# Rex Hamilton, huh? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [November 12, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rex-hamilton-huh/640796 "2012-11-12T17:20:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rex-hamilton-huh/640796/1 "2012-11-12T17:20:09Z")
The thread on the new Abraham Lincoln movie made me look up Rex Hamilton of Police Squad fame. I appears all he ever did was impersonate Abe on Police Squad. Did he act otherwise? If not, then why the accolades “Starring Rex Hamilton as Abraham Lincoln!” on Police Squad? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rex-hamilton-huh/640796/2 "2012-11-12T17:24:07Z")
_[Police Squad!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_Squad!#Running_gags_and_well-known_sequences)_ running gags. > [@](#): > > Rex Hamilton is shown during the theme (where he is described as ‘starring’, despite playing no other role) as Abraham Lincoln, who is narrowly missed when shot at, and returns fire. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rex-hamilton-huh/640796/3 "2012-11-12T17:30:38Z")
It was satire. It was created by the writers and directors of Airplane! and the subsequent Naked Gun movies. There was no other reason for it than to be amusing. Just like the gun battle breaking out in the squadroom. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rex-hamilton-huh/640796/4 "2012-11-12T17:34:18Z")
Um, yes, but forever I assumed Rex Hamilton was an actual actor who had presumably acted in previous works as Abraham Lincoln, and thus recognizable to the audience. Turns out he’s a nobody from nowhere with no name recognition. Fuck. It’s even funnier now! ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rex-hamilton-huh/640796/5 "2012-11-12T17:38:50Z")
The intro: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Jm_t3g4RhpY/hqdefault.jpg "Police Squad! Intro (In Color)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm_t3g4RhpY) It was just like with Lorne Green being the special guest star once. He only appeared in this intro, got killed, and did not appear in the episode. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rex-hamilton-huh/640796/6 "2012-11-12T17:41:46Z")
There is a lost clip of John Belushi appearing in a death scene, but Belushi died soon after it was shot and it was never aired. The producers wanted to include it in the DVD, but it was never found and it was presumed destroyed. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rex-hamilton-huh/640796/7 "2012-11-12T17:42:22Z")
Yes, but Lorne Greene was an actual established actor. I think the OP’s point is that Rex Hamilton has no other resume. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rex-hamilton-huh/640796/8 "2012-11-12T17:43:46Z")
Guys, I’m a huge Police Squad fan. I get the humour. I get the guest stars being killed off. What I didn’t get was the fact that Rex Hamilton was a nobody! Unless he was a somebody. But I don’t see evidence for that and that is seriously hilarious! All this time… ETA: What **Skammer** said. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rex-hamilton-huh/640796/9 "2012-11-12T18:00:25Z")
Just to cover our bases, [here’s the original inspiration](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaOsNhSGYoE) Back when people would shoot at you to signal that you’d left your headlights on, and you’d shoot back to say thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Janitor70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/278dde/32.png) [@Janitor70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Janitor70)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rex-hamilton-huh/640796/10 "2020-10-24T03:42:28Z")
Rex Hamilton was my social studies teacher in jr. high back in the early 80s in Escondido CA. He toured the elementary schools doing the Lincoln thing, I saw him in 4th or 5th grade. He told us that he was in the credits at the beginning of the show… and the whole class watched it religiously… He was a great teacher. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rex-hamilton-huh/640796/11 "2020-10-24T18:31:37Z")
Welcome to the Dope, @Janitor70! This is about the best 8 years later follow up I’ve seen. Fascinating information, thanks for posting it. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2020, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rex-hamilton-huh/640796/12 "2020-12-01T20:25:25Z")
I’ve been absent. Just saw this now. Thank you!