Kim Hamilton

For gymnast and motivational speaker, see Kim Hamilton (gymnast).

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 (1951-1969) 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. 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.

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.

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. 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. 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.. 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.

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.

Filmography

Films

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1957	Something of Value	Kipi's Wife	Uncredited
1959	Odds Against Tomorrow	Ruth Ingram
1960	The Leech Woman	Young Malla
1961	The Wizard of Baghdad	Teegra - Yasmin's Servant	Uncredited
1962	A Public Affair	Mrs. Hendrickson
1962	To Kill a Mockingbird	Helen Robinson - Tom's Wife	Uncredited
1966	The Wild Angels	Nurse
1971	Kotch	Emma Daly
1973	Heavy Traffic		Voice
1978	Lady of the House	Mary
1981	Body and Soul	Mrs. Johnson

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1960	The Twilight Zone	Frances	Episode: "The Big Tall Wish"
1962	Alfred Hitchcock Presents	Maid	Season 7 Episode 36: "First Class Honeymoon"
1963	77 Sunset Strip	Letha	Episode: "White Lie"
1963	Leave it to Beaver	Maid	Episode: "The Parking Attendants"
1967	Mannix	Alice Bradley	Episode: "A Catalogue of Sins"
1970	Mannix	Hallie Woods, Nightclub singer	Episode: "Time Out of Mind"
1972	The Mod Squad	Mildred Jameson	Episode: "Can You Hear Me,Out There?"
1972	Sanford and Son	Carol Davis	Episode: "Fred & Carol and Fred & Donna"
1973	Adam 12	Mrs. Hardy	Episode: “Citizens Arrest”
1974	Kojak	Sgt Donna Mill	Episode: "Hush Now, Don't You Die"
1974	All in the Family	Mrs. Helen Willis	Episode: "Lionel's Engagement"
1975	Good Times	Betty	Episode: "Florida's Rich Cousin"
1975	Sanford and Son	Grace	Episode: "The Older Woman"
1983	The Jeffersons	Pauline	Episode: "My Wife... My Maid"
1984	Guiding Light	Victoria Tamerlaine Spaulding	Recurring role
1985	Alice	Mrs. Reynolds	Episode: "Vera's Grounded Gumshoe"
1991 1994	In the Heat of the Night	Mrs. Johnson Ellen Shore	Episode: “Promise Child” Episode: "Ches and the Grand Lady"
2008	Private Practice	Frances	Episode: "Serving Two Masters"

External links

• Kim Hamilton at IMDb
• Kim Hamilton at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
• Kim Hamilton at Memory Alpha