Legendary Actor, 87, Says He Suffered Tragic Surgery Side Effect

Archive Photos / Getty Images Legendary leading man and tanning enthusiast George Hamilton revealed the devastating effect of a medical operation he had in his early eighties.

On Monday, the 87-year-old actor told Page Six that he lost his memory after undergoing an unspecified surgery four years ago.

“I had to read my own biography to learn who I was,” he said.

“And I had to think, ‘Do I like this person?’” Hamilton re-read his 2008 book, George Hamilton: Don’t Mind If I Do: My Adventures In Hollywood , multiple times to help return his memory.

“[I] looked at things from my past, and I wasn’t sure if I had done them,” he said.

Doctors told Hamilton the memory loss would only last a few days, but that wasn’t the case.

It took him years to remember his identity after coming out of the operation “not knowing who [he] was.” The Golden Globe-winning Crime and Punishment USA star did not specify the medical condition or specific procedure.

Hamilton said his most vivid memories were from childhood.

He also recalled “memories of manners and kindness and people who were together.

Resiliency.” Losing his memory taught the actor to reflect on his priorities.

“Things have come and gone, but kindness and good manners and optimism and belief in something more important than our egos is something people probably don’t think I think about,” he said.

“But it’s most important to me at this age.” The Love at First Bite star also shared details about his life with his girlfriend, psychologist and author Katherine Bryan.

The couple, who got together after Hamilton’s surgery, have dated for a year and a half.

“She’s great.