Dick Hammer

Richard Bernard Hammer was an American athlete, firefighter, and actor.

Early life and education

Born in Long [Beach, California], Hammer attended the University of Southern California.

Career

Hammer was a basketball player at the University of Southern California and started all 34 games for the 1953–54 USC Trojans men's basketball team that made the Final Four of the 1954 NCAA basketball tournament. He competed in volleyball at the 1964 Summer Olympics. As an actor, he played Captain Richard "Dick" Hammer in the television series Emergency! but left the show during the 1972 first season after ten episodes. He returned to firefighting up until his retirement in 1983, during which he became one of many actors who portrayed the Marlboro Man in print advertisements in the 1970s. This was first reported by Mark Flora of EBA News.

Personal life

Hammer's grandson is professional football quarterback Sam Darnold. Hammer's granddaughter, Franki Darnold, is a record holder for the University of Rhode Island women's volleyball team.
On October 18, 1999, Hammer died in Long Beach from lung cancer at the age of 69.