Who is Armie Hammer? What to know about the controversial subject of 'House of Hammer'

He was a fairytale prince, a Russian spy, a long ranger, a pair of tech twins and a one-half of one of the loveliest LGBT romances of all time—but was he also an abuser? 

Disgraced Hollywood star Armie Hammer shocked the world when extreme messages purportedly from the actor hit social media detailing sexual fantasies of rape, violence and even cannibalism. The fall from grace went even further when one of his former romantic partners accused Hammer of physical, sexual and psychological abuse. 

All of these scandalous allegations came to a head in the form of the Armie Hammer documentary, House of Hammer, which premiered on Discovery+ on Friday, September 2, with insights from Hammer's exes like Courtney Vucekovich, as well as his own aunt, Casey Hammer. 

Before you binge the three-part docuseries, let's get a primer on who is Armie Hammer. 

Who is Armie Hammer? Meet the 'House of Hammer' subject:

Armie Hammer is a 36-year-old American actor hailing from Los Angeles, California, known for his performances in films, television and theater. He is the son of businessman Michael Armand Gammer and the great-grandson of oil tycoon Armand Hammer.

Armie Hammer movies: what's he been in?

After guest appearances on series like Gossip Girl, Desperate Housewives and Arrested Development, Hammer had a breakthrough role playing twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss in The Social Network, for which he and the cast received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. 

Supporting work in films like J. Edgar and Mirror Mirror segued into starring roles in The Lone Ranger, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Call Me By Your Name, the latter for which he received Golden Globe and Independent Spirit Award nominations. Other titles include Free Fire, Sorry to Bother You, Final Portrait and Rebecca and Death on the Nile. 

Armie Hammer cannibal scandal

*Trigger warning ahead*

Hammer was on a professional uptick, with numerous projects in the pipeline— including Jennifer Lopez's Shotgun Wedding, the Broadway play The Minutes and The Godfather-focused Paramount Plus series The Offer—when the text-message scandal hit in January 2021. 

In alleged texts and DMs sent to several women, including ex-girlfriend Paige Lorenze, Hammer referenced sexual domination ("I’m going to train you and turn you into my perfect little pet," he reportedly sent Lorenze, according to Page Six) and even blood-drinking and cannibalism. ("I am 100% a cannibal. I want to eat you," Vucekovich allegedly received in a text from the actor.) 

After another partner, who simply went by the name "Effie," detailed a horrific night with Hammer in which he allegedly raped and abused her over the course of four hours, Hammer was dropped by his agency, WME, and was fired from numerous professional projects. The Los Angeles Police Department carried out a nine-month investigation into the rape allegation but concluded their case in December 2021, with no charges filed against Hammer. The actor completed a six-month rehabilitation stay at a Florida facility in December. 

Armie Hammer wife: is he married?

The messages were reportedly sent between 2016 to 2020, during which Hammer was married to his now-estranged wife of a decade and the mother of his two children, Elizabeth Chambers. The couple publicly announced their separation in July 2020, about seven months prior to the social-media scandal, with Chambers filing for divorce and citing irreconcilable differences. 

Upon news of the allegations in early 2021, Chambers posted on Instagram: "For weeks, I've been trying to process everything that has transpired. I am shocked, heartbroken, and devastated. Heartbreak aside, I am listening, and will continue to listen and educate myself on these delicate matters. I didn't realize how much I didn't know." 

"I support any victim of assault or abuse and urge anyone who has experienced this pain to seek the help she or he needs to heal. At this time, I will not be commenting further on this matter. My sole focus and attention will continue to be on our children, on my work and on healing during this incredibly difficult time."

Hammer and Chambers share two children, seven-year-old Harper and five-year-old Ford, whom they are co-parenting in the Cayman Islands. 

Armie Hammer Cayman Islands

Where is Armie Hammer now? The actor is reportedly living and working in the Cayman Islands, where his family lived for several years when he was a child.

Basically black-listed from Hollywood since the abuse allegations, Hammer—who was last seen onscreen opposite Gal Gadot in Kenneth Branagh's Death on the Nile—has been working as a timeshare salesman at the Morritt’s Resort in Grand Cayman, reports Variety. A source told People that Hammer's "dad won't help him anymore and he's been cut off, so he's got to work."

Who is the Hammer family?

Speaking of Armie's dad, the Hammer family history is a long and sordid one. "If you believe in making deals with the devil, the Hammers are top of the totem pole," Casey Hammer says in the House of Hammer documentary. The docuseries not only delves into the allegations made against Armie but into the privilege, power and patriarchal wrongdoings of the wealthy Hammer clan, who Casey compares to the characters of Succession.

Dr. Julius Hammer, Armie's great-great-grandfather and a founding member of the American Community Party, was imprisoned in 1919 for manslaughter after performing an abortion for the wife of a Russian diplomat. The woman died and Julius was convicted of first-degree manslaughter. 

Julius's son and Armie's namesake, Armand Hammer, reportedly engaged in money laundering, bribery, adultery and even Soviet espionage, reports Vanity Fair. Casey Hammer recalled her grandfather's controlling nature, telling Salon: "My grandfather controlled the narrative, so he basically wanted us to act a certain way once we left and went out the front door. We had to be camera-ready, picture-ready. I mean, even though he had us followed, everything was always recorded. His goal was to win the Nobel Peace Prize. So, the last thing he could have is any family member disrespecting him or embarrassing him or saying the wrong thing."

Unfortunately for Armand, his son Julian—Armie's grandfather—did just that when he reportedly killed a man in 1955 over a gambling dispute. Julian claimed self-defense and charges were ultimately dropped, but Julian was largely left out of Armand's will. 

As for Armie's father, Michael Armand Hammer, the Vanity Fair exposé revealed that he might possess some sexual deviancy of his own: he allegedly kept a personal sex throne, complete with a cage, in the Armand Hammer Foundation headquarters in Carpinteria, California. 

Armie Hammer net worth: what is he valued at?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Armie Hammer is currently worth an estimated $100,000. Prior to the DM scandal, he was valued at between $10 and $15 million. 

House of Hammer premiered on Discovery+ on Friday, September 2.