Harry Hamlin
We had the pleasure of visiting the legendary actor, cook, musician, all time man crush Harry Hamlin on a recent trip to Los Angeles. He plays a mean guitar and makes the tastiest Harry’s Famous Pasta Sauce. He can be seen playing Cortland Mayfair in the Anne Rice hit thriller Mayfair Witches streaming on AMC. Besides that he’s a proud dad and husband to (as his instagram say's) “Mr. Lisa Rinna”. They just launched a podcast together Let’s Not Talk about the Husband tune in as they get pretty candid about a lot! So scroll on down and find out more on Harry’s new Spicy Tarragon Vodka sauce, family values, Clash of the Titans, staying in shape in his 70’s and a few key bare essentials.
The Bare Magazine: You have so many talents! We were in awe of your musical skills ....your voice, guitar, and writing. Will you make an EP perhaps someday (please!)?
Harry Hamlin: Guitar is definitely a love of mine though I’m not sure how close it is to the top of the list of “loves” of mine. I enjoy playing guitar every day and have written almost all of the tunes I play. I don’t really “cover” other artist’s songs and I do have a couple of songs that people seem to like a lot and, you never know, I might just make an EP!
Bare: Moving on to another talent of yours - cooking! You're an incredible chef. What does cooking do for your soul? Why do you love it so much?
HH: Let’s get this straight - I am not a “chef!” I am a cook and not even with a capital “C.” I enjoy cooking mainly because I get to eat exactly what I want on any given day and, thankfully, my family likes what I cook, too!
Bare: What's the latest in your collection of delicious sauces?
HH: We have just launched our second sauce — Spicy Tarragon Vodka! This sauce is next level! It’s outrageously good and Lisa puts it on everything, not just pasta. The tarragon and red pepper add a twist on traditional vodka sauce that elevates it to something that’s really special. People who try it are blown away!
Bare: Now on to your acting skills. You're starring in Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches. Can you share some highlights making it? Where did you film? Why do you think it's been such a hit?
HH: I’m thoroughly enjoying playing ‘Cortland Mayfair’ on Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches for AMC. I love this character and I’ve become very fond of the cast and crew. I’m a huge fan of AMC Network and I’ve been impressed with their dedication to high-quality ever since my stint on “Mad Men.”
My favorite scenes so far have been with Ted Levine who plays my dearly departed father. In Anne Rice’s world, dying is only a technicality! As to the popularity of the show, maybe it’s because this is the “season of the witch!”
Bare: You are also a proud dad! You pulled out some magazines your daughters are in - are they enjoying the modeling life?
HH: Family is everything to me and we are a very, very close family. I made it a priority for at least a decade, to put my kids to bed every night and we stayed in LA to give them the most stable home life as they grew up. That strategy seems to have paid off as the kids are thriving as models and actors and are well on their way to successful careers.
Bare: You shared a story with us about your Clash of the Titans "look." Can you share how you were very specific on your hair style in that? Is hair something you think can really enhance the character?
HH: I was very strong with the powers that were at Clash Of The Titans. I battled with them over just about everything from the way they wanted me to have my hair permanently curled, to the dialogue, to the way they wanted me to decapitate Medusa. They initially refused to let me cut her head off with my magic sword and wanted me to inadvertently slice off her head with my shield having been flung at her like a frisbee!
When they insisted that I not use my sword to get her head, I quit the movie and locked myself in my trailer until they caved. It took about six hours and, thankfully, I won that one! They were afraid that the film would get an X rating for violence in the UK if my hand was connected to the sword that cut off Medusa’s head! Oy! I believe the movie would have tanked at the box office if my shield had done the dirty work. The producers never saw it that way and didn’t speak to me ever again.
Bare: You have a podcast with your wife, Lisa Rinna. With so many podcasts all around, can you share why folks should tune in to Let's Not Talk About the Husband?
HH: YES! Lisa and I have a podcast for Dear Media called Let’s Not Talk About the Husband. We will cover every possible subject with no filter from housewives’ stuff, to marriage, sex, child rearing, and even nuclear fusion, and whatever else comes up! Lisa and I couldn’t be more opposite in terms of our likes and dislikes, but somehow our marriage works and we’ve been together for 32 years! We have a few stories!!
Bare: You are so active and creative, also in amazing shape! Can you sum up what inspires you, keeps you going? What is your philosophy on getting older?
HH: Getting older is inevitable and I’m lucky to have made it this far. I watched my brothers make lifestyle choices that ended their lives way too early and I took that as a cautionary tale. As a result, I take good care of myself and I guess that’s paying off. I feel like a teenager physically and yet I have the experience of a 73-year-old which turns out is a pretty good combination.
Years ago, I read a book by Depak Chopra called Ageless Body, Timeless Mind and I took a lot of what was said to heart. I recommend that one as well as a newer book by Peter Atilla called Outlive. I just do the things that make me feel good. I eat what I cook and exercise almost every day. I’m not a supplements guy and have not taken a vitamin pill in decades. Works for me!
Bare: What are your top Bare essentials in life currently (can be anything or anyone)?
HH: My “bare essentials” today would have to be:
a good night’s sleep
and at least 30-minutes a day of quiet time in meditation.
I don’t always get these, but my intention is always to have them and when I get them, I’m nicer to be around!
Founder & Editor in Chief - The Bare Magazine
