Ham Actor

   The origin of this derisory term has not been satisfactorily established. In fact, so many paths have been suggested to this word's provenance that it is burdensome to follow them all. Perhaps the best lead is found in the advice Hamlet offers to actors—not to "saw the air too much with your hand" and not "to strut and bellow." Sounds familiar? Ham actors are known to overact and to strive mightily to call attention to themselves. And so it might be that from Hamlet, Shakespeare's greatest tragedy, comes the solution: The advice given by Hamlet plus the first syllable of his name may have combined to produce the appellation ham actor. Farfetched, but worth considering.

   Another possible derivation is from the practice, in the nineteenth century, of using ham fat to remove theatrical makeup. The actor was called a hamfatter, and the appellation became the title, during the heyday of minstrels, of a Negro minstrel song, "The Ham-Fat Man." The Midwest has its candidate, Hamish McCullough (1835-1885), who toured with his own troupe of players regularly in Midwestern States. Hamish's company was called "Harn's actors" (Ham was Mc- Cullough's nickname), and the acting of his players was reported to deserve that questionable commendation.