An Interview with Harry Hamlin

By Wendy Miller

The actor-turned-dancer talks about “Dancing with the Stars,” fundraising, fashion and wife Lisa Rinna.

“While my wife Lisa was practicing, I watched her go through an extraordinary evolution. Sure, she grew as a dancer but she also grew as a person, from having to rise to a challenge. That’s what drew me to compete.” – Actor Harry Hamlin, pictured with his professional dancing partner Karina Smirnoff

Actor Harry Hamlin has been a fixture on television and in feature films for nearly three decades, earning Golden Globe nominations for his work on TV’s “L.A. Law” and in the film “Movie Movie.” In 1987, People magazine named Hamlin its “Sexiest Man of the Year.” More recently, he received critical praise for his portrayal of the debonair yet troublesome actor Aaron Echolls on TV’s “Veronica Mars.” Last year, Hamlin turned up the charm once again on ABC’s hit TV show “Dancing with the Stars.” Hamlin’s wife, actress Lisa Rinna, dazzled viewers during the show’s second season.

Trends Editor Wendy Miller caught up with the actor while he was doing some last-minute Christmas shopping prior to leaving Los Angeles for the “Dancing with the Stars” road tour, which included a stop Dec. 29 in Phoenix. The show’s phenomenal success inspired a local competition this month to benefit the Arizona Kidney Foundation. The inaugural “Dancing with the Stars Arizona” will take place Jan. 26 at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa. For ticket information, call 602.840.1644.

Did the “Dancing with the Stars” producers contact you? Or did you pursue it after your wife, Lisa Rinna, had such a positive experience the previous year?
In the first season, I was asked to do it. It came over the wire as a ballroom dancing competition and I thought, you’ve got to be kidding, and I passed on it. They came back to me the second season. Despite the show’s popularity, I passed again because I’m not a dancer; I had no ability with dance movement.

But then a month and a half later, they asked Lisa. She had viewed the first season and wanted to try, so she accepted. While she was practicing, I watched her go through an extraordinary evolution. Sure, she grew as a dancer but she also grew as a person, from having to rise to a challenge. That’s what drew me to compete. Yet, when the show asked me to do the third season, I had some reservations because of my age. But I turned that around; the show could be the perfect thing to whip me into shape because I hadn’t touched my toes for 30 to 40 years. (laughs) At age 54, turning 55, I could set myself up health-wise for next 20 to 30 years. Plus, the idea of facing millions of people appealed to me. Like climbing a high mountain, we all need challenges to make us feel alive. And I was right. I’m a changed person.

Has dancing on the show brought you and Lisa closer together?
I have a friend who uses dance to resolve conflict with his children. For Lisa and I, though, dancing together is the one thing that seems to inspire conflict. (laughs) We’re now used to dancing with professionals, and the pros really know how to move us around the dance floor better than we can move ourselves.

What did you perform during the December “Dancing with the Stars” tour? My professional dance partner Karina Smirnoff and I did smooth dances – the quickstep and tango. Then Lisa and I performed a waltz together.

With all that dancing, you probably need a nice spa getaway. Which is your favorite? We take an annual pilgrimage to Two Bunch Palms in Desert Hot Springs, one of California’s oldest spa resorts. It was (gangster) Al Capone’s desert hideaway for years and has a series of escape tunnels underneath. I’ve been going there since the 1970s.

Both you and Lisa are known for your sense of fashion and style. Who are your favorite clothing designers for sportswear and formalwear?
For formal wear, I’m a Prada guy all around; it fits my body well. I like the line and fabrics. I also like (British-based) Paul Smith. Lisa’s style is not as dependent on the designer as it is the dress itself and how it fits. She will try on 10 or 12 gowns before finding the right one.

What fashion events do you attend?
Lisa attends Fashion Week here in L.A.

I understand you and Lisa own a clothing boutique.
Yes, Belle Gray, which we opened in 2003. We have two stores in California: Sherman Oaks and Calabasas. We sell mostly casual women’s clothing but also have some men’s wear – jeans, tees and such. I’m more involved with the business end. I leave the clothing stuff to Lisa. Our Web site does great. We have a lot of online customers from Arizona. People like clothes from designers like Diane Von Furstenberg, Rebecca Taylor and Joe Bush. Arizona is fairly casual and trendy. The name combines the middle names of our two daughters, Delilah Belle and Amelia Gray.

I know you support many charities. Which are you currently involved with?
In the last few years, we’ve gravitated toward St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital because of the incredible work they do with young cancer patients. Its “no child turned away” policy means it has to raise a lot of money. We do a lot of charity work through Belle Gray.

Tell me a little about Sky Pierson, the role you play in the upcoming feature film “Strange Wilderness.”
It’s an outrageous comedy where my character’s wilderness show competes against (actor) Steve Zahn’s, whose character eventually gets the better of mine. As I read the script, I was mortified by how base it was but I could not stop laughing. I thought, this is disgusting but hysterically funny. Take “There’s Something About Mary” and multiple it, and you get “Strange Wilderness.” (No release date has been set yet.)

You seem like a pretty regular guy. How have you managed that? When you’ve been in the (entertainment) business as long as I have, you realize there’s not one of us who hasn’t been knocked off their high horse at some time or another. It’s very humbling.