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Lee Aaker

 
Actor: Lee Aaker
  • Born: 1943 in Inglewood, California
  • Occupation: Actor
  • Active: '50s
  • Major Genres: Western, Drama
  • Career Highlights: Jeopardy, Take Me to Town, The Atomic City
  • First Major Screen Credit: The Atomic City (1952)

Biography

Child actor Lee Aaker began making unbilled bit appearances in films in 1951. His roles increased in size and importance after his impressive showing as the contentious title character in the "Ransom of Red Chief" episode in O. Henry's Full House (1952). One of his better-known screen appearances was as yet another kidnap victim, the son of scientist Gene Barry, in The Atomic City (1952). To anyone born between 1945 and 1960, he will always be remembered as honorary cavalry corporal Rusty on TV's Rin Tin Tin, which ran from 1954 to 1958. After Rin Tin Tin ran its course, Aaker moved into the production end of the business, serving as an assistant to producer Herbert B. Leonard (who'd also been his Rin Tin Tin mentor) on the '60s series Route 66. Like many former child stars, Lee Aaker has occasionally been plagued by impostors claiming to be him; one enterprising phony successful posed as Aaker at several nostalgia conventions of the 1980s before one of the actor's sharper-eyed fans blew the whistle. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
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Wikipedia: Lee Aaker
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Lee Aaker
Born Lee William Aaker
September 25, 1943 (1943-09-25) (age 66)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation Actor, Producer, Carpenter
Years active 1951–1963 (actor)

Lee William Aaker (born September 25, 1943; Los Angeles, California) was an American child actor famous for his appearance in the television program The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin.

Contents

Biography

On TV as a young child, he started appearing unbilled at the age of 8 in films such as The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) and High Noon (1952). He quickly moved to featured status by the end of that year.

He showed talent as the kidnapped Indian "Red Chief" in a segment of the film O. Henry's Full House (1952) and another kidnap victim as the son of scientist Gene Barry in The Atomic City (1952).

In 1953 he co-starred in the John Wayne western classic Hondo (1953) as the curious blond son of homesteader Geraldine Page.

He also appeared in other film styles such as the film noir thriller Jeopardy (1953) with Barbara Stanwyck, the hoss opera drama Arena (1953) with Gig Young and the comedies Mister Scoutmaster (1953) with Clifton Webb and Ricochet Romance (1954) with Marjorie Main.

In 1953-54, Aaker was among the many child actors who auditioned for the role of "Jeff Miller" on the Original 1954 Lassie series, which later aired as Jeff's Collie. That role went to Tommy Rettig. Two weeks later Aaker won the role of "Rusty" on The Adventures of Rin-Tin-Tin, co-starring James Brown (1920-1992) as Lieutenant Ripley "Rip" Masters. Aaker and Rettig were friends, and both shows were popular with audiences.

Unable to find work as an adult actor, Aaker got involved as a producer and later worked as a carpenter.

Aaker Lee has resided in Mammoth Lakes, California, for many years and is a special needs ski instructor.

Filmography

Film roles

Year Title Role
1951 Benjy Benjy
1952 The Greatest Show on Earth (uncredited) Boy
1952 Something to Live For (uncredited) Alternate Boy
1952 My Son John (uncredited) Boy
1952 The Atomic City Tommy Addison
1952 No Room for the Groom Donovan
1952 O. Henry's Full House J. B. Dorset aka Red Chief (The Ransom of Red Chief)
1952 Desperate Search Don Heldon
1952 Hans Christen Andersen (uncredited) Little Boy
1953 Jeopardy Bobby Stilwin
1953 Take Me to Town Corney Hall
1953 Arena Teddy Hutchins
1953 Mister Scoutmaster Arthur
1953 A Lion Is in the Streets Johnny Briscoe
1953 Hondo Johnny Lowe
1954 Ride Clear of Diablo (uncredited) Boy
1954 The Raid (uncredited) Larry's Friend
1954 Her Twelve Men (uncredited) Michael Elliot
1954 Ricochet Romance Timmy Williams
1954 Destry Eli Skinner
1954 Black Tuesday Little Boy
1955 Spin and Marty: The Movie Russell the Muscle
1956 Bigger Than Life (uncredited) Joe
1957 The Challenge of Rin Tin Tin Rusty
1963 Bye Bye Birdie (uncredited) Student leader

Television roles

Year Title Role
1952 Your Jeweler's Showcase (one episode only)
1953 Fireside Theatre (one episode only) Sandy
1953 to 1954 The Ford Television Theatre (two episodes) Joey
1954 Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (one episode only)
1954 General Electric Theater (one episode only) Tim Kelly
1955 The Adventures of Spin and Marty on Walt Disney Presents Russell
1955 The Lone Ranger (one episode only) Tommy Righter
1953 to 1955 Letter to Loretta (two episodes) Jimmy Preston; Myron Carrington
1955 Screen Directors Playhouse (one episode only) Cowhide
1957 Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers (one episode only)
1959 The Millionaire (one episode only) Tommy Spencer
1954 to 1959 The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin Rusty
1959 Rescue 8 (one episode only) Billy
1959 to 1962 Disneyland (four episodes) Willy; Chuck Taylor
1963 The Lucy Show (one episode)

External links



 
 
Learn More
Season 08, Episode 15: The Red Skelton Show (TV Episode) (1959 Comedy TV Episode)
Lucy and the Military Academy: The Lucy Show (TV Episode) (1963 TV Episode)
Jeopardy (1953 Thriller Film)

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Actor. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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