Antony Hamilton

Career

Modelling In 1973, during a dance tour in Europe with The Australian Ballet, he was discovered by Vladimir Bliokh, a world-famous Russian global photojournalist and premier performing-arts photographer. Hamilton stopped dancing at the age of 21 and decided to pursue a career as a model. Hamilton later said, "Dancing was too confining and regimented for me. [...] I became a model not because I was interested in fashion or styles, but because I knew it was a good way to see the world. [...] It gave me independence. [..] The money was good too."

After signing with a London modelling agency,

Producers also had misgivings about having the lead be found out to be a gay man, still taboo in the 1980s. Hamilton's first episode aired on 24 November 1984. After Hexum's death, the series struggled in the ratings. CBS cancelled Cover Up the following year.

After the cancellation of Cover Up, Hamilton was in talks to replace Roger Moore as the new James Bond in the 007 film series. Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli was reportedly hesitant to cast Hamilton as the womanising James Bond because, in real life, Hamilton was gay. In 1986, Hamilton had a small role in the comedy film Jumpin' Jack Flash starring Whoopi Goldberg. He guest-starred on several television series including The Hitchhiker, The Twilight Zone, The Charmings and L.A. Law.

In 1988, Hamilton landed the role of Impossible Missions Force agent Max Harte, a former ANZAC commando, in the 1988 revival of Mission: Impossible. The series aired for two seasons before being canceled due to low ratings in 1990. In 1991, he guest-starred on two episodes of crime drama series P.S. I Luv U. Hamilton's final role was in the 1992 thriller Fatal Instinct.

Death On 29 March 1995, Hamilton died from AIDS-related pneumonia in Los Angeles. His family requested that contributions be made in his name to AIDS Project Los Angeles. Hamilton was cremated and his ashes were scattered off the coast of Malibu.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1979 Nocturna: Granddaughter of Dracula Jimmy Alternative title: Nocturna 1984 Samson and Delilah Samson Television movie 1984–1985 Cover Up Jack Striker 14 episodes 1985 Mirrors Gino Rey Television movie 1986 Jumpin' Jack Flash Man in Restaurant Credited as Anthony Hamilton 1986 The Hitchhiker Jim Buckley Episode: "Man of Her Dreams" 1986 The Twilight Zone Simon Locke Segment: "Nightsong" 1987 The Charmings Lionel Davenport III Episode: "Modern Romance" 1987 L.A. Law Dan Sapin Episode: "The Lung Goodbye" 1988 Sonny Spoon Episode: "Too Good to Be True, Too Good to Get Caught" 1988–1990 Mission: Impossible Maxwell Hart 35 episodes – credited as Tony Hamilton 1988 Howling IV: The Original Nightmare Tom Direct-to-video release 1991 P.S. I Luv U Dodger 2 episodes – credited as Tony Hamilton 1992 Fatal Instinct Bill Hook Credited as Tony Hamilton (final film role)