A man who worked as a nanny to Hollywood’s rich and famous has lifted the lid on some of the glamorous perks that came with the gig… as well as the harrowing downsides.
Hamp Simmons babysat children in Beverly Hills and Bel Air from 1977 until 1982.
His clients included former Disney CEO Michael Eisner, acclaimed movie producer Lawrence Gordon, musician Neil Diamond, actress Lesley Ann Warren and actor-comedian Mel Brooks, among others.
Simmons spoke exclusively with the Daily Mail about the many highs and lows that came with taking care of the ultra wealthy’s offspring, from being whisked away on glamorous getaways to dealing with ‘spoiled and entitled’ kids.
He explained that he moved to Hollywood in the late ’70s trying to become an actor, and joined an agency that offered babysitting jobs for ‘the kids of actors and other movie people.’
‘I did it because I wanted to meet someone who could help me get a better job,’ he shared.
Simmons said he quickly moved up the ranks at the agency because almost everyone else there was ‘older’ and more ‘rigid,’ and his ‘young and eager’ personality stood out.
‘I’d take them to school in the mornings, run errands for the mothers while the kids were at school, pick them up and supervise the kids after school until around 5 or 6 [o’clock], and then I was off,’ he recalled.
Hamp Simmons (seen with his grandson), who worked as a nanny to the rich and famous, has lifted a lid on some of the glamorous perks that came with the gig… as well as the downsides
His clients included former Disney CEO Michael Eisner (left), acclaimed movie producer Lawrence Gordon, musician Neil Diamond and actress Lesley Ann Warren (right)
‘I went to Mommy and Me classes with the toddlers. I chaperoned field trips for school, [and accompanied parents at] movie premieres and concerts.’
As expected, being a nanny for millionaires came with a slew of exciting perks.
He remembered receiving VIP treatment, including a ‘chauffeur’ and ‘two private guides, while visiting Disneyland with Neil Diamond and his kids.
He also enjoyed private jet rides, luxurious vacations and free gifts.
‘One family took me along on a private jet to Las Vegas,’ he revealed. ‘The casino we were staying at invited us to see Diana Ross in concert.
‘They weren’t really interested [in going], but the mom knew I was a big fan so she let me go to the show in her and her husband’s place. It was great.
‘On another trip, we traveled with Burt Reynolds and he signed a photo for my stepmother that she got for Christmas that year.
‘I often got promo loot from various movies and TV shows, records, pins and buttons, T-shirts and such, and collected stuff year-round to gift my family.’
Simmons said he enjoyed private jet rides, luxurious vacations and free gifts
He remembered visiting Disneyland with Neil Diamond (seen in 1980 with one of his kids) and the musician’s children and receiving VIP treatment at the theme park
Simmons said, ‘in general,’ the parents treated him well and in some cases even made him feel like ‘a member of the family.’
But in the end, he learned he was ultimately an ‘easily replaceable employee.’
‘I often had to remind myself of that,’ he said.
The job certainly had some negatives. Simmons admitted the kids were ‘spoiled and entitled’ and would try to manipulate those around them to get their way.
‘These kids know [how to bend the rules],’ he said.
‘We were never supposed to let anyone in the public know who we were,’ Simmons said. ‘Once, I took [Neil Diamond’s] kids bowling, gave each of them $10 in quarters for the video games.
‘One kid seemed to never run out of quarters, he kept playing after all the others had spent their money and were ready to leave.
‘I asked him where he was getting the extra money from, he claimed he just had it. However, as I walked back to the other kids, a stranger approached me to ask if the kid was really the son of Neil Diamond.
The job certainly had some negatives, as Simmons admitted the kids were ‘spoiled and entitled’ and would try to manipulate those around them so they could get their way
‘I asked the guy why he thought that and discovered the kid was promising autographed copies of his dad’s latest Grammy-winning album for $5 in quarters and had sold five of them so far.
‘I had to collect the names and addresses of the people he’d gotten quarters from and have his dad’s assistant send them all albums. All this while we were supposedly incognito.’
Simmons added he was ‘expected’ to make himself ‘available 24 hours a day.’ He found that the pay of $500 a week plus a car to use both on the job and off was not sufficient.
‘There was no health insurance, social security payments, retirement, etc, all things I would never do without again,’ he explained.
‘The expectation was that I was available 24 hours a day (and often did work 24 hours a day).
‘Once, I got called in on a Saturday when I was off. I told my boss I was in the middle of painting my bathroom but could be there in a couple of hours.
‘He wanted to know why I couldn’t just leave the painters and come… I told him that on what he paid me there was no way I could afford painters and was doing it myself. He was shocked that anyone would paint their own bathroom.’
In the end, Simmons, who eventually stopped babysitting to work as a full-time assistant to one of his clients, said he had a ‘great time’ being a nanny to the stars.
‘It opened so many doors,’ he said.
‘I got to meet so many fascinating and famous people, see movies and plays and concerts I’d have never been able to see on my own and in great seats with backstage passes everywhere.’