Kim Hamilton

Kim Hamilton
Hamilton with Ivan Dixon and Steven Perry in The Twilight Zone episode "The Big Tall Wish," 1960.
Born	Dorothy Mae Aiken (1932-09-12)September 12, 1932 Los Angeles, California, United States
Died	September 16, 2013(2013-09-16) (aged 81) Los Angeles, California, United States
Other names	Kim Rousseau
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1952–2010
Spouse(s)	Robert Henry Hamilton (1951–19??) Dave Geisel (1962–65; divorced) 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, whose career spanned from the 1950s to the 2010s.^[1] Her early film credits included the 1959 film noir Odds Against Tomorrow opposite Harry Belafonte and The Leech Woman in 1960.^[1] Hamilton was one of the first African-American actors to appear on the soap opera Days of Our Lives^[2] and was the only African-American to appear in a speaking role on Leave It to Beaver.^[1]

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.^[3]

Biography

Career

Hamilton initially wanted to be a model but could not work in the fashion industry owing to her short stature and race.^[1] Instead, she found an advertisement in the Los Angeles Times that led to acting classes and an agent.^[1] Hamilton made her professional acting debut in the 1950s television sitcom Amos 'n' Andy.^[1] She played the girlfriend of Andy (Spencer Williams) on the show for several episodes.^[1]

She briefly moved to London to pursue acting.^[1] 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.^[1]

Hamilton appeared in more than sixty television series and television films throughout her career. In 1960, she guest-starred in an episode of The Twilight Zone called "The Big Tall Wish."^[1] She became one of the first black actresses to appear on the soap opera Days of Our Lives.^[2] Other roles included guest spots on The Thin Man, General Hospital,^[4] Sanford and Son, In the Heat of the Night and Law & Order. She played 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 credits, she was credited as Kim Rousseau.^[5]

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.^[3] Hamilton's honor was part of series of Columbia University's Big Read program, focusing on To Kill a Mockingbird through guest lectures, productions, and panel discussions.^[3]

Personal life and death

Hamilton was born Dorothy Mae Aiken on September 12, 1932, in Los Angeles, California.^[2] A former resident of Harlem, she divided her time between her homes in Los Angeles and the Upper West Side of Manhattan.^[3]

She was married three times in her life and had two children; her son, Robert, predeceased her. Her first marriage, at age 18, was to Robert Henry Hamilton (1951 until divorce later that decade); this union produced two children. A second marriage was to television director Dave Geisel (1962–65). She dated German-born actor Werner Klemperer for more than two decades before their marriage in 1997.^[1] They remained together until Klemperer's death on December 6, 2000.^[6]

Hamilton died of undisclosed causes on September 16, 2013, aged 81, in Los Angeles, California.^[2][7][8]

Filmography

Films

References

External links

• Kim Hamilton at the Internet Movie Database

• Kim Hamilton at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)