Lois Hamilton (October 14, 1943 – December 23, 1999) was an American model, author, aviator, artist and actress.
Life and career Lois Hamilton was born Lois Irene Yanessa on October 14, 1943, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Francis Yanessa and Helen. She studied at Temple University in her native Philadelphia before attending the University of Florence in Florence, Italy, where she received degrees in psychology and fine arts.
Her looks brought her an opportunity with the Ford Modeling Agency where she became one of its top models during the 1970s. Hamilton graced the covers of many magazines, including Cosmopolitan, Fortune, Mademoiselle, Vogue Italia, Prevue, Neue Revue Illustrierte, Newsweek, Paris Match, Hello!, Redbook, Ladies' Home Journal, Glamour and Time. Some of her ad campaigns included those for Chanel, Clairol, Halston, Pucci, and Hermès; in all, she appeared in over 150 commercials worldwide during her career.
Hamilton moved to Hollywood, where she made a successful transition from model to actress. Within a year, she landed more TV stints than any other actress at her agency. She worked with such notables as Ivan Reitman, Neil Simon, Sydney Pollack, Robert Redford, Burt Reynolds, John Candy, Roger Moore, Bill Murray, Jane Fonda, Dean Martin, Carl Reiner, David Carradine and Sammy Davis Jr.. Under the name Lois Hamilton or Lois Areno, she appeared in films such as Stripes, The Cannonball Run and Honky Tonk Freeway and on television shows like Card Sharks, The Dukes of Hazzard and Three's Company.
When she was not involved in a feature film or television project, Hamilton took to the skies, where she was a licensed private pilot. She logged over 600 hours in the air and was an aerobatic pilot, flying her 1936 German biplane. Hamilton was also an accomplished sculptor, painter and writer. She exhibited her bronze sculptures and oil paintings in many one-woman shows in Los Angeles.
Death Hamilton fled the country for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, rather than face prison time for an accident in which she was involved while driving under the influence. On December 23, 1999, Hamilton locked herself in her hotel room at the Sheraton Hotel in Rio de Janeiro, where she consumed a fatal overdose of sleeping pills. She was 56 years old. She was interred in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1972 Last of the Red Hot Lovers Girl in Car Credited as Lois Aurino 1975 The Sunshine Boys Uncredited 1979 The Electric Horseman Joanna Camden Credited as Lois Areno1981 The Cannonball Run Seymour's Girl Credited as Lois Areno Stripes Stillman's Girlfriend Credited as Lois Areno Honky Tonk Freeway Uncredited 1985 Summer Rental Vicki Sanders 1986 Armed Response Sara Roth Alternative title: Jade Jungle 2004 Bob's Night Out Bob's Stepmother Released posthumously, (final film role) Television Year Title Role Notes1978 Are You in the House Alone? Policewoman Television movieCredited as Lois Areno Starsky & Hutch Paula 1 episode1979 Topper Charlene Television movieCredited as Lois Areno CHiPs 1 episode The Dukes of Hazzard Carla 1 episode 1978–1981 Three's Company RitaKaty Williams 2 episodesCredited as Lois Areno 1979–1980 The Ropers Debbie Hopper 5 episodesCredited as Lois Areno 1979–1981 Card Sharks Card Dealer Credited as Lois Areno 1980 The Love Boat Angela 1 episode 1982 Pray TV Bobbi Ellis Television movie 1983 Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land Millie Television movieCredited as Lois Areno 1984 Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour Herself1984 Hart to Hart Inga 1 episode Invitation to Hell Miss Winter Television movie 1985 Hunter Ginger Flagg 1 episode 1990 Designing Women Susan 1 episode
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