There's a reason Harry Hamlin still turns heads.
With more than four decades in the spotlight, he’s brought his signature charm to everything from being crowned People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive to starring in “L.A. Law,” “Mad Men,” “Clash of the Titans,” “Veronica Mars,” “Mayfair Witches” and the recent comedy “80 for Brady.” Whether he’s playing a suave attorney, a ruthless executive or a spellbinding warlock, Hamlin never fails to impress.
At 73, the actor shows no sign of hitting pause. Instead, he’s embracing a dynamic new chapter. Alongside his wife, actress Lisa Rinna, 62, Hamlin recently launched the witty and unfiltered podcast “Let’s Not Talk About The Husband,” giving listeners an intimate peek into their banter-filled dynamic. At the same time, fans got a second helping of his culinary charm with the April 30 Season 2 premiere of “In the Kitchen with Harry Hamlin” on IFC and AMC+. And there’s more to come: Hamlin is set to reprise his devilish role as Cortland Mayfair in Season 3 of “Mayfair Witches.”
Photo By Manfred Baumann
Hamlin says that one of the most surprising and satisfying aspects of his career is the cooking show he currently co-hosts with his niece, Renee Guilbault, a professionally trained chef, food industry veteran and cookbook author.
He’s the first to admit he’s no chef, just a self-taught cook who finds inspiration in his backyard. Hamlin gravitates toward fresh, seasonal ingredients, often plucking squash, zucchini and other garden-grown vegetables to make simple, wholesome meals, while steering clear of processed foods.
“I still, to this day, have never watched a televised cooking show,” Hamlin says with a laugh. “On our show, we don’t plan too much. We prefer to improvise in the kitchen because I have no idea what a cooking show should look like.”
That off-the-cuff spirit defines “In the Kitchen with Harry Hamlin,” a series that blends mouthwatering meals with a documentary-style twist. Filmed in Hamlin’s Beverly Hills home, each episode feels like an intimate dinner party, with Hamlin and Guilbault cooking for a rotating roster of famous guests, including Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, Aisha Tyler and Joel McHale. The concept came to life after AMC+ took notice of Hamlin’s culinary flair during Rinna’s time on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” and pitched him the idea for a show of his own.
Hamlin agreed to do the series, but only if Guilbault would be his co-host.
“I thought, ‘Why not flip the script a bit — let me learn from her, too,’” Hamlin says. “Let’s show people how to make simple dishes at home — nothing fancy — because honestly, most people don’t know where to start. You go to a restaurant, order an entrée like a bone-in roast beef, and it’s delicious, but you have no idea how to make it yourself.”
He adds, “The truth is, bone-in roast beef is one of the simplest things to cook, but unless someone shows you how and says, ‘Hey, this is actually really easy,’ it can feel very intimidating.”
Sharing Family Recipes And Traditions
After Hamlin served his homemade Bolognese sauce to the cast of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” earning rave reviews and numerous recipe requests, he and Guilbault decided to turn it into something bigger. Last year, they launched The Open Food Company, the producer behind Harry’s Famous Pasta Sauce (harrysfamous.com), based on Hamlin’s recipes and culinary traditions. It positions itself as the world’s first open-source food company by sharing all ingredients, recipes and cooking methods with consumers.
The product line includes Rosemary Red Wine Sauce and Spicy Tarragon Vodka Sauce. A portion of proceeds from every jar sold supports hunger relief organizations.
“What sets our sauces apart is that all of the ingredients are things you can find in your local grocery store and contain no additives or preservatives,” Hamlin says. “We’re giving customers everything — the recipes, the ingredients and the know-how to cook it. You can make these sauces yourself at home or enjoy it straight from the jar.”
Hamlin’s pasta sauces were inspired in part by the Sunday night Bolognese dinners he used to make for family and friends when his children were growing up.
“Spaghetti and Bolognese sauce were a family tradition for many Sundays,” Hamlin says. “For Christmas, my girls always request my classic beef bourguignon.”
Hamlin still takes pride in cooking daily meals for himself and Rinna.
“I’ve got this spicy pork sausage penne I’ve been cooking for about a year now,” he says. “I make it once a week, and it gives us three to four days’ worth of lunches. We’re both meat eaters, so I stick to a steady rotation of chicken, fish and meat.”
Photo Courtesy Of AMC+
Harry Hamlin with his niece and co-host Renee Guilbault
Hamlin And Rinna Unfiltered
In their podcast, “Let’s Not Talk About The Husband,” Hamlin and Rinna dive into life, love and the evolving dynamics of marriage after raising a family.
“Lisa and I have been together for over 30 years, and we’ve raised two daughters. Now we’re empty nesters,” Hamlin says. “When the kids were growing up, there was always something to talk about, like packing their lunches, helping with homework — just the everyday stuff that comes with parenting. But once they’re gone, you’re left wondering, ‘Now what?’”
He continues, “I don’t think most couples sit down and talk to each other that much after 30 years. Everyone’s busy with their own stuff. So, to sit down with your wife after nearly three decades and have a real, hour-long conversation — that’s kind of amazing.”
Harry Hamlin with wife Lisa Rinna
Photo Courtesy of Hutchins photo | Dreamstime.com
Hamlin says he looks forward to having the space to talk and connect again with Rinna.
“It’s very refreshing to have these hour-long conversations and discover things about each other we may or may not have known,” he says.
On a recent episode, Hamlin and Rinna reflected on how they both chose to scale back from their acting careers after welcoming their daughters — Delilah Belle, in 1998, and Amelia Gray, in 2001.Hamlin shared that his decision was due in part to not being sufficiently involved in the life of his son, Dimitri Alexander, 45, who was raised in Italy by his mom, actress Ursula Andress.
“I missed him throughout his childhood,” Hamlin reflected on the podcast. “I was a presence in his life, but I wasn’t there constantly.”
Today, Hamlin is proud of all three of his adult children. Dimitri is an actor, model and digital artist; Delilah Belle, 27, is a model, actress and singer; and Amelia Gray, 24, is a model and television personality.
“We’ve worked to teach them that we’re all in the same boat. It’s hard to put into words, but, basically, they reject the idea of hierarchy,” Hamlin says. “They believe, as we do, that everyone puts their pants on one leg at a time. So, they treat everyone with the same level of respect — no one is above or beneath anyone else. There’s never a sense of superiority or inferiority, just mutual respect across the board.”
Looking To The Future
While most fans know Hamlin for his acting roles and culinary ventures, few realize that he’s also a pioneer in the field of clean energy innovation. In 1998, he co-founded TAE Technologies, now one of the world’s largest privately funded fusion energy companies.
“When we started this company, we were the only privately funded fusion company in the world — now there are 45,” Hamlin says. “People are starting to realize that fusion is the future — it’s how humanity will power the planet for the next hundred thousand years. The truth is fusion isn’t just an option — it’s the only real long-term solution.”
As to his future, Hamlin isn’t slowing down. “Mayfair Witches” has been renewed for Season 3, promising a deeper dive into the world of witchcraft and its mythology. And when it comes to acting, retirement isn’t on his radar.
“I filmed ‘80 for Brady’ a couple of years ago, and I remember Jane Fonda telling me she was making more movies in her 80s than ever before,” Hamlin says. “I thought, ‘OK, that’s great — there’s still a lot of runway left ahead.’”
And if that runway ever takes a detour, Hamlin says he’s always got a backup plan.
“Originally, I wanted to be an architect but became an actor instead,” he says. “When I started thinking seriously about a backup plan, I landed on rock music. I play the guitar every day and write songs, so who knows, maybe music is my next chapter.”