Lloyd Hamilton

Lloyd Vernon Hamilton (August 19, 1891 – January 19, 1935) was an American film comedian, best remembered for his work in the silent era.

Career

Having begun his career as an extra in theatre-productions, Hamilton first appeared on film in 1913, doing various uncredited roles in one-reel comedies. A year later, in 1914, he teamed up with comedian Bud Duncan, and for the next three years the two performers appeared as comedy team Ham and Bud in numerous one-reelers produced by the Kalem Company. Hamilton and Duncan split up in 1917, Hamilton joining Fox as a solo performer. During the next few years he developed a distinct comic persona, appearing as a slightly prissy, overgrown boy often wearing a checkered cap.

Hamilton in the American comedy short film The Rainmaker (1922). By the early 1920s, Hamilton was considered a major star of short comedies. Buster Keaton in an interview praised him as "one of the funniest men in pictures," while Charley Chase, who early in his career had directed Hamilton in a number of short subjects, stated that he would often ask himself "how would 'Ham' Hamilton play this?" before shooting a scene.

Hamilton died in January 1935, during an operation for what was described as "stomach troubles."

Legacy

Herbert Sydney Foxwell created a celebrity comic about Hamilton for the magazine Kinema Comic in 1920.

Hamilton was honored with a "star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 6161 Hollywood Boulevard.

Partial filmography Advertisement for the American comedy short film Half a Hero (1925) with Lloyd Hamilton. Colonel Custard's Last Stand (1914) The Deadly Battle at Hicksville (1914) A Whirlwind of Whiskers (1917) "The Simp" (1920) "Moonshine" (1920) A Self-Made Failure (1924) His Darker Self (1924) Hello, 'Frisco (1924) The Movies (1925) One Sunday Morning (1926) Peaceful Oscar (1927) Breezing Along (1927) Don't Be Nervous (1929) The Show of Shows (1929) Won by a Neck (1930) Up a Tree (1930) Marriage Rows (1931) Ex-Plumber (1931) Are You There? (1931) Too Many Highballs (1933) Star Night at the Cocoanut Grove (1934)