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HOLLYWOOD -- Antony Hamilton, who replaced Jon-Erik Hexum in the "Cover Up" TV series, has not seen and will not see the eight episodes Hexum made before his death last fall.
Hamilton knew Hexum in New York when they were struggling actors and models. They were acquaintances, not friends, who met in acting classes.
Hamilton was shocked and dismayed at news that Hexum had killed himself accidentally on the set when he fired the wadding from a blank cartridge into his brain while fooling around with a prop pistol last October.
"It was such a senseless death, it made people angry," Hamilton said.
"I get nervous when I talk about his death. It had a profound effect on me. There were days, and there still are, when I think about it and can't believe it. Jon-Erik's death was completely futile.
"It never occurred to me for a moment to think about taking over in the series. It was never a consideration, not even when 20th Century Fox sought me out to play another, similar character.
"In fact, I declined when they asked me the first time. Then I thought it over and concluded if anyone were going to join the show, it would be better if the actor were someone Jon-Erik knew.
"In life destiny sometimes hands you something and if it's right, you do it. I really had no desire to be in a TV series. I believe if Jon-Erik is watching, he would be pleased I'm doing it.
"We vied for a lot of roles at one point. He was colleague of mine with the same acting coach in New York and we say each other quite a bit. We knew and respected each other."
Larson talked to dozens of actors, testing some, before flagging down Hamilton. After their meeting, Hamilton rehearsed a scene with co-star Jennifer O'Neill, and within 18 hours of his arrival in Hollywood from New York, Hamilton signed aboard.
Before accepting his part in the weekly spy thriller, Hamilton had never seen "Cover Up." He hasn't watched any of the first eight episodes in which Hexum co-starred with Jennifer.
"I don't want to see them for personal and professional reasons," Hamilton explained. "I'm playing a different guy, and outrider who is much more his own man, from what I understand, than the role Jon-Erik played."
Hamilton, a native of England who was reared in Australia, is a 6-foot-2, muscular ex-ballet dancer who made his living modeling before he turned to acting last year.
He dropped out of school to become a ballet dancer at age 12 and quit dancing professionally when he was 20. For the past decade he has traveled all over the world modeling.
"dancing was too confining and regimented for me," he said. "It was like living life with one hand tied behind your back.
"I became a model not because I was interested in fashion or styles, but because I knew it was a good way to see the world. And I was right. I worked in New York, London, Moscow, Hong Kong, Tokyo and all over Europe and Africa.
"It gave me independence. I could work when I wanted, where I wanted, and as often as I liked. The money was good, too. I even worked in Hollywood as a model and hoped to get started as an actor. But I didn't like the parts that came my way. So I refused them."
One part he did accept was the title role in the TV movie, "Samson," which led to another TV film, "Mirrors." For three weeks he worked in "Mirrors" at the same time he wa appering in the first episode of "Cover Up."
"I have to say joining this series has been a joy," he said. "I got help every day from the script girl to the assistant director and other members of the crew. Jennifer is also a joy to work with. She was among the first to agree with Larson that I was right for the part.
"Working in a series like this is all new to me. I hope in the future there will be more scenes between Jennifer and me, and less action and violence. We get along well together and I hope the show will continue to improve."
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