Bernie Hamilton

Bernie Hamilton
Bernie Hamilton in The Organization 1971
Born
Bernard Hamilton

(1928-06-12)June 12, 1928
East Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedDecember 30, 2008(2008-12-30) (aged 80)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1950–1985

Bernard Hamilton (June 12, 1928 – December 30, 2008) was an American actor.[1] He is best known as Captain Dobey in Starsky & Hutch (1975–1979).

Biography

Hamilton was born in East Los Angeles; his brother was jazz drummer Chico Hamilton. He attended Oakland Technical High School, where he first became interested in acting.[2] In films from 1950, he labored in bit roles for years before getting noticed in the film One Potato, Two Potato (1964), the story of an interracial marriage. He is best remembered for his role as the brusque, no-nonsense Captain Dobey in the United States 1970s police series Starsky and Hutch.

After Starsky and Hutch, Hamilton by and large quit acting, playing in only four roles, his last role being a The Love Boat episode in 1985. Instead, he went into music business, producing R&B and gospel records.[1]

Hamilton was also an impresario; starting in the late 1960s he ran a nightclub/art gallery called Citadel d’Haiti on Sunset Boulevard. Hamilton also produced rhythm and blues and gospel music recordings on his own record label called Chocolate Snowman. One of his releases featured himself; it was entitled Captain Dobey Sings the Blues.[2]

Hamilton married Maxine King on December 7, 1950, they divorced in 1968 after having two children, son Raoul and daughter Candy.[1]

Hamilton died on December 30, 2008, of cardiac arrest at the age of 80.[1] A US Army veteran in the Korean War, he was buried at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California.

Selected filmography

Selected filmography of Bernie Hamilton
Year Title Role Notes
1950 The Jackie Robinson Story Ernie
1951 Bright Victory Soldier Uncredited
1951 The Harlem Globetrotters Higgins Uncredited
1951 Mysterious Island Neb
1954 Jungle Man-Eaters Zuwaba
1954 Carmen Jones Reporter Uncredited
1955 Kismet Pearl Merchant Uncredited
1956 Congo Crossing Pompala
1956 The Girl He Left Behind Corporal West Uncredited
1959 Up Periscope Weary Uncredited
1959 Cry Tough Policeman Uncredited
1959 Take a Giant Step Sharpie in Bar Uncredited
1960 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Dawson Season 6 Episode 1: "Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel's Coat"
1960 The Young One Traver Directed by Luis Buñuel
1960 Let No Man Write My Epitaph Goodbye George
1961 Underworld U.S.A. Investigator Uncredited
1961 The Devil at 4 O'Clock Charlie
1961 The Law and Mr Jones Bob Mills "Lethal Weapons"
1962 13 West Street Negro
1963 Captain Sindbad Quinius
1964 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Second Convict Season 2 Episode 18: "Final Escape"
1964 One Potato, Two Potato Frank Richards
1965 Synanon Pete
1967 Stranger on the Run Dickory
1968 The Swimmer Chauffeur
1969 The Lost Man Reggie Page
1970 Nam's Angels Captain Jackson
1970 Walk the Walk Mike
1971 The Organization Lieutenant Jessop
1972 Hammer Davis
1973 Scream Blacula Scream Ragman
1975 Bucktown Harley

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Actor Bernie Hamilton, Capt. Dobey on 'Starsky and Hutch,' dies at 80". Los Angeles Times. 2009-01-01. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
  2. ^ a b Lawson, Dominic (2009-01-02). "Bernie Hamilton: played Captain Dobey in Starsky and Hutch". The Times. London. Archived from the original on May 24, 2010. Retrieved 2009-01-02.