Murray Hamilton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Murray Hamilton (March 24, 1923 – September 1, 1986) was an American stage, screen, and television character actor.
Born in Washington, North Carolina, Hamilton is best remembered for his role as the ignorant Amity Island mayor in the Steven Spielberg shark-thriller Jaws and its sequel Jaws 2. His other memorable film appearances include the critically acclaimed 1959 film Anatomy of a Murder, in which he played the dim-witted bartender, The Hustler (1961), wherein he played the character "Findley," a wealthy billiards player fevered by gambling, and in The Graduate (1967) as Mr. Robinson, husband of Anne Bancroft's Mrs. Robinson. For many years both before and during his film career, Hamilton was a prominent dramatic actor, earning a Tony Award nomination for his role in the 1965 production of "Absence of a Cello."
Hamilton displayed an early interest in performing during his days at Washington High School just before the outbreak of World War II. Bad hearing kept him from enlisting, so he moved to New York as a 19-year-old to find a career on the stage. In an early role, he performed with Henry Fonda in Mister Roberts. In 1960, he was seen onstage again with Henry Fonda in Critic's Choice. Once more, in 1968, he appeared with Fonda in The Boston Strangler.
