LOS ANGELES — Actress Kim Hamilton, who had a long and at times groundbreaking career, died here Wednesday, Sept. 16 of undisclosed causes. She was 81 (though, like many actresses, she fudged her birth year over time, her actual birth year was 1932). Her acting career spanned more than six decades, including roles on “The Twilight Zone,” “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” and “Leave it to Beaver” (she was the only African-American actress to appear on that series) along with “All in the Family,” “Kojak” and “Sanford and Son” in the 1970s; “The Jeffersons”, “St. Elsewhere” and “Designing Women,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation”, “In the Heat of the Night” and “Law and Order.”
She also had several roles on daytime dramas, including “Days of Our Lives,” “General Hospital,” “The Young and the Restless” and “Guiding Light.” MSTies will remember her as Young Malla in the movie in episode 802- THE LEECH WOMAN.
Born Dorothy May Aiken, she originally wanted to be a lawyer, and enrolled school at Los Angeles City College, “But I got bored with it,” she said in a 1963 TV Guide interview. She left after one semester and enrolled in acting school. “I was there almost a year,” she recalled, but getting roles in that era was difficult. “All the other girls got cards from agents and casting directors, but I never did. I was ready to give up. Then I played the part of a silly secretary and got three cards.” One of the cards led to her first professional role, as Andy’s girlfriend on the series “Amos ‘n’ Andy.”
According to an Associated Press article from 2007, Hamilton was the last surviving black adult actor with a speaking role in the 1962 classic film “To Kill a Mockingbird.” In one of the movie’s climactic scenes, Hamilton, in the role of Helen Robinson, falls to the floor after learning her husband has been killed, and Gregory Peck, as Atticus Finch, scoops her up and carries her to safety.
“[Peck] was such a gentleman,” she recalled. “So concerned about protecting my knees so that I wouldn’t hurt myself…I never forgot that.”
She was married to actor Werner Klemperer from 1997 until his death in 2000.
Hamilton discusses her career — and mentions “Leech Woman” — in
this 2007 interview.
This article was based on an obit written by “Jason47,” with his permission. Our thanks.
Thanks to Paul for the heads up.
