John F. Hamilton
Birth dateNovember 7, 1893
Birth placeNew York City, New York
U.S.
Death dateJuly 11, 1967 (aged 73)
Death placeParamus, New Jersey
U.S.
Other namesJohn Frank Hamilton
OccupationFilm actor
Stage actor
Years active1924 - 1961 (film and television)
Alma materFordham University

John F. Hamilton (November 7, 1893 – July 11, 1967) was an American-born actor who worked for many years in the theater but only occasionally on film. He is probably best-remembered as Pops, father of Eva Marie Saint's character, in Elia Kazan's film classic On the Waterfront (1954). He was known as John F. Hamilton to distinguish him from the much more prolific American film actor John Hamilton (who played "Perry White" on TV) and also from a British actor of youthful roles who worked in England and Europe in the 1930s.

Born in New York City on November 7, 1893,[1] Hamilton was a graduate of Fordham University. His performing career began in vaudeville in 1916.[2]

Broadway plays in which Hamilton appeared included Shore Leave (1922), Hell-bent Fer Heaven (1924), The Mongrel (1924), The Dagger (1925), Rockbound (1929), The Black Tower (1932), Ceiling Zero (1935), Iron Men (1936), Of Mice and Men (1937), Clash by Night (1941), The Day Will Come (1944), and Therese (1945).[1]

For the last five years of Hamilton's life he lived in Englewood, New Jersey, at the Actors Fund Home. He died on July 11, 1967, at Bergen Pines Hospital in Paramus, New Jersey, aged 73.[2]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1926Rainbow RileyHalfwit
1927The Mountain EagleEdward PettigrewHitchcock lost film
The Masked MenaceThe Half-Wit
1929The Great GabboNeighbourUncredited
1939Allegheny UprisingProfessor
1940The Saint's Double TroubleLimpy
Gold Rush MaisieBert Davis
1942Men of TexasDwight Douglass
1943The Amazing Mrs. HollidayDr. Kirke
ShantytownMr. Gorty
Pilot No. 5Mr. PritchardUncredited
Spy TrainSenior Conductor
Headin' for God's CountryHilary Higgins
1947BoomerangMan in Barber ShopUncredited
1949The Undercover ManPolice Desk Sergeant Shannon
1954On the WaterfrontPops Doyle

References

  1. ^ "John F. Hamilton". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived October 29, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  2. ^ "John Hamilton, 73, Stage, Film Actor". The New York Times. July 13, 1967. p. 37. Retrieved November 2, 2024.