Willie Aames

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Willie Aames (born July 15, 1960) is an American actor, film and television director, television producer, and screenwriter best known for the roles Tommy Bradford on the 1970s sitcom Eight is Enough, and Buddy Lembeck on the 1980s sitcom Charles in Charge.

Early life

Born Albert William Upton in Orange County, California, Aames attended Edison High School in Huntington Beach, California, and was in both the choir and the Madrigal Ensemble.

Career

Aames began acting in the early 1970s as a child actor. In 1971, he originated the role of Leonard Unger, the son of Felix Unger (Tony Randall), on the ABC-TV series The Odd Couple, a part that was later played by Leif Garrett. The following year, he voiced the character of Jamie Boyle in the animated series Wait till Your Father Gets Home. Aames has guest starred on various television series including The Waltons and Adam-12. In 1974, he portrayed a 12-year old Benjamin Franklin in the miniseries Benjamin Franklin. The next year, he co-starred in the short lived series We'll Get By.

In 1977, he landed the role of Tommy Bradford in the sitcom Eight is Enough. During this period, he formed a rock band called "Willie Aames & Paradise," where he was lead singer/guitarist. After Eight is Enough ended in 1981, Aames moved on to roles in films including Zapped!, opposite Scott Baio and Paradise with Phoebe Cates.

Before portraying the role of Buddy Lembeck in Charles in Charge in 1984, Aames played the character of Robbie Hamlin on the ABC soap opera The Edge of Night. From 1983 to 1985, he was the voice of Hank on the cartoon Dungeons & Dragons. After the end of Charles in Charge in 1990, Aames hosted the game show The Krypton Factor. From 1995 to 2004, he starred in a video series and annual touring performances as the Christian superhero Bibleman, although he has since retired from the role.

Celebrity Fit Club

In 2005, Aames appeared on VH1's Celebrity Fit Club 2, where he lost 19 pounds. Aames is one of the more notorious contestants to appear on the show, after a huge blow-up with the trainer, Drill Instructor Harvey Walden IV. Aames gained weight at several of the show's weigh ins, but still managed to lose 10.2% of his body weight. Since appearing on the show, Aames has found a passion for hunting, and has his own hunting program on TV. He started Fit Club at 187 lbs, and finished the show at 168 lbs, but, subsequently gained back all of the weight climbing to 191 lbs. Aames also appeared on Celebrity Fit Club 6: Boot Camp, this time with a positive attitude, where he lost 26 lbs for a total of 165 lbs. He won the individual prize.

Personal life

Aames struggled with drugs and alcohol for over twenty years and it was during this time that he became a born-again Christian and an ordained minister.^[1]

Aames resides in Olathe, Kansas. He is separated from second wife, Maylo McCaslin, with whom he co-wrote the book Grace is Enough in 2007.^{[2] [3]} They married on March 15, 1986, and have a daughter, Harleigh Jean. Aames also has a son, Christopher, from his first marriage.^[4]

Financial problems

He filed for bankruptcy in 2008, claiming debts of over $350,000, and he separated from his wife. After moving back to L.A., he tried to commit suicide on Thanksgiving Day 2008.^[5][6]

Aames held an estate sale on March 26, 2009 at his Olathe, Kansas home to sell all of his possessions in order to combat the impending foreclosure on his home.^[7]

Filmography

References

External links

• Willie Aames at the Internet Movie Database
• Willie Aames at Allmovie