Graham Hamilton
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Graham Hamilton | |
|---|---|
| Born | James Graham Hamilton McOwat 27 November 1944 Leeds, England |
| Education | Giggleswick School, Giggleswick, North Yorkshire Rose Bruford College, London, England |
| Occupations | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 1966–present |
James Graham Hamilton McOwat (born 27 November 1944) is a British stage and television actor who served as the 15th President of Equity, the actors' trade union, from 2008 to 2010.[1] Formerly vice-president for ten years, Hamilton has been involved in Equity's ruling Council since 1976, during his acting career in plays and musicals in the West End. He is known chiefly for his portrayal of Fagin in Oliver![2] After working in the West End, he played the villain in over twenty-one pantomimes, appearing at theatres throughout the UK. He was the architect of Equity's Annual Conference and its Rules that replaced the union's inadequate Annual General Meeting in 1995. In 2007, he was awarded Honorary Life Membership of Equity by its governing Council for distinguished service to the union.[3]
Early Life
[edit]Graham Hamilton was born on 27 November 1944 in Leeds, West Yorkshire. He was educated at Giggleswick School in North Yorkshire, where he was taught English and directed in school plays by Russell Harty[4] when the television presenter and chat-show host was a schoolmaster there. He trained as an actor at Rose Bruford College in London from 1963 to 1966.[5][6]
Selected credits
[edit]West End Theatre credits include:
- Oliver! as Fagin and Mr Sowerberry (Albery Theatre, now Noel Coward, and pre-London tour).
- Dad's Army (musical) as Private Meadow (Shaftesbury Theatre).
- Jeeves as Seppings, the butler (His Majesty's Theatre, London).
- Oh! Calcutta! (revue) in various roles (Royalty and Duchess Theatre).
- The Mousetrap as Giles Ralston ( Ambassadors Theatre).
Pantomime Season credits include:
- Captain Hook in Peter Pan - the musical (Norwich Theatre Royal).
- Abanazar in Aladdin (Cardiff New, Lewisham Broadway).
- Sheriff of Nottingham in Babes in the Wood (Nottingham Theatre Royal, Oxford New, Bristol Hippodrome, Bradford Alhambra).
- King Rat in Dick Whittington and His Cat (Cardiff New, Southport Theatre, Bradford Alhambra).
- Fleshcreep, the Giant's Henchman, in Jack and the Beanstalk (Wolverhampton Grand, Cardiff New, Norwich Theatre Royal, Bradford Alhambra, Bournemouth Pavilion, Stockport Davenport, His Majesty's, Aberdeen, Halifax Victoria).
- Will Atkins, the Pirate in Robinson Crusoe (Watford Palace).
- Poo Stink, the evil magician, in Puss in Boots (Watford Palace).
- Compost, the Giant's Henchman, in Jack and the Beanstalk (Watford Palace).
Repertory Theatre credits include plays at:
- Harrogate Theatre, Plymouth Athenaeum Theatre, St. Andrews Byre, Colchester Repertory Theatre, Billingham Forum and Leicester Haymarket.[7][8]
Television credits include:
- All Creatures Great and Small as Sergeant Bannister/Soldier (BBC TV).
- Last of the Summer Wine as Gordon (BBC TV).
- It Ain't Half Hot, Mum as MP Sergeant (BBC TV).
- I Didn't Know You Cared as Patient (BBC TV).
- Rosie as Mr Robinson (BBC TV).
- Dad's Army as Private Meadow in the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium (ITV).
- General Hospital as PC Smith (ITV).
- Me, You and Him as Man in Pub (BBC TV).
- Not by the Book as Harry (BBC TV).
- Crime and Punishment as Court Usher (BBC TV).[9][10][11]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Graham Hamilton - Actor". Equity. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
- ↑ Smith, Alistair (22 July 2008). "Hamilton elected Equity president". The Stage. London. Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
- ↑ Equity Annual Report 2007 Publication 29 April 2008 PDF Minutes of 2007 ARC Page 98 www.equity.org.uk
- ↑ Giggleswick School Chronicle. Shakespeare play reviews, actor: JGH McOwat (Graham Hamilton), director: FR Harty (Russell Harty). Editions: March 1961, March 1962, Easter 1963.
- ↑ Alumni - Rose Bruford College.
- ↑ <ref name="RBC">"Alumni F-H". Rose Bruford College. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- ↑ Theatre credits in The Stage Year Book, pub Carson and Comerford, London SE1 3XT successive years.
- ↑ Theatre credits in Spotlight Casting Directory, London WC2.
- ↑ TV credits in successive volumes of Radio Times and TV Times, Westminster Arts Library, 35 St Martin's Street, London WC2.
- ↑ TV credits Graham Hamilton at IMDb.
- ↑ TV credits Graham Hamilton at British Comedy Guide.
External links
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