Born 1943 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, American model and actress Veronica Hamel began a fashion modeling career after being discovered by Eileen Ford. In her first film role, she played a model in 1971’s Klute, followed by roles in the disaster films Beyond the Poseidon Adventure and When Time Ran Out.
Veronica Hamel in the 1960s
Hamel started appearing in TV series in 1975. She is best remembered for playing Joyce Davenport, the dedicated public defender, who also happened to be the love interest of police captain Frank Furillo, on the long-running TV series Hill Street Blues from 1981-87. She was a five-time Emmy nominee for that role.
Alan Alda’s 1988 film A New Life cast Hamel in a leading role as his doctor and love interest. She was cast as Elizabeth, the wife of Charles Grodin’s character in the movie Taking Care of Business in 1990. She was named on Us magazine’s “Best Dressed” list for 1983.
In 2002, Hamel also appeared on Hill Street Blues creator Steven Bochco’s legal drama Philly. In the late 2000s, she had a recurring role in the NBC television series Third Watch and appeared as Margo Shephard, Jack’s mother, in the ABC series Lost.
Take a look at these stunning photos to see portraits of a young Veronica Hamel as a model in the 1960s.
Veronica Hamel in Autumn Haze EMBA mink coat by Donald Brooks, photo by Virginia Thoren at the Claremont Riding Academy, New York for Town & Country, October 1964
Veronica Hamel in black crêpe cocktail dress with the Queen Anne collar to be worn up or down by Lee Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, October 1964
Veronica Hamel in blue linen-weave cut-away jacket over a blue silk chiffon blouse, paired with a jet-brown skirt bound and bowed at the waist in brown velvet, hat by Halston, photo by Irving Penn, Vogue, April 1, 1964
“Snake and Apple”, Veronica Hamel wearing coat by Zelinka Matlick, photo by Melvin Sokolsky, Harper’s Bazaar, July 1964
Model turned actress Veronica Hamel in pale apple-green suède skimmer, photo by Bert Stern, Vogue, April 15, 1964
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