Bernie Hamilton (born June 12 1928, Los Angeles) is an American actor. In films from 1950, he laboured in bit roles for years before getting noticed in the film One Potato, Two Potato (1964), the story of an inter-racial marriage. He is best remembered for his role as the brusque, no-nonsense Captain Dobey in the US 70's police series Starsky and Hutch. Bernie is the brother of jazz drummer Chico Hamilton.
Divorced father of two children - daughter Candy and son Raoul.
Managed to avoid severe sterotyping for the most part in his early films years, his debut was as a baseball player in The Jackie Robinson Story (1950). His most important role was in the frank, groundbreaking drama One Potato, Two Potato (1964) as the black husband of a white woman (Barbara Barrie).
Brother of jazz drummer Chico Hamilton. Originally cast as Roop in the film, "Claudine", but was dropped when Diana Sands, originally cast in the title role had to withdraw because of illness. Diana suggested that the role go to her friend Diahann Carroll. When Carroll auditioned and got the part, James Earl Jones was cast in the role of Roop.
