John Hamilton (actor)
John Rummel Hamilton was an American actor who appeared in many movies and television programs, including the role as the blustery newspaper editor Perry White in the 1950s television program Adventures of Superman.
Biography
John R. Hamilton was born in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, to John M. Hamilton and his wife Cornelia J. Hamilton. Hamilton was the youngest of four children, and his mother died eight days after his birth. Hamilton grew up in neighboring Southampton Township, Pennsylvania, where his father worked as a store clerk.
Hamilton's father was also appointed Shippensburg's trustee for the State Superintendent of Public Education, allowing Hamilton to attend college at Dickinson College and Shippensburg State Teacher's College. He opted to forgo teaching for a stage career, however.
After becoming an actor, he worked in Broadway plays and in touring theatrical companies for many years prior to his 1930 movie debut. He was featured with Donald Meek in a series of short mysteries based on S.S. Van Dine stories for Warner Brothers. He played various types of characters, but most often figures of authority like judges and lawyers, politicians and commissioners, doctors and military officers. He appeared in more than three hundred movies, movie serials or television programs from the 1930s through the 1950s.
Among other roles, Hamilton appeared as a judge who passes sentence on soon-to-be-racketeer James Cagney for violation of the Volstead Act in The Roaring Twenties. Hamilton also appeared as a police inspector in the John Huston film In This Our Life in 1942, and got several lines as DA Bryan quizzing Humphrey Bogart's Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon. He also played Professor Gordon in Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe and eventually the Daily Planet newspaper editor Perry White in the 1950s television series Adventures of Superman. After that, he appeared in television commercials for a brand of bifocals termed "Inviso No-Line Glasses."
Death
John Hamilton died on October 15, 1958, in Glendale, California, of heart failure at the age of 71. He was survived by a son. He was interred in Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Selected filmography
Dangerous Nan McGrew - GrantHeads Up - Capt. WhitneySuccess - The FatherRare Auto and Travel Thrills Keep 'Em Rolling - Major in France Battlefield Stand Up and Cheer! - Presidential Naval Aide Parole! - Police Inspector Hamilton The Final Hour - Department of Justice Chief Two-Fisted Gentleman - Frank BoydCraig's Wife - Detective Two in a Crowd - PurdyAdventure in Manhattan - Chief of G-Men Legion of Terror - CummingsLove Letters of a Star - Three Smart Girls - Police Lieutenant Lady from Nowhere - CommissionerA Man Betrayed - Mr. CarltonBreezing Home - Chairman Two Wise Maids - Grover WentworthHer Husband Lies - First Plainclothesman Seventh Heaven - GendarmeI Promise to Pay - Martin Criminals of the Air - Captain WallaceThis Is My Affair - WardenFifty Roads to Town - Captain CarrollMarried Before Breakfast - Plainclothesman at Pier It Could Happen to You - JudgeShe Had to Eat - Police Captain The Singing Marine - Marine Colonel in Shanghai Bad Guy - WardenOn Such a Night - Army Officer The Man Who Cried Wolf - A Judge That Certain Woman - American One Hundred Men and a Girl - Theatre Manager Dangerously Yours - Roberts Night Club Scandal - GovernorMissing Witnesses - Police Chief Elmer H. Davis Murder Is News - David CorningMr. Moto's Gamble - Philip BentonOver the Wall - WardenDoctor Rhythm - Insp. BryceHunted Men - Commissioner Police You Can't Take It with You - Kirby's Dining Guest Boys Town - Warden Personal Secretary - Truesdale Too Hot to Handle - Mr. Fairfield Mr. Wong, Detective - Simon DaytonGirls on Probation - Police Chief I Stand Accused - Defense Attorney BrowerAngels with Dirty Faces - Police Captain Devil's Island - Captain of Second Convict Ship My Son Is a Criminal - Policeman Secret Service of the Air - Warden Jackson The Spirit of Culver - Maj. WhiteInside Story - Judge Three Smart Girls Grow Up - Harry - Conference Room Businessman First Offenders - Sheriff SlavinBlind Alley - Warden Forged Passport - Jack RogersConfessions of a Nazi Spy - FBI Chief Rose of Washington Square - JudgeIt Could Happen to You - Minor Role Stronger Than Desire - Second Trial Judge The Forgotten Woman - Dr. MayWaterfront - Detective Captain They Shall Have Music - Detective I Stole a Million - Dist. Atty. WilsonThe Angels Wash Their Faces - Officer Merton Full Confession - The Judge Dust Be My Destiny - First Warden Espionage Agent - Code Room Instructor Smashing the Money Ring - Night CaptainOn Dress Parade - A Co. Maneuvers Colonel The Roaring Twenties - JudgeCall a Messenger - Police Lt. Nelson Swanee River - Doctor Invisible Stripes - Captain Johnson Oh Johnny, How You Can Love - Jonathan Archer Brother Rat and a Baby - Judge Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet - Hirsch Three Cheers for the Irish - Eddie - the Judge Johnny Apollo - JudgeFlash Gordon Conquers the Universe - Professor Gordon Tear Gas Squad - Chief FerrisMurder in the Air - Agent Hargrave The Man Who Talked Too Much - Governor They Drive by Night - Defense Attorney The Golden Fleecing - Judge Boom Town - McMasters' Defense Attorney Fugitive from a Prison Camp - Minor Role Tugboat Annie Sails Again - Capt. BroadLady with Red Hair - Defense Attorney Graham The Great Plane Robbery - Dr. JamisonFlight Command - Pensacola Commander Cheers for Miss Bishop - President WattsFlight from Destiny - Judge Meet John Doe - Jim Strange Alibi - Judge in Geary Trial World Premiere - Bronson Hold Back the Dawn - Mac - Studio Receptionist Nine Lives Are Not Enough - Police Chief Turner It Started with Eve - Thomas - Headwaiter Passage from Hong Kong - Capt. Shouse The Maltese Falcon - District Attorney BryanBlues in the Night - Doctor Treating Jigger They Died with Their Boots On - Colonel I Killed That Man - District AttorneyBorrowed Hero - William BrooksThe Body Disappears - Trial Judge Pacific Blackout - Police Captain Always in My Heart - WardenTo the Shores of Tripoli - Gen. Gordon I Was Framed - Judge The Great Man's Lady - Sen. GrantIn This Our Life - Police Inspector MillettDr. Broadway - Joe - Inspector Syncopation - Mr. Ames Yankee Doodle Dandy - Recruiting Major The Big Shot - JudgeWings for the Eagle - Mr. Archer Escape from Crime - RaffertyEnemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen - Bracken - The Police CommissionerAcross the Pacific - Court-Martial PresidentPhantom Killer - John G. HarrisonLucky Jordan - Colonel Over My Dead Body - District Attorney Stuart DrinkwaterTennessee Johnson - State Chairman G-Men vs. the Black Dragon - Raymond Martin Aerial Gunner - Doctor Mission to Moscow - Charlie - American Newsman Daredevils of the West - Sen. Garfield Good Luck, Mr. Yates - J.C. Allison Gals, Incorporated - Doctor The Adventures of a Rookie - Col. Wilson So's Your Uncle - Mr. CraigLarceny with Music - Important bankerCrazy House - Outraged Director Government Girl - Irate Man Swingtime Johnny - CaldwellWhat a Woman! - Senator Rookies in Burma - Army Major Standing Room Only - General Captain America - G.F. Hillman Up in Arms - Businessman in Theatre Lobby Action in Arabia - Mr. Hamilton Hi, Good Lookin'! - Mr. McGillicuddy Man from Frisco - Governor Goodnight, Sweetheart - District Attorney Christmas Holiday - Jury Foreman Allergic to Love - Dr. McLaughlanWilson - Legislator in Wilson's Office The Girl Who Dared - Beau RichmondThe Port of 40 Thieves - Mr. FellowsMaisie Goes to Reno -Judge Carter The Doughgirls - Businessman in Lobby Shadow of Suspicion - Mr. R.M. CartellMusic in Manhattan - Mr. Bradley, the Banker I'm from Arkansas - Harry Cashin - Vice President of Slowe Packing CompanyZorro's Black Whip - Mr. Walsh - Banker My Gal Loves Music - Doctor Army Wives - Gen. Lowry Crazy Knights - Mr. GardnerHi, Beautiful - Board Member Meet Miss Bobby Socks - R. N. Swanson Lake Placid Serenade - Hopkins Sheriff of Las Vegas - Judge Homer T. BlackwellMom and Dad - Dr. BurnellThe Great Flamarion - Coroner Strange Illusion - Bill AllenCircumstantial Evidence - Gov. HanlonI'll Tell the World - President The Naughty Nineties - Sheriff of Ironville On Stage Everybody - Mr. Smoothasilk Incendiary Blonde - Judge First Yank Into Tokyo - Dr. Stacey Sensation Hunters - Night Court Judge Johnny Angel - Harbor Master Voice of the Whistler - Doctor Northwest Trail - John OwensGirl on the Spot - Police Commissioner Because of Him - Critic The Phantom Rider - Sen. Williams The Madonna's Secret - LambertBlondie's Lucky Day - Mr. Emory Johnny Comes Flying Home - C.H. Metters Home on the Range - State OfficialBadman's Territory - Commissioner Taylor One Exciting Week - Dr. Jones Renegades - Prosecuting Attorney Shadows Over Chinatown - Pronnet The Mysterious Mr. M - Dr. Kittridge Step by Step - Police Capt. Edmonds The Brute Man - Professor Cushman Wife Wanted - Judge The Secret of the Whistler - McLaren aka Mac Magnificent Doll - Mr. Witherspoon Raiders of the South - General LawtonI'll Be Yours - Board Chairman The Devil on Wheels - Mr. Davis The Beginning or the End - Dr. Harold C. UreyThe Sea of Grass - Forrest Hamilton It Happened on Fifth Avenue - Harper Violence - Doctor ChalmersNew Orleans - Police Chief That's My Gal - Assemblyman McBrideToo Many Winners - Albert PaysonThe Trouble with Women - 2nd JudgeThe Secret Life of Walter Mitty - Dr. Remington News Hounds - Timothy X. 'Big Tim' DonlinThe Unfinished Dance - Dr. Philburn The Foxes of Harrow - Ship's Cargo Official Key Witness - R. C. Hurlbert - Coroner Blondie in the Dough - Premier Biscuit Board Member The Fabulous Texan - President Ulysses S. Grant Bandits of Dark Canyon - Ben ShawHigh Wall - Police Surgeon Song of My Heart - CzarThe Judge Steps Out - Diner on Train The Gallant Legion - Speaker of the House The Checkered Coat - Marcus AnsonReturn of the Bad Men - Doc Greene The Babe Ruth Story - Businessman Walk a Crooked Mile - G.W. Hunter The Gentleman from Nowhere - Judge Desperadoes of Dodge City - Land AgentIn This Corner - Admiral in Harris' OfficeRusty Leads the Way - Board Member Sheriff of Wichita - Prison WardenThe Judge - Lt. EdwardsThe Undercover Man Addio Mimí! - DoctorCanadian Pacific - Pere LacombLaw of the Golden West - Isaac Cody, Bill's fatherThe Wyoming Bandit - MarshalBandit King of Texas - Marshal John TurnerThe James Brothers of Missouri - Lon Royer Strange Bargain - Employee at Meeting Fighting Man of the Plains - CurrierAlias the Champ - Police Commissioner BronsonPrison Warden - Mr. Webb Pioneer Marshal - Man with BraceletBodyhold - Commissioner HarleyDavy Crockett, Indian Scout - Col. PollardBells of Coronado - Mr. Linden, Insurance Company OfficialMilitary Academy with That Tenth Avenue Gang - Judge Ralph TownsendThe Reformer and the Redhead - Police Captain The Invisible Monster - Henry Miller Annie Get Your Gun - Ship Captain Duchess of Idaho - Board Member The Men - Justice of the Peace Bunco Squad - John Deming I'll Get By - Marine General Right Cross - Horse Owner The Missourians - Mayor Grant McDowallThe Du Pont Story - Military Officer The Magnificent Yankee - Justice White The Flying Missile - Second Senator Al Jennings of Oklahoma - Schyler Belle Le Grand - Broker Sugarfoot - Judge Backus Night Riders of Montana - Doctor Inside Straight - Jim Walters Badman's Gold - The MarshalThe Great Caruso - Forrest DeWitt - Charity High Bidder Million Dollar Pursuit - Police Inspector MorganThe Guy Who Came Back - Admiral Criminal Lawyer - Police Captain Loomis The Pace That Thrills - Sour PussTarget - BaileyListen, Judge - Three Stooges short Cripple Creek - San Francisco Postmaster The Rose Bowl Story - Dr. Lansing Million Dollar Mermaid - Skeptic in Rector's Restaurant Never Wave at a WAC - Sen. Holbrook Marshal of Cedar Rock - Stover - Prison WardenJack McCall, Desperado - Col. CornishIron Mountain Trail - Circuit JudgeRun for the Hills - Mr. HarvesterSo This Is Love - Charlie, Show Backer El Paso Stampede - Rancher White Donovan's Brain - Mr. MacNish, Bank Manager Man of Conflict - CornwallSitting Bull - Clifton Staley Stamp Day for Superman - Perry WhiteThe Night of the Hunter - Townsman Who Greets Rachel Bobby Ware Is Missing - Stearns - Goodwin's Associate Chicago Confidential - Attorney Emory Morgan Outcasts of the City Adventures of Superman - Perry White