Actor George Hamilton said Imelda Marcos saved his mother's life by inviting the despondent woman to the Philippines after Hamilton's brother died.
Called to testify for the government at Marcos' racketeering trial, the gray-haired and deeply tanned Hamilton, 51, said Tuesday he met the former Philippine first lady in 1979 in Manila while promoting a movie, "Love at First Bite."Hamilton, dressed in a gray double-breasted suit, blue shirt, and blue tie, said a "basically social relationship developed" between his family and the Marcoses.
Under cross-examination by Marcos' attorney Gerry Spence, Hamilton said his brother, who was not named in testimony, suffered "the same disease as the president" Ferdinand Marcos, who died in September.
It was not known when the brother died.
Hamilton, his hands folded in front of him, leaned on the arms of the witness chair and said his brother suffered "liver and kidney malfunction."
"When my brother died, my mother wanted to commit suicide," said the actor, his head bowed, staring into his fidgeting hands.
His voice choking, he quietly said, "Mrs. Marcos brought my mother to the Philippines."
He paused, and the courtroom fell silent.
"I think the only reason my mother is alive today is because of Mrs. Marcos." he said.
"Mr. Spence, I think we ought to move on to something else," said Judge John Keenan, reversing himself on an earlier prosecution objection to the line of questioning. The trial was scheduled to resume Wednesday.
The actor's emotional appearance was forced by a government subpoena and elicited with a grant of immunity.
Charles LaBella, an assistant U.S. attorney, questioned Hamilton about $5.5 million he received as "good faith" money for a movie about the late Gen. Douglas MacArthur, World War II liberator of the Philippines.