Murray Hamilton

Murray Hamilton (March 24, 1923 – September 1, 1986) was an American stage, screen, and television character actor who appeared in such films as Anatomy of a Murder, The Hustler, The Graduate, The Amityville Horror and Jaws.

Early life

Born in Washington, North Carolina, 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 City as a 19-year-old to find a career on stage.

Career

In an early role, he performed on stage with Henry Fonda in the classic wartime story Mister Roberts as a replacement, playing Ensign Pulver. In 1950, he was onstage again with Fonda in Critic's Choice; Howard Taubman of The New York Times called him "properly obnoxious as the director". Hamilton was teamed once more with Fonda in 1968 for the drama film The Boston Strangler.

His best known performance is as the obdurate Amity Island mayor Larry Vaughn in the Steven Spielberg shark thriller Jaws. Hamilton also appeared in the sequel, Jaws 2. Other notable big-screen appearances include the critically acclaimed 1959 film Anatomy of a Murder with James Stewart, in which he played the bartender Al Pacquette, who gives testimony in the murder of Barney Quill. He worked again with Stewart in The Spirit of St. Louis (1957) and The FBI Story (1959).

Murray Hamilton (politician)

Harold Murray Hamilton ED (17 March 1918 – 17 May 2009) was an Australian politician.

He was born in Wonthaggi to Anglican minister Karl E. Hamilton and Alice Marion Trewartha. He was educated at Maffra, Orbost and Caulfield Grammar School, before studying at the University of Melbourne, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce in 1948. From 1936 he worked for the Bank of New South Wales, and in 1940 he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. He served in the 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion until 1941, when he was transferred to the headquarters of the 20th Infantry Brigade. From 1944 he served with the 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion in the Middle East and New Guinea, winning promotion to major, being mentioned in dispatches, and being awarded the Efficiency Decoration. After the war he remained in the Citizen Military Forces until 1968, achieving the rank of colonel. In 1953 he established an accountancy business at Dandenong, and later worked for a steel importing firm until 1963, when he entered an accountancy practice in Melbourne. In 1967 he won a by-election for the Victorian Legislative Council seat of Higinbotham, representing the Liberal Party. He held the seat until his resignation in 1982. On 19 January 1968 he married Judyth Margaret Thomas, with whom he had two children. After leaving politics he returned to accountancy. Hamilton died in 2009.