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Lois Hamilton

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Lois Hamilton
Born
Lois Irene Yanessa

(1943-10-14)October 14, 1943
DiedDecember 23, 1999(1999-12-23) (aged 56)
Other namesLois Areno
Lois Irene Aurino
Lois Aurino
Alma materTemple University
University of Florence
Occupations
  • Model
  • author
  • actress
  • artist
  • aviator
Known forThe Cannonball Run
Summer Rental
Stripes

Lois Hamilton (October 14, 1943 – December 23, 1999) was an American model, author, aviator,[1] artist and actress.[2]

Life and career

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Lois Hamilton was born Lois Irene Yanessa on October 14, 1943, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Francis Yanessa and Helen.[3][4] She studied at Temple University in her native Philadelphia before attending the University of Florence in Florence, Italy, where she received degrees in psychology and fine arts.

Her looks brought her an opportunity with the Ford Modeling Agency where she became one of its top models during the 1970s. Hamilton graced the covers of many magazines, including Cosmopolitan, Fortune, Mademoiselle, Vogue Italia, Prevue, Neue Revue Illustrierte, Newsweek, Paris Match, Hello!, Redbook, Ladies' Home Journal, Glamour and Time. Some of her ad campaigns included those for Chanel, Clairol, Halston, Pucci, and Hermès; in all, she appeared in over 150 commercials worldwide during her career.

Hamilton moved to Hollywood, where she made a successful transition from model to actress. Within a year, she landed more TV stints than any other actress at her agency. She worked with such notables as Ivan Reitman, Neil Simon, Sydney Pollack, Robert Redford, Burt Reynolds, John Candy, Roger Moore, Bill Murray, Jane Fonda, Dean Martin, Carl Reiner, David Carradine and Sammy Davis Jr.. Under the name Lois Hamilton or Lois Areno, she appeared in films such as Stripes, The Cannonball Run and Honky Tonk Freeway and on television shows like Card Sharks, The Dukes of Hazzard and Three's Company.

When she was not involved in a feature film or television project, Hamilton took to the skies, where she was a licensed private pilot. She logged over 600 hours in the air and was an accomplished aerobatic pilot, flying her 1936 German biplane. Hamilton was also an accomplished sculptor, painter and writer. She exhibited her bronze sculptures and oil paintings in many one-woman shows in Los Angeles.

Death

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Hamilton fled the country for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, rather than face prison time for a driving under the influence with an accident.[5] On December 23, 1999, Hamilton locked herself in her hotel room at the Sheraton Hotel in Rio de Janeiro, where she consumed a fatal overdose of sleeping pills.[6] She was 56 years old. She was interred in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California.

Filmography

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Film
Year Title Role Notes
1972 The Last of the Red Hot Lovers Girl in Car Credited as Lois Aurino
1975 The Sunshine Boys Uncredited
1979 The Electric Horseman Joanna Camden Credited as Lois Areno
1981 The Cannonball Run Seymour's Girl Credited as Lois Areno
Stripes Stillman's Girlfriend Credited as Lois Areno
Honky Tonk Freeway Uncredited
1985 Summer Rental Vicki Sanders
1986 Armed Response Sara Roth Alternative title: Jade Jungle
2004 Bob's Night Out Bob's Stepmother Released posthumously, (final film role)
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1978 Are You in the House Alone? Policewoman Television movie
Credited as Lois Areno
Starsky & Hutch Paula 1 episode
1979 Topper Charlene Television movie
Credited as Lois Areno
CHiPs 1 episode
The Dukes of Hazzard Carla 1 episode
1978–1981 Three's Company Rita
Katy Williams
2 episodes
Credited as Lois Areno
1979–1980 The Ropers Debbie Hopper 5 episodes
Credited as Lois Areno
1979–1981 Card Sharks Card Dealer Credited as Lois Areno
1980 The Love Boat Angela 1 episode
1982 Pray TV Bobbi Ellis Television movie
1983 Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land Millie Television movie
Credited as Lois Areno
1984 Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour Herself
1984 Hart to Hart Inga 1 episode
Invitation to Hell Miss Winter Television movie
1985 Hunter Ginger Flagg 1 episode
1990 Designing Women Susan 1 episode

References

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  1. ^ Skin (December 9, 2004). Mr. Skin's Skincyclopedia. ISBN 9780312331443.
  2. ^ "Los Aurino". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2014. Archived from the original on March 20, 2014.
  3. ^ "Article clipped from Philadelphia Daily News". Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  4. ^ "Article clipped from Santa Maria Times - Newspapers.com". Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  5. ^ "AMERICAN ACTRESS COMMITS SUICIDE IN RIO". TV Guide. May 25, 2000. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  6. ^ Riley, Sam (2010). Star Struck: An Encyclopedia of Celebrity Culture. ABC-CLIO. p. 277. ISBN 978-0313358135.
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