Willie Aames
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| Willie Aames | |
| Born | Albert William Upton July 15, 1960 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Actor, director, producer, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1971 – present |
| Spouse(s) | Maylo McCaslin (1986-present) Victoria Averbach (1979-1984) |
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.
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[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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]
[edit] 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]
[edit] 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 |
| 1985 | Inferno in diretta (Straight to Hell) | Tommy Allo | Alternative titles: Amazon: Savage Adventure Cut and Run |
| 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 | Wide World Mystery | William Frankenstein | 1 episode |
| Adam's Rib | Boy | 1 episode | |
| 1974 | ABC Afterschool Special | 1 episode | |
| Unwed Father | Gum | Television movie | |
| Doctor Dan | Adam Morgan | Television movie | |
| Benjamin Franklin | Benjamin Franklin (12 years old) | Miniseries | |
| Runaway on Rogue River | Jeff Peterson | Television movie | |
| The Wonderful World of Disney | Jeff Peterson | 1 episode | |
| 1975 | The Waltons | Danny Comley | 1 episode |
| The Family Nobody Wanted | Danny | Television movie | |
| 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 Tom Swift and Linda Craig Mystery Hour | Tom Swift | Television movie |
| 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 |
| 1998 | Visual Bible for Kids | ||
| 2006 | Bugtime Adventures | Narrator | 13 episodes |
[edit] References
- ^ "Willie Aames Accepts The Past With Grace". cbsnews.com. 2008-02-11. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/11/entertainment/main3819656.shtml. Retrieved on 2009-01-01.
- ^ "Grace Is Enough Product Details". bhpublishinggroup.com. http://www.bhpublishinggroup.com/productDetail.asp?isbn=0805443797. Retrieved on 2009-01-01.
- ^ "Willie Aames". People. 1995-07-17. http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20101100,00.html. Retrieved on 2009-01-01.
- ^ "Willie Aames Biography (1960-)". filmreference.com. http://www.filmreference.com/film/4/Willie-Aames.html. Retrieved on 2009-01-01.
- ^ 'Charles in Charge' Willie Aames explains suicide attempt
- ^ Fox: 'Charles In Charge' Star Willie Aames Fighting Back After Suicide Try
- ^ Actor Willie Aames lets it all go at unusual garage sale
