John F. Hamlin Jr.

March 23, 1931 - January 15, 2024 John Frederick Hamlin Jr., who worked on 45 Academy Awards shows and many others in the golden age of variety television, died Monday. The loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather was 92.
Hamlin passed away surrounded by family at a family home in Pacific Palisades after steady decline following hospitalization for severe dehydration from stomach flu. His last residence was in Agoura Hills.
"There is no network executive ever in the history of television that I feel was as good and as passionate as he was," said longtime friend and colleague Jeff Margolis, who directed the Academy Awards and other shows Hamlin worked on. "He loved television."
It's likely that no one worked on more Oscar shows than Hamlin, who contributed as an executive or consultant on 45 telecasts, first at NBC then ABC. When anyone was new to working on the Academy Awards, they were often told to talk to Hamlin for advice and stories on producing Hollywood's biggest night. He didn't have a smartphone, computer or email, but he had decades-worth of insight and experience.
"He was extremely unique as a television executive because he was also a full-fledged producer," said Gary Pudney, former ABC senior VP of special projects and senior executive in charge of specials and talent. "He knew more about producing than the producers did."
Hamlin worked with everyone, from Bob Hope to Elvis to Michael Jackson and entertained U.S. Presidents for the special "A Gala for the President at Ford's Theatre."
He was known for his stories featuring Hollywood legends and behind-the-scenes intrigue, whether it was playing catch with a young Ron Howard between takes at "The Andy Griffith Show," meeting pre-"Laugh-In" Goldie Hawn, his first trip to Las Vegas with James "Jimmy" Caan and that time he drove through Florida with Jack Palance. He said the highlight of his career was meeting Charlie Chaplin at the 1972 Academy Awards. He also had the inside scoop on that infamous streaker at the 1974 Academy Awards--it was planned and David Niven's seemingly impromptu response about the streaker's "shortcomings" was written.
When Hamlin was introduced to President George Bush Sr. as one of the men who helped bring "America's Funniest Home Videos" to ABC, he told the New York Times, "President Bush shook my hand and said: 'I've seen that show. Those clips are pretty funny.'"
Hamlin was sarcastic with a great sense of humor and liked to speak his (at times politically incorrect) mind.
"He was brutally honest," said Margolis. "But he was a good man and a hardworking man and loved his job, loved his family [and] talked about his family all the time."
Hamlin's toughness helped him deal with difficult World Music Awards talent like Michael Jackson and Kanye West, Pudney shared.
"Kanye West, who was known for his brusque behavior, caved into John," said Pudney. "I think John scared him."
Born in Manhattan, NY on March 23, 1931, Hamlin was the son of a Princeton grad and president of Douglas Elliman Co. real estate, who was also at one time president of the Maidstone Club in East Hampton, where the family enjoyed leisure time in Hamlin's youth.
His passion for music and entertainment led Hamlin, voted Most Likely to Succeed in high school, to many fitting jobs. One of his first gigs as a young adult (he fibbed about his age) was as one half of a couple who gave dancing lessons on a cruise ship in Nassau, Bahamas. At just 22, he hit the road for a couple years as a Jerome H. Cargill Company director of a Follies revue, traveling to towns across the U.S. to put on a benefit show cast with locals at each town.
Around 1966 Hamlin moved to California to work at renowned advertising agency Benton and Bowles's TV department, which helped develop "The Andy Griffith Show" among other programs.
Later, Hamlin oversaw specials and variety programming at NBC and then for decades at ABC, rising to senior VP of variety and event specials, during the heyday of variety shows. He was an ABC consultant into his 80s.
"A lot of the success I had at ABC was due to him," said Pudney. "He was unbelievable with his dedication to the project and his work ethic was extreme. I don't think he ever got the credit he deserved."
Volumes could be written on the many other television specials of which Hamlin played a part. Highlights include: Live Aid, The Emmy Awards, The Silver Jubilee Royal Variety Gala for Queen Elizabeth II, a Bob Hope special (producer), David Bowie: Glass Spider Tour concert special, American Music Awards, American Comedy Awards, specials honoring Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor and Muhammad Ali, Perry Como Christmas specials, Happy Birthday Hollywood (a benefit show Hamlin conceived about the 100th anniversary of tinsel town), Night of 100 Stars 1 and 2, Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii, United We Stand: A 9/11 Concert, The Disco Ball (exec. producer) and Motown 45 (exec. producer).
"One of the things I loved about working with John was he had his finger on the pulse of television and he knew what the home audience liked," said Margolis.
In recent years, Hamlin was discouraged to see the Oscars and other shows devolve, with so much politics behind and in front of the camera. "The emphasis of the telecast must return to what the public wants: They want to be entertained," Hamlin said.
When he wasn't helping create TV magic, he enjoyed movies--everything from "Singin' in the Rain" to "Wedding Crashers"--TV shows, music and the news (he read a hard copy of the LA Times daily) and discussing all of them at length. He loved live theater and was ever the critic after seeing original cast performances of "A Chorus Line" and other iconic shows on Broadway. For a while he had a drum set he'd break out every few years to play. He enjoyed a good bowl of pasta and tiramisu and Rome was his favorite place on Earth. He was obsessed with watching Formula 1 racing, tennis and college football. He was a history buff who was especially fond of World War II history.
"One of the things I admired about him was he was a wonderful dancer," said Pudney. "One day at … a big [business] party I noticed his dancing and I said the only other person I saw dance that well on a ballroom floor was Fred Astaire. I said, 'You are the best dancer, teach me,' so he took me in his arms and waltzed me around the room," Pudney laughed, "to a lot of applause."
Hamlin was predeceased by a son and daughter and is survived by two daughters, a son, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hamlin's favorite charities--Wounded Warrior Project and Paralyzed Veterans of America.