Kipp Hamilton was a talented and beautiful actress who starred in several films and TV shows in the 1950s and 1960s. She was also the younger sister of producer Joe Hamilton and the sister-in-law of comedian Carol Burnett. But her life was cut short by a devastating disease that claimed her life at the age of 46. What was Kipp Hamilton’s cause of death and how did she cope with her illness? Here is a brief overview of her career and her struggle with breast cancer.
Early Life and Career
Kipp Hamilton was born Rita Marie Hamilton on August 16, 1934, in Los Angeles, California, the youngest of six children of Joseph and Marie Hamilton. One of her older brothers was producer and actor Joe Hamilton, who later married comedian Carol Burnett. Wikipedia
Hamilton made her film debut in a supporting role in the RKO Radio Pictures drama On Our Very Own (1950). In March 1953, she was named “Miss Optometry” by the New York State Association of Optometrists. In mid-1955, Hamilton signed a seven-year contract with 20th Century Fox. Shortly after signing with Fox, Hamilton (along with nine other up-and-coming actresses, including Anita Ekberg and Lori Nelson) was named a “Deb Star of 1955”. That same year, Hamilton was cast in her first major role in the drama Good Morning, Miss Dove, playing Jincey Baker. Wikipedia
The following year, Hamilton asked to be released from her contract with Fox. Throughout the remainder of the 1950s, Hamilton appeared in guest roles on Perry Mason, Meet McGraw, Richard Diamond, Private Detective, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, The Texan, and 77 Sunset Strip. In 1959, Hamilton appeared in a supporting role in Never So Few. Later that same year, she signed with Hecht Hill Lancaster (the production company partially owned by actor Burt Lancaster) and was cast in the Western The Unforgiven (1960). She also had a nightclub act that she performed at Lou Black’s Living Room, a club in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Wikipedia
Musical and TV Roles
In November 1963, Hamilton began touring in the road production of the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. She remained with the production until mid-1964. Wikipedia
In 1965, she returned to television with the guest-starring role on the Bewitched episode “Pleasure O’Reilly” as the title character. The following year, Henry G. Saperstein cast Hamilton in what was her final film role, a singer in The War of the Gargantuas, a Japanese kaiju movie. Billed as a “special guest star”, Hamilton performs the song “The Words Get Stuck in My Throat”, which later was covered by Devo. Wikipedia
Hamilton’s final onscreen role was in a 1967 episode of The Virginian.
Personal Life and Death
In 1958, Hamilton dated and later became engaged to film mogul Adolph Zukor’s grandson Adolph Zukor II, a worker in the publicity and foreign departments at Paramount Pictures. However, they never married. Wikipedia
In 1963, Hamilton married David Geisel, an Air Force captain who later became an airline pilot. They divorced in 1965. In 1968, she married Donald Thorman Rosenfeld, an attorney and businessman. They had two children: Dana Rosenfeld (born 1970) and Jamie Rosenfeld (born 1972). Find A Grave
On January 29, 1981, aged 46, Kipp Hamilton died after a long battle with breast cancer, at her home in Beverly Hills, surrounded by her family. Find A Grave According to Perry Mason Actor Page(https://www.perrymasontvseries.com/database/actorpage.php?actorid=737), her cause of death was breast cancer.
Hamilton was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California. Her grave is located at Risen Christ Mausoleum, Block 73. Find A Grave
Legacy and Tribute
Kipp Hamilton was a talented actress who left behind a legacy of memorable performances in film and television. She was also a loving sister, wife, mother, and aunt who touched many lives with her kindness and generosity.
Her brother Joe Hamilton and his wife Carol Burnett dedicated an episode of their show Carol Burnett & Company to her memory in 1981. They also established a scholarship fund in her name at Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television.
Her niece Carrie Hamilton (Joe’s daughter) also followed her footsteps as an actress, singer, and writer. She died of lung cancer in 2002 at the age of 38. Wikipedia
Kipp Hamilton’s life and career are a testament to her courage, talent, and beauty. She will always be remembered and missed by her fans and family.
