WILLIAM R. HAMEL

March 14, 1906

William R. Hamel was born in Pennsylvania in 1906. He is best known as the first Maître d’ at the Tropicana on “I Love Lucy.”

He made his screen debut in the 1948 short Big Sister Blues. The following year he was featured in Streets of Laredo (1949) starring William Holden. 

He made his television debut in a 1952 episode of “Boston Blackie”. 

That same year he made the first of his three appearances on “I Love Lucy” playing the Tropicana

Maître d’ in “Lucy is Enceinte” (ILL S2;E10) filmed on October 3, 1952 and aired on December 8, 1952. 

He played the role again in “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” (ILL S2;E16) filmed on November 14, 1952 and aired on 

January 19, 1953.  

His final appearance was in “Lucy’s Last Birthday” (ILL S2;E25) filmed April 16, 1953 and aired on May 11, 1953.

His final film, Desert Hell (1958) was released posthumously. Hamel died in 1958 at age 51.