John Ashley Hamilton

John Ashley Hamilton--actor, writer, director--brings to the entertainment industry many years of experience in acting and film production. A native of London, England, he became a well-known personality there from his work in television and commercial appearances. He was the first black person to appear in a commercial shown on television and in movie theaters in England and Wales. The product was Tia Maria coffee Liqueur.

Hamilton has a strong theatre background. He appeared in plays at the London West End Theatres of Great Britain, and was a member of the Royal National Theatre of Great Britain when Sir Laurence Olivier was director. Hamilton's voice was very well known as a radio performer in England and Wales on BBC radio.

In the US he appeared as an actor in several television shows and commercials. He also trained as a director with Spelling/Goldberg Productions on the Fox lot; he sold a story idea to Norman Lear for an episode of Lear's series Good Times (1974).