Hemmings has also directed several films, including "Just a Gigolo" (1979), and in the 80s he launched a second career as a TV director for series including "Magnum P.I.", "Airwolf", "The New Mike Hammer", "Hawaiian Heat", "The Last Precinct", "Raven" and "In the Heat of the Night". Although he never completely gave up acting, most of Hemmings' histrionic activity was limited to the small screen as well; in 1989, though, he returned to feature films after a six-year absence to play Uncle Henry in Ken Russell's "The Rainbow". He is divorced from actress Gayle Hunnicutt.