Where most actors search for substantial roles that could
bring prestige and success. George Hamilton walked a different path. It’s as if—early
on—he somehow recognized his talents and longevity were empowered by mediocrity.
His filmography is aggressively lightweight, yet he has worked steadily for over fifty years. At one point, Hamilton was best known for his roasted barbeque tan. He also gained exposure as a kind of professional escort for aging actors.
Throughout it all, he perfected a Las Vegas notion of charm,
all dazzling veneers and inconsequential quotes.
What saved him from early extinction was seemingly
effortless self-deprecation, as if to say, ‘I too cannot fathom my success. It truly
is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.’
The career of George Hamilton—if not the persona—comes as compelling
evidence that some are gifted to walk the beach, leaving no prints, embracing
the burlesque appeal of superficiality, and making the lightness of it all bearable
for the rest of us.
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