Veronica Hamel

Veronica Hamel (born November 20, 1943, in Philadelphia) is an American actress.

Veronica Hamel Career

Hamel graduated from Temple University, worked as a secretary for a company which manufactured ironing board covers, then began a career as a fashion model after being discovered by Eileen Ford. Her first film role was playing a model in 1971's Klute. Other early roles came in the disaster films Beyond the Poseidon Adventure and When Time Ran Out.

She was the model in the last cigarette commercial televised in the U.S. (for Virginia Slims, aired at 11:59 p.m. on New Year's Day 1971 on The Tonight Show). Hamel had been a model in print ads not just for Slims, but also for Pall Mall Gold cigarettes.

Veronica started appearing in TV series in 1975. She was considered for "Charlie's Angels," but reportedly declined the role. Producer Aaron Spelling cast Jaclyn Smith instead.

Hamel is probably best remembered for playing Joyce Davenport, the hard-driving public defender and love interest of police captain Frank Furillo, in the long-running TV series Hill Street Blues. She was a five-time Emmy nominee for that role.

Alan Alda's 1986 film A New Life cast Hamel in a leading role as his doctor and love interest.

She was named on Us magazine's "Best Dressed" list for 1983.

Veronica portrayed Lily Munster in the 1995 Halloween telefilm Here Come the Munsters where Yvonne De Carlo had a cameo.

In recent years, Hamel had a recurring role in the NBC television series Third Watch and appeared as Margo Shephard, Jack's mother, in the ABC series Lost.