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Willie Aames

 
Actor: Willie Aames
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Actors
  • Born: Jul 15, 1960 in Newport Beach, California
  • Occupation: Actor, Writer, Director
  • Active: '70s-'80s, 2000s
  • Major Genres: Drama, Comedy
  • Career Highlights: Zapped!, Killing Machine, Cut and Run
  • First Major Screen Credit: Eight Is Enough: Season 01 (1977)

Biography

American actor Willie Aames, born Albert William Upton, spent his youth working steadily on television and occasionally in low-budget foreign and domestic features. He first began making guest appearances on television in 1969. In 1975, he was cast in Irwin Allen's short-lived adventure series The Swiss Family Robinson. One of his co-stars was a young Helen Hunt. By this time, he had also appeared in a few television movies, including Unwed Father (1974). In 1977, Aames began a long stint in one of his best-known roles, that of rebellious teen Tommy Bradford in the popular domestic comedy/drama Eight Is Enough. With his mop of dark blonde hair, slim physique, and handsome face, Aames became a popular teen idol. In 1979, Aames made his feature-film debut in Scavenger Hunt. When Eight Is Enough was finally canceled in 1981, Aames went on to appear in a couple more films, including Zapped (1982), before returning to series television in the role for which he may be best remembered, as Scott Baio's irresponsible foil in the sitcom Charles in Charge (1984-1990). Through this period he continued to show up in movies. Through much of the '80s, Aames battled with cocaine and depression and became notorious in Hollywood for his erratic behavior. By the time Charles was canceled in 1990, he had cleaned up his act, become a born-again Christian, married for the second time, and in 1991, decided to move to Kansas City where he became a producer and director of videos and commercials. In the mid-'90s, he began starring as an evangelical superhero in the Bibleman series of youth-oriented musical videos. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
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Willie Aames
Born Albert William Upton
July 15, 1960 (1960-07-15) (age 49)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation Actor, director, producer, screenwriter
Years active 1971 – present
Spouse(s) Victoria Averbach (m. 1979–1984) «start: (1979)–end+1: (1985)»"Marriage: Victoria Averbach to Willie Aames" Location: (linkback:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Aames)
Maylo McCaslin (m. 1986–present) «start: (1986)»"Marriage: Maylo McCaslin to Willie Aames" Location: (linkback:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Aames) (separated)

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' Eight Is Enough, and Buddy Lembeck on the 1980s sitcom Charles in Charge.

Contents

Early life and career

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. 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. In 2008, 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. Aames' yard sale gained nationwide attention, and was attended mostly by fans as well as people who could relate to Aames' finance issues given the current economic recession.[7]

The 2009 VH1 program Broke & Famous: Willie Aames documented his money problems as well as the aforementioned garage sale.[8][9] As of late 2009, Aames is working his way toward being a fully licensed financial adviser. It is his hope that his experiences will help others get through dire financial straits.

Selected filmography

Film
Year Film Role Notes
1979 Scavenger Hunt Kenny Stevens
1982 Paradise David
Zapped! Peyton Nichols
1984 Goma-2 Tony Alternative title: Killing Machine
2003 The Missy Files
-
 Direct-to-DVD release
Director, writer
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1971 The Odd Couple Leonard 1 episode
1971-1972 The Courtship of Eddie's Father Harold O'Brien 4 episodes
1971-1973 Gunsmoke Tom
Andy		 2 episodes
1971-1974 Adam-12 Little Boy
Billy Ray		 2 episodes
1971-1975 Medical Center Eric
Jeff		 3 episodes
1972 Cannon Macklin Boy 1 episode
1972-1974 Wait Till Your Father Gets Home Jamie Boyle (Voice) 38 episodes
1973 Adam's Rib Boy 1 episode
1974 Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin (12 years old) Miniseries
The Wonderful World of Disney Jeff Peterson 1 episode
1975 The Waltons Danny Comley 1 episode
We'll Get By Kenny Platt 12 episodes
1975-1976 The Swiss Family Robinson Fred Robinson 20 episodes
1976 Rich Man, Poor Man Book II Young Wesley Jordache Miniseries
1976-1977 Family T.J. Latimer 6 episodes
1977 Little House: A New Beginning Seth 1 episode
1977-1981 Eight is Enough Tommy Bradford 112 episodes
1982 The Love Boat Danny — Doc's Nephew 1 episode
1983 The Edge of Night Robbie Hamlin Unknown episodes
1983-1985 Dungeons & Dragons Hank the Ranger (Voice) 27 episodes
1984-1990 Charles in Charge Buddy Lembeck 87 episodes
1986 Blacke's Magic Eric Wilson 1 episode
1987 Eight Is Enough: A Family Reunion Tommy Bradford Television movie
1989 An Eight Is Enough Wedding Tommy Bradford Television movie
1996-2004 Bible Man Bibleman 5 episodes
Director, producer, writer
2006 Bugtime Adventures Narrator Unknown episodes

References

  1. ^ "Willie Aames Accepts The Past With Grace". cbsnews.com. 2008-02-11. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/11/entertainment/main3819656.shtml. Retrieved 2009-01-01. 
  2. ^ "Grace Is Enough Product Details". bhpublishinggroup.com. http://www.bhpublishinggroup.com/productDetail.asp?isbn=0805443797. Retrieved 2009-01-01. 
  3. ^ "Willie Aames". People. 1995-07-17. http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20101100,00.html. Retrieved 2009-01-01. 
  4. ^ "Willie Aames Biography (1960-)". filmreference.com. http://www.filmreference.com/film/4/Willie-Aames.html. Retrieved 2009-01-01. 
  5. ^ 'Charles in Charge' Willie Aames explains suicide attempt
  6. ^ Fox: 'Charles In Charge' Star Willie Aames Fighting Back After Suicide Try
  7. ^ Actor Willie Aames lets it all go at unusual garage sale
  8. ^ "Broke & Famous". VH1. http://www.vh1.com/video/play.jhtml?id=1625077&vid=450605. Retrieved 2009-11-06. 
  9. ^ "Broke & Famous Coming Soon To VH1". VH1. http://blog.vh1.com/2009-10-05/broke-and-famous-coming-soon-to-vh1/. Retrieved 2009-11-06. 

External links


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