also happens to be an aspiring screenwriter. Armed with a pistol, Harvey hijacks a film crew and orders them to make his movie. Former L.A. Law regular Harry Hamlin co-stars as the film's producer. Shoot or Be Shot marks the feature debut of director Randy Argue. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
- Starring:
- William Shatner, Harry Hamlin, (more)
Harry Hamlin (L.A. Law, Clash of the Titans), Shannon Sturges, and Jack Scalia head the cast of this horror film. Noel Nosseck's Silent Predators concerns the sudden attacks of mutant rattlesnakes who have been breeding unnoticed for 20 years just outside of booming San Vicente, CA. The film, which is comparable to Tremors minus the tongue-in-cheek wink-wink tone, was co-written by legendary horror director John Carpenter (Halloween, The Fog, The Thing). ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- Starring:
- Harry Hamlin, Shannon Sturges, (more)
Wanting to protect her son from the sometimes harsh realities of urban life, a single mother moves to a small town. Unfortunately, her boy becomes friends with a mysterious and sinister stranger. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Harry Hamlin, Graham Greene, (more)
- 1998
Having been burned by a traumatic childhood experience, greedy toy tycoon Tyler Madison (Harry Hamlin) is contemptuous of his fellow man, ruthlessly nasty in his business dealings, and callously neglectful of his wife Elyse (Megan Gallegher) and son Danny (Curtis Blanck). Just before Christmas, Madison piles into his private plane and heads for the North Pole, determined to put his chief competitor, Santa Claus (William Hookins), out of business. But upon his arrival, he realizes that he and S.C. have a lot in common--and thus the inevitable epiphany occurs, culminating in the settling of an "Elf strike" and a closer bond between Tyler and his loved ones. Like Father, Like Santa was telecast by cable's Fox Family Channel on December 1, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Harry Hamlin, Megan Gallagher, (more)
- 1998
- R
This "neo-noir comic thriller" from director Amos Poe focuses on struggling actress Eva (Barbara Hershey), a waitress who moonlights by making collections for her ex-husband, loan shark Al (Robbie Coltrane). Her day job is at a Lower Manhattan diner owned by Quint (Ian Hart). Others on the scene are Eva's new boyfriend Zip (John Leguizamo), aspiring actress Myrna (Lisa Marie), Al's girlfriend Simone (Debi Mazar), tough thug Gascone (Ron Perlman), and Al's driver U.B. (David Deblinger). Eva is ready to drop both collecting and acting, dreaming of a picket-fence lifestyle with her son Augie (Zak Kerkoulas), but Al needs her for just one more job -- locating the missing $600,000 stolen from him by Flav (Justin Theroux). Al also plans to stage a production of David Mamet's American Buffalo, and he offers a role to U.B. -- if he will kill Zip. Shown at the 1998 Berlin Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Starring:
- Barbara Hershey, Robbie Coltrane, (more)
- 1998
In this suspenseful outdoor thriller, a killer flees into the Canadian wilds hotly pursued by a determined insurance claims adjuster. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Harry Hamlin, Mädchen Amick, (more)
Getting home early, Beverly Hills wife Michelle Halaburton (Lyndie Benson) catches her husband Dustin (Harry Hamlin) in bed with her best friend Allie (Joanne Baron), who works at Michelle's favorite beauty salon. Not long after this, Michelle and Allie embark on a life of crime. At the beauty salon, Michelle sees how to get access codes to homes of the salon's wealthy patrons. During the break-ins that follow, the two collect cash, art, and jewelry. Their haul escalates until the wrong house at the wrong time could lead to their downfall. Surprised by the spoiled son (James Wilder) of one of their victims, they capture him, tie him up, and try to devise a way out of the situation. Shown at the 1997 Hollywood Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lyndie Benson, Joanne Baron, (more)
- 1997
The tragedy of Alzheimer's Disease is at the core of this heart-tugging made-for-cable drama, starring veteran actors Richard Kiley and Eva Marie Saint. Diagnosed with Alzheimers, the brilliant doctor Gerald Klooster (Richard Kiley) would sooner die immediately than endure the agony of a progressively failing memory. Thus, he asks his loved ones to do him one final favor and assist him in committing suicide. Everyone, including Gerald's wife Ruth (Eva Marie Saint), is willing to go along with this plan--everyone that is except his youngest son, who kidnaps the old man before his last wish can be granted and brings legal action against his mom. Based on a true story, Time to Say Goodbye? first aired over the Lifetime channel on September 1, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1997
Crimes of Passion: Badge of Betrayal is the cable-TV and home-video title of an "ABC World Premiere Movie" that originally aired January 6, 1997 as simply Badge of Betrayal. Newly arrived from the Big City, professional cop and single mom Annie Walter (Michele Greene) joins the small-town Wyoming police force headed by Sheriff Dave Ward (Harry Hamlin). It doesn't take long for Annie to ascertain that Ward is a crook, a grafter, a sadist, a possible murderer--and a sexual predator. She'd like to blow the whistle on Ward, but he is too powerful in the community to be touched; moreover, he can ruin her in an instant, and has already arranged for the property value of her house to be depleted so that she'd be financially destroyed if she ever moved out of town to tell her story. With the help of a courageous attorney, Annie formulates a plan to (hopefully!) ensnare Ward in his own web of corruption. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1997
Reminiscent of the "best" of David Lynch, the two-part TV movie Night Sins uses a mysterious abduction as catalyst for a progressively bizarre and disturbing expose of small-town corruption, hypocrisy and perversion. When the 8-year-old son of a doctor is kidnapped from his home in the rural Washington town of Deer Lake, government agent Megan O'Malley (Valerie Bertinelli) arrives to investigate. It soon becomes apparent that this most recent abduction is tied in to a string of kidnappings and murders that have occurred in the region over the past twenty years. As Megan pursues her investigation with the help of friendly local cop Mitch Holt (Harry Hamlin)--to whom she grows extremely close--innumerable local skeletons are dredged out of innumerable local closets. In fact, it seems that everyone concerned with the story is harboring a dark, unsavory secret--including Megan. If nothing else, this offbeat melodrama may well be the only TV movie to feature an evil chess club! Originally telecast on CBS, Night Sins was first seen on February 23 and 25, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1995
Another Tom Clancy political thriller is put to film with this made-for-television movie. Harry Hamlin stars as Paul Hood, the new director of an obsolete government crisis management center. Hood is assigned to downsize the center, but during first day on the job some nuclear warheads are hijacked by terrorists. Hood has to rise to the occasion and prove himself as a leader in unfamiliar territory. ~ Bernadette McCallion, Rovi
- Starring:
- Harry Hamlin, Deidre Hall, (more)
- 1995
In this made-for-television drama, a man's life falls completely to pieces when an obsessed woman begins to stalk him. Even his marriage crumbles from the strain. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Harry Hamlin, Annie Potts, (more)
Based on Vito Russo's groundbreaking 1981 work of film history, The Celluloid Closet gathers clips from dozens of mainstream Hollywood films to illustrate how the movies have dealt explicitly -- and more importantly, implicitly -- with gay and lesbian themes. Layered between the clips are interviews with filmmakers whose works have touched on that subject. The popular films of the Golden Age could only hint at homosexuality and often portrayed gays as simpering characters, objects of scorn or merriment, or insidious villains. With the strictures of the old Production Code loosening, bolder presentations were possible, but often over the objections of studio executives who feared a public backlash against a film that dealt with a long taboo subject. Among the films discussed are Philadelphia, The Children's Hour, Making Love, Rope, and Spartacus. Gore Vidal, Tom Hanks, Susan Sarandon, and director John Schlesinger are among the film's strongest interview subjects. ~ Tom Wiener, Rovi
- 1994
The full title of this made-for-TV film was In the Best of Families: Pride and Madness. Based on a true story, the film details the bitter divorce between overly idealistic Keith Carradine and emotionally disturbed Kelly McGillis. Caught in the middle are the couple's sons, played by Erik Von Detten and Ira David Wood Jr. The crisis erupts into violence, resulting in a triple homicide. Roundly criticized for its lurid and sensationalistic aspects, In the Best of Families was originally telecast in two parts on January 16 and 18, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kelly McGillis, Keith Carradine, (more)
- 1993
- PG13
Made for video, the Canadian Murder So Sweet stars Harry Hamlin as a ladies' man with a smooth line and a cool approach. Trouble arises only whenever one of Hamlin's girlfriends starts insisting upon a committment. That's when he settles the argument with murder. Helen Shaver, who suspects that Hamlin is a killer but has no concrete evidence, decides to trap him by posing as a potential conquest. Murder So Sweet is a lot better than one might expect, thanks to the cast and the surehanded direction of Larry (Goodbye Columbus) Peerce. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Harry Hamlin, Helen Shaver, (more)
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