Lois Hamilton
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Lois Hamilton, born October 14, 1943 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – died December 23, 1999 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was an accomplished model, author, actress, artist, and aviatrix.
A descendant of Italian nobility, she was born Lois I. Aurino and studied at Temple University in her native Philadelphia before going on to the University of Florence in Florence, Italy. Although she earned degrees in Psychology and Fine Arts, and wanted to pursue her interest in the arts, her looks brought an opportunity with the Ford Modeling Agency where she became one of its top models during the 1970s. Her widely publicized image led to acting jobs and, under the name Lois Hamilton or Lois Areno, she appeared in several Hollywood films as well as on television shows including many popular series such as The Dukes of Hazzard and Three's Company.
Despite her busy career, she became an accomplished sculptress and painter, her works on display at a number of one-woman shows in Los Angeles. Multi-talented, she also wrote the book Move Over Tarzan that was a woman's guide on how to compete successfully in a business world dominated by men. Beyond these activities, her favorite pastime was flying, having obtained her pilot's license and purchasing a 1936 German WWII Bi-plane.
Following an automobile accident, in which she suffered severe injuries, she became addicted to painkillers that ended with her taking her own life through an overdose of sleeping pills in 1999. Her body was returned to the United States for interrment in the Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California.