Dead in Hollywood is a true-crime web series of strange and tragic Hollywood deaths.
I'm excited to announce my latest issue, Dead in Hollywood: Behind the Sign (Issue 20)!! Twenty Tinseltown Tinglers to keep the hairs on your arm up at night. This 10,000-word collector's companion took a while to compile but it finally makes me smile. The 40-page fanzine covers everyone from Peg Entwistle to Whitney Houston, Fatty Arbuckle to Alexis Arquette, Sam Cooke to Jon-Erik Hexum, Divine to RFK (to name a few).
On November 3, 1984, on a soundstage somewhere in Hollywood (Stage 18 at 20th Century Fox, to be exact), hunky actor Jon-Erik Hexum accidentally shot himself in the head while filming the T.V. show "Cover Up." The show would go on without Hexum's pecs.
Antony Hamilton would be introduced three weeks later as the new model on the team. The premise of "Cover Up" revolved around a fashion photographer and a veteran special forces soldier posing as her model go on intelligence missions around the world. The blue-eyed Hamilton began his career as a ballet dancer with The Australian Ballet but stopped dancing at the age of 20 to pursue a career as a model.
Hamilton worked extensively as a model - a favorite subject of photographers like Richard Avedon and Bruce Weber, working with designers like Gianni Versace and appearing in magazines like Vogue and GQ. At the height of his career, Hamilton was offered the lead in “Cover Up.” He had been friendly with Hexum, but Hamilton initially had misgivings about taking the role. The series struggled with Hamilton as their new lead, and the show was canceled shortly after Hamilton’s debut. There was serious talk of Hamilton replacing Roger Moore as the next James Bond. “Bond" producer Albert R. Broccoli was hesitant to cast Hamilton as the womanizing James Bond because, in real life, Hamilton was gay. Timothy Dalton was ultimately cast as 007. On March 29, 1995, Hamilton died from AIDS-related pneumonia in Los Angeles. His ashes were scattered off the shores of Malibu.
20 Tinseltown Tinglers coming soon…
What lies behind the sign?
Speaking of Jon-Erik Hexum… English-born Australian actor, Antony Hamilton, begins his career as a ballet dancer with the Australian Ballet. He stops dancing at 20 to pursue a career as a model. Hamilton later says: "Dancing was too confining and regimented for me. I became a model not because I was interested in fashion or styles, but because I knew it was a good way to see the world. It gave me independence. The money was good too.” After signing with a London modeling agency, he works extensively as a model in Europe, America, Asia and Africa, becoming a favorite subject of world-famous photographers such as Richard Avedon and Bruce Weber, often working with designers such as Gianni Versace, and frequently appearing in magazines such as Vogue and GQ. Hamilton begins taking acting classes in an effort to expand his career. Later that same year, he is offered the lead in the TV show “Cover Up” after the series' previous star, Jon-Erik Hexum, dies after an on-set accident in October 1984. Hamilton had known Hexum having previously met him at an acting class when they both lived in New York. They shared the same acting coach and also competed for the same roles. Hamilton initially has misgivings about taking the role but ultimately accepts. Hamilton's first episode airs on November 24, 1984. After Hexum's death, the series struggles in the ratings and CBS cancels “Cover Up” the following year. After the cancellation, Hamilton is in talks to replace Roger Moore as the new James Bond in the 007 film series. Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli is reportedly hesitant to cast Hamilton as the womanizing James Bond because, in real life, Hamilton is gay - Timothy Dalton is ultimately cast as 1980’s Bond. In 1988, Hamilton lands a role in the ’88 revival of “Mission: Impossible.” On March 29, 1995, Hamilton dies from AIDS-related pneumonia in Los Angeles. Today would’ve been Hamilton’s 66th birthday.
