John Hamilton

John Hamilton

Deceased · Born: Jan 16, 1887 · Died: Oct 15, 1958

Personal Details

BornJan 16, 1887 Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Parents
  • John M. Hamilton
  • Cornelia Jane Hollar Hamilton
Relatives
  • David Edwin Hamilton (Sibling)
  • William H. Hamilton (Sibling)
  • Mary C Hamilton Runkle (Sibling)

Biography

John Hamilton, a thespian with a robust and thunderous voice, spent many years honing his craft on Broadway and touring theatrical companies before making his cinematic debut in 1930. He was an original cast member of the Broadway production of "Seventh Heaven" and would later reprise his role in the 1937 film adaptation of the same name.

Prior to his film debut, Hamilton had already gained significant experience working with various theatrical companies. His impressive resume included a stint with Warner Bros., where he starred alongside Donald Meekin in a series of short mysteries based on the works of S.S. Van Dine.

Throughout his extensive career, Hamilton was often typecast in roles such as prison wardens, judges, and police chiefs, but he also demonstrated his versatility by playing a wide range of characters in numerous films from the 1930s to the 1950s.

Hamilton's most notable role came when he was cast as Perry White, the editor of the Daily Planet newspaper, in the classic 1950s television series "Adventures of Superman." This iconic role cemented his status as a beloved figure in American popular culture.

Sadly, Hamilton's life was cut short when he passed away in 1957 due to a heart attack. He left behind a son and a legacy that continues to be celebrated by fans of classic cinema and television.

Despite his passing, Hamilton's legacy is often confused with that of other actors sharing the same name, including John F. Hamilton, an American actor who began his career in the 1920s, and John Hamilton, a British actor who worked exclusively in the UK during the same period.

Career

1957
Chicago Confidential
Chicago Confidential as Emory Morgan - Attorney (uncredited)
1955
Bobby Ware Is Missing
Bobby Ware Is Missing as Stearns - Goodwin's Associate (uncredited)
1954
Moby Dick
Moby Dick as 'Jeroboam' Captain
Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull as Ulysses S. Grant
The Miami Story
The Miami Story as Clifton Staley
1953
Run for the Hills
Run for the Hills as Mr. Harvester
Marshal of Cedar Rock
Marshal of Cedar Rock as Stover - Prison Warden
Iron Mountain Trail
Iron Mountain Trail as Circuit Judge
Man of Conflict
Man of Conflict as Mr. Cornwall
Never Wave at a WAC
Never Wave at a WAC as Senator Holbrook
Donovan's Brain
Donovan's Brain as Mr. McNish (uncredited)
1952
Target
Target as Bailey
Listen, Judge
Listen, Judge as George Morton (uncredited)
The Rose Bowl Story
The Rose Bowl Story as Dr. Lansing
1951
Badman's Gold
Badman's Gold as The Marshal
Sugarfoot
Sugarfoot as Judge Backus
Million Dollar Pursuit
Million Dollar Pursuit as Police Inspector Morgan
Criminal Lawyer
Criminal Lawyer as Police Captain Loomis
1950
The Invisible Monster
The Invisible Monster as "Henry Miller"
The Missourians
The Missourians as Mayor Grant McDowall
The Reformer and the Redhead
The Reformer and the Redhead as Police Captain (uncredited)
Bunco Squad
Bunco Squad as John Deming (uncredited)
The Men
The Men as Justice of the Peace (uncredited)
Annie Get Your Gun
Annie Get Your Gun as Ship Captain (uncredited)
Bells of Coronado
Bells of Coronado as Mr. Linden, Insurance Company Official
1949
Law of the Golden West
Law of the Golden West as Isaac Cody, Bill's father
The Judge
The Judge as Lt. Edwards
Alias the Champ
Alias the Champ as Police Commissioner Bronson
Pioneer Marshal
Pioneer Marshal as Man with Bracelet
Canadian Pacific
Canadian Pacific as Pere Lacomb
Sheriff of Wichita
Sheriff of Wichita as Prison Warden
Strange Bargain
Strange Bargain as Employee at Meeting (uncredited)
1948
Walk a Crooked Mile
Walk a Crooked Mile as G.W. Hunter
The Gallant Legion
The Gallant Legion as Speaker of the House
The Checkered Coat
The Checkered Coat as Marcus Anson
Rusty Leads the Way
Rusty Leads the Way as Board Member (uncredited)
In This Corner
In This Corner as Admiral in Harris' Office
1947
Raiders of the South
Raiders of the South as George Boone
Too Many Winners
Too Many Winners as Albert Payson
Violence
Violence as Dr. Chalmers
Blondie in the Dough
Blondie in the Dough as Premier Biscuit Board Member (uncredited)
News Hounds
News Hounds as Timothy X. 'Big Tim' Donlin
The Sea of Grass
The Sea of Grass as Forrest Hamilton (uncredited)
Key Witness
Key Witness as R. C. Hurlbert - Coroner (uncredited)
High Wall
High Wall as Police Surgeon (uncredited)
The Judge Steps Out
The Judge Steps Out as Diner on Train (uncredited)
It Happened on Fifth Avenue
It Happened on Fifth Avenue as Harper (uncredited)
1946
The Secret of the Whistler
The Secret of the Whistler as McLaren aka Mac (uncredited)
Johnny Comes Flying Home
Johnny Comes Flying Home as C.H. Metters (uncredited)
Home on the Range
Home on the Range as State Official
The Phantom Rider
The Phantom Rider as Senator Williams
Badman's Territory
Badman's Territory as Commissioner Taylor (uncredited)
Step by Step
Step by Step as Police Capt. Edmonds
Magnificent Doll
Magnificent Doll as Mr. Witherspoon (uncredited)
The Brute Man
The Brute Man as Professor Cushman (uncredited)
1945
Northwest Trail
Northwest Trail as John Owens
On Stage Everybody
On Stage Everybody as Mr. Smoothasilk (uncredited)
Sensation Hunters
Sensation Hunters as Night Court Judge
First Yank Into Tokyo
First Yank Into Tokyo as Dr. Stacey (uncredited)
The Naughty Nineties
The Naughty Nineties as Sheriff of Ironville (uncredited)
Voice of the Whistler
Voice of the Whistler as Doctor (uncredited)
Mom and Dad
Mom and Dad as Dr. Burnell
The Great Flamarion
The Great Flamarion as Coroner (uncredited)
Johnny Angel
Johnny Angel as Harbor Master (uncredited)
1944
Sheriff of Las Vegas
Sheriff of Las Vegas as Homer Blackwell
The Girl Who Dared
The Girl Who Dared as Beau Richmond
Port of 40 Thieves
Port of 40 Thieves as Mr. Fellows
Crazy Knights
Crazy Knights as Mr. Gardner
I'm from Arkansas
I'm from Arkansas as Harry Cashin
Wilson
Wilson as Legislator in Wilson's Office (uncredited)
Action in Arabia
Action in Arabia as Mr. Hamilton
Maisie Goes to Reno
Maisie Goes to Reno as Judge Carter (Uncredited)
Up in Arms
Up in Arms as Man In Theatre Lobby (uncredited)
Music in Manhattan
Music in Manhattan as Mr. Bradley, the Banker (uncredited)
Shadow of Suspicion
Shadow of Suspicion as Mr. R.M. Cartell
1943
Daredevils of the West
Daredevils of the West as Senator Garfield
So's Your Uncle
So's Your Uncle as Mr. Craig
Good Luck, Mr. Yates
Good Luck, Mr. Yates as J.C. Allison
Larceny with Music
Larceny with Music as Important banker
Crazy House
Crazy House as Outraged Director
Government Girl
Government Girl as Irate Man (uncredited)
Aerial Gunner
Aerial Gunner as Doctor (uncredited)
Mission to Moscow
Mission to Moscow as Charlie - American Newsman (uncredited)
1942
Phantom Killer
Phantom Killer as John G. Harrison
Over My Dead Body
Over My Dead Body as District Attorney Stuart Drinkwater
Dr. Broadway
Dr. Broadway as Inspector (uncredited)
Always in My Heart
Always in My Heart as Prison Warden
Across the Pacific
Across the Pacific as Court-Martial President
In This Our Life
In This Our Life as Police Inspector Millett
1941
Borrowed Hero
Borrowed Hero as William Brooks
Pacific Blackout
Pacific Blackout as Police Captain
Nine Lives Are Not Enough
Nine Lives Are Not Enough as Police Chief (uncredited)
I Killed That Man
I Killed That Man as District Attorney
It Started with Eve
It Started with Eve as Thomas - Headwaiter (uncredited)
Hold Back the Dawn
Hold Back the Dawn as Mac - Studio Receptionist (uncredited)
Meet John Doe
Meet John Doe as Jim (uncredited)
The Maltese Falcon
The Maltese Falcon as District Attorney Bryan
They Died with Their Boots On
They Died with Their Boots On as Colonel (uncredited)
1940
The Flag of Humanity
The Flag of Humanity as Gen. James Garfield
The Golden Fleecing
The Golden Fleecing as Judge (uncredited)
Johnny Apollo
Johnny Apollo as Night Court Judge
Tear Gas Squad
Tear Gas Squad as Chief Ferris
Flight Command
Flight Command as Pensacola Commander (uncredited)
Lady with Red Hair
Lady with Red Hair as Defense Attorney Graham (uncredited)
Boom Town
Boom Town as McMasters' Defense Attorney (uncredited)
They Drive by Night
They Drive by Night as Defense Attorney (uncredited)
1939
Old Hickory
Old Hickory as Governor Clairborne of Louisiana
Invisible Stripes
Invisible Stripes as Captain Johnson (uncredited)
Full Confession
Full Confession as The Judge (uncredited)
On Dress Parade
On Dress Parade as A Co. Maneuvers Colonel (uncredited)
Stronger Than Desire
Stronger Than Desire as Second Trial Judge (uncredited)
Three Smart Girls Grow Up
Three Smart Girls Grow Up as Harry - Conference Room Businessman
Angels Wash Their Faces
Angels Wash Their Faces as Officer H.A. Merton (uncredited)
Espionage Agent
Espionage Agent as Code Room Instructor
Devil's Island
Devil's Island as Captain of Second Convict Ship
Dust Be My Destiny
Dust Be My Destiny as First Warden (uncredited)
Blind Alley
Blind Alley as Warden
They Shall Have Music
They Shall Have Music as Detective (uncredited)
Confessions of a Nazi Spy
Confessions of a Nazi Spy as FBI Chief (uncredited)
1938
Doctor Rhythm
Doctor Rhythm as Insp. Bryce
Mr. Moto's Gamble
Mr. Moto's Gamble as Philip Benton
Over the Wall
Over the Wall as Warden Vance
Mr. Wong, Detective
Mr. Wong, Detective as Simon Dayton
Girls on Probation
Girls on Probation as Police Chief
Boys Town
Boys Town as Prison Warden (uncredited)
You Can't Take It with You
You Can't Take It with You as Kirby's Dining Guest (uncredited)
Too Hot to Handle
Too Hot to Handle as Mr. Fairfield (uncredited)
1937
Murder Is News
Murder Is News as David Corning
Bad Guy
Bad Guy as Warden
She Had to Eat
She Had to Eat as Police Captain (uncredited)
Missing Witnesses
Missing Witnesses as Police Chief Elmer H. Davis (uncredited)
Seventh Heaven
Seventh Heaven as Gendarme
1936
Lady from Nowhere
Lady from Nowhere as Commissioner
Three Smart Girls
Three Smart Girls as Desk Lieutenant at Police Station
Craig's Wife
Craig's Wife as Detective (Uncredited)
A Man Betrayed
A Man Betrayed as Mr. Carlton
1934
Keep 'Em Rolling
Keep 'Em Rolling as Major in France Battlefield
Stand Up and Cheer!
Stand Up and Cheer! as Presidential Naval Aide