Hemmings was a professional singer by the age of 9 and an exhibited painter at 15. He entered films in 1950 and is best known for his first starring role, as the photographer in Michelangelo Antonioni's classic portrait of "swinging London," "Blow-Up" (1966). Wide-eyed and interesting-looking rather than conventionally handsome, Hemmings was a fashionably offbeat leading man for a while thereafter in "Camelot" (1967), "Barbarella" (1968) and "The Charge of the Light Brigade" (1968), but many of his 1970s and early 80s credits were in little-seen if sometimes interesting fare. In 1967 Hemmings co-founded the Hemdale Corporation with his business manager John Daly but he left the company in 1970.Hemmings has also directed several films, including "Just a Gigolo" (1979), and in the 80s he launched a second career as a TV director for series including "Magnum P.I.", "Airwolf", "The New Mike Hammer", "Hawaiian Heat", "The Last Precinct", "Raven" and "In the Heat of the Night". Although he never completely gave up acting, most of Hemmings' histrionic activity was limited to the small screen as well; in 1989, though, he returned to feature films after a six-year absence to play Uncle Henry in Ken Russell's "The Rainbow". He is divorced from actress Gayle Hunnicutt.
Profession(s):
Actor, producer, director, singer, novelist, artist
Sometimes Credited As:
National Board of Review Award Best Acting Ensemble "Last Orders" 2001
2002 Co-starred in "Gangs of New York"
2001 Appeared briefly in "Spy Game"
2001 Was part of the ensemble of "Last Orders"
2000 Returned to feature films after close to 20 years with a supporting role in the Oscar-winning Best Picture "Gladiator"
1989 Co-executive produced the NBC drama series, "Hardball"; also directed pilot episode
1987 - 1988 Directed the premiere episodes of the TV series, "Werewolf" and "In the Heat of the Night"
1981 Played both the title roles in a PBS-TV adaptation of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"
1972 Directed first feature film, "Running Scared"
1967 Co-founded Hemdale (with John Daly)
1966 First leading film role in "Blow-Up"
1951 Stage debut as soprano with English Opera Group in Britten's "The Turn of the Screw"
1950 Screen debut in "Night and the City"
Exhibited his paintings in one-man London show age 15
Worked as nightclub singer
