David Hampton American swindler Country: USA

1. Biography of David Hampton
2. Hampton's Scam
3. Legal Troubles
4. Pursuit of Fame
5. Continued Criminal Activities
6. Final Days

Biography of David Hampton

David Hampton was an American con artist who gained notoriety for his elaborate scams targeting wealthy residents of Manhattan. Born in Buffalo, Hampton moved to New York in 1981. It was during this time that he hatched a plan to pass himself off as the son of famous celebrities in order to deceive others and gain their trust.

Hampton's Scam

Together with his accomplice, Hampton attempted to gain entry to the legendary Studio 54 nightclub but was unsuccessful. This failure sparked the idea to impersonate the offspring of celebrities. His partner claimed to be the son of Gregory Peck, while Hampton chose to pose as Sidney Poitier's son. The deception worked remarkably well, and Hampton was able to exploit his new identity to receive free meals at restaurants and find shelter with numerous people, including some well-known individuals like Melanie Griffith, Calvin Klein, Gary Sinise, John Jay Iselin, and Osborn Elliott.

Legal Troubles

In October 1983, Hampton's criminal activities caught up with him, leading to his arrest and subsequent conviction. He refused to compensate the victims, resulting in a prison sentence for fraud. Additionally, he was banned from returning to New York. These events eventually inspired playwright John Guare, who learned about Hampton's exploits from his friends Osborn and Inger Elliott, to write the play "Six Degrees of Separation," which premiered at Lincoln Center in May 1990 to great success.

Pursuit of Fame

Upon learning about the success of the play based on his scam, Hampton sought to claim his share of fame. However, instead of settling for interviews, he resorted to harassing the playwright, making threatening phone calls, and even attempting physical harm. In April 1991, Guare sought a restraining order against Hampton but was unsuccessful. Later that year, Hampton filed a $100 million lawsuit against Guare for stealing his story, but the case was eventually dismissed.

Continued Criminal Activities

After his release from prison, Hampton continued his criminal activities, leading to multiple arrests in various states. Each arrest garnered significant media attention. In 1996, Hampton relocated to the eastern part of the country, where he was relatively unknown. He assumed the guise of Antonio de Montilio, the son of a wealthy local doctor, and used a robbery story to deceive and defraud several individuals in Seattle.

Final Days

In July 2003, David Hampton passed away from complications related to AIDS. It is known that he had sought treatment for the disease at a Manhattan hospital for some time before his death. Despite his troubled life and criminal activities, Hampton's legacy lives on through the play and subsequent film adaptation, which shed light on his audacious exploits.