Donald Hamilton

Birth : 1919-03-24,

Death : 2006-11-20

History

Born abroad the son of a Swedish count who renounced his title when he emigrated to the U.S., Donald Hamilton graduated from the University of Chicago and served in the Navy during the second World War. He has published 26 novels in the Matt Helm Series from 1960-1992, as well as several other novels and magazine articles. At last word, he was living aboard his motor-yacht, "Kathleen", somewhere in Connecticut. One of the last truly "American" suspense series writers, his Matt Helm series, although badly translated to the screen for Columbia Pictures, starring Dean Martin, ranks up there with John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee as the quintessential American anti-hero. Date of Birth 24 March 1916, Uppsala, Uppsala län, Sweden Date of Death 20 November 2006, Visby, Gotland, Sweden

Movies

Matt Helm
Characters
In this pilot film for the later series, a former secret agent, now a private investigator, is hired to protect a beautiful film star and gets involved with black marketeers and gun runners.
The Wrecking Crew
Novel
When Count Contini attempts to destroy the world's economy by masterminding the theft of $1 billion in U.S. gold, ICE chief MacDonald summons secret agent Matt Helm to stop him.
The Ambushers
Novel
When an experimental flying saucer crashes, secret agent Matt Helm has to bring back the secret weapons hidden on board.
Murderers' Row
Novel
The handsome top agent Matt dies a tragic death in his bath tub - the women mourn about the loss. However it's just faked for his latest top-secret mission: He shall find Dr. Solaris, inventor of the Helium laser beam, powerful enough to destroy a whole continent. It seems Dr. Solaris has been kidnapped by a criminal organization. The trace leads to the Cote D'Azur.
The Silencers
Novel
Matt Helm is called out of retirement to stop the evil Big O organization who plan to explode an atomic bomb over Alamagordo, NM, and start WW III.
The Big Country
Novel
Retired wealthy sea captain Jim McKay arrives in the vast expanse of the West to marry fiancée Pat Terrill. McKay is a man whose values and approach to life are a mystery to the ranchers and ranch foreman Steve Leech takes an immediate dislike to him. Pat is spoiled, selfish and controlled by her wealthy father, Major Henry Terrill. The Major is involved in a ruthless civil war, over watering rights for cattle, with a rough hewn clan led by Rufus Hannassey. The land in question is owned by Julie Maragon and both Terrill and Hannassey want it.
Five Steps to Danger
Story
Can a couple keep important secrets from Communist spies?
Five Steps to Danger
Novel
Can a couple keep important secrets from Communist spies?
The Violent Men
Novel
A former Union Army officer plans to sell out to Anchor Ranch and move east with his fiancée, but the low price offered by Anchor's crippled owner and the outfit's bullying tactics make him reconsider. When one of his hands is murdered he decides to stay and fight, utilizing his war experience. Not all is well at Anchor with the owner's wife carrying on with his brother who also has a Mexican woman in town.
Matt Helm
Novel
Feature film based on Donald Hamilton's series of spy novels about a counter- assassination agent who's sent on missions to stop other spies.