Willie Aames

Last updated
Willie Aames
Willie Aames at the Chiller Theatre Expo 2017.jpg
Aames at the Chiller Theatre Expo in 2017
Born
Albert William Upton

(1960-07-15) July 15, 1960 (age 63)
Other namesWillie Ames
Occupation(s)Actor, director, television producer, screenwriter
Years active1971–present
Spouses
Vicki Weatherman
(m. 19791984)
Maylo McCaslin
(m. 19862009)
Winnie Hung
(m. 2014)
Children2

Willie Aames (born Albert William Upton; July 15, 1960) [1] is an American actor, film and television director, television producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for playing Tommy Bradford, one of the children of Tom Bradford (played by Dick Van Patten), on the 1970s television series Eight Is Enough , [2] TJ Latimer in Family, Buddy Lembeck on the 1980s sitcom Charles in Charge , and the title character in the direct-to-video series Bibleman (1995–2003). He is also credited as Willie Ames.

Contents

Early life

Aames was born in Newport Beach, California in 1960. [3] He attended Edison High School in Huntington Beach, California, and he was in both the choir and the Madrigal Ensemble.

Career

Aames began acting in the late 1960s as a child, [4] appearing in shows such as Gunsmoke , The Wonderful World of Disney , Adam-12 , and The Courtship of Eddie's Father . 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 provided the voice of the character of Jamie Boyle in the animated series Wait Till Your Father Gets Home .

He guest-starred on various television series, including The Waltons . In 1974, he portrayed a 12-year-old Benjamin Franklin in the miniseries Benjamin Franklin . The next year, he co-starred in the series Swiss Family Robinson . [5]

In 1977, he landed the role of Tommy Bradford in the comedy-drama Eight Is Enough . During this period, he played in a band called Willie Aames & Paradise, in which he was lead singer/guitarist. Formed while Aames was in junior high school, the group eventually landed a recording contract with CBS Custom Label. [6] During this time, Aames appeared in his first movie role, Scavenger Hunt . After the series ended in 1981, Aames appeared in more film roles, including Zapped! with Scott Baio and Paradise with Phoebe Cates. [7]

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 . [8] 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 .

Aames starred as Bibleman in the direct-to-video Christian superhero series from 1995 to 2003. [9]

In 2010, Aames's career changed direction when he began working as a cruise director for Regent Seven Seas Cruises. [10] [11] He also worked for Oceania Cruises and Viking (Ocean) Cruises, then returned to acting in 2016. [12]

Personal life

Aames is a Christian. [13] He has been married three times. Aames married Vicki Weatherman in 1979, having one child, Christopher. [14] He married Maylo McCaslin in 1986, [15] having one child, Harleigh Jean. [16] Aames married Winnie Hung in 2014. [17] [18]

Aames has battled alcohol addiction in his life. [19]

Filmography

Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1971 The Odd Couple Leonardepisode: "Win One for Felix"
1971–1972 The Courtship of Eddie's Father Harold O'Brien4 episodes
1971, 1973 Gunsmoke Tom / Andy2 episodes
1971, 1974 Adam-12 Young Boy / Billy Ray2 episodes
1971–1975 Medical Center Eric / Jeff3 episodes
1972 Cannon Petey Macklinepisode: "A Flight of Hawks"
1972–1974 Wait Till Your Father Gets Home Jamie Boyle (voice)38 episodes
1973 Adam's Rib Boyepisode: "Katey at the Bat"
1973 Frankenstein William Frankensteintwo-part episode of The Wide World of Mystery
1974 Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin (at 12 years old)miniseries; episode: "The Whirlwind"
1974 The Wonderful World of Disney Jeff Petersonepisode: "Runaway on the Rogue River"
1975 The Waltons Danny Comleyepisode: "The Beguiled"
1975 We'll Get By Kenny Platt12 episodes
1975–1976 The Swiss Family Robinson Fred Robinson20 episodes
1976 Rich Man, Poor Man Book II Young Wesley Jordacheminiseries; episode: "Chapter I"
1976–1977 Family T.J. Latimer6 episodes
1977 Little House on the Prairie Sethepisode: "Injun Kid"
1977–1981 Eight Is Enough Tommy Bradford111 episodes
1982 The Love Boat Dannyepisode: "Doc's Nephew"
1983 The Edge of Night Robbie Hamlinunknown episodes
1983–1985 Dungeons & Dragons Hank the Ranger (voice)main role
1984–1990 Charles in Charge Buddy Lembeck126 episodes
1986 Blacke's Magic Eric Wilsonepisode: "The Revenge of the Esperanza"
1987 Eight Is Enough: A Family Reunion Tommy BradfordTV movie
1989 An Eight Is Enough Wedding Tommy BradfordTV movie
1995–2003 Bibleman [9] Miles Peterson / Bibleman23 episodes
2005 Celebrity Fit Club – Season 2Himself8 episodes
2006 Bugtime Adventures Narrator13 episodes
2007MacMillan River Adventures - Season 1Himself27 episodes
2008 Celebrity Fit Club: Boot Camp – Season 8Himself8 episodes
2015Harvest MoonWilliam StoneHallmark TV movie
2016Dater's HandbookKyleHallmark TV movie
2016Every Christmas Has A StoryVernon HollisHallmark TV movie
2017 Date My Dad Principal Reed2 episodes
2019Love on the MenuMartin ThomasHallmark TV movie
2020Picture Perfect Mysteries: Exit Stage Death"Neil KhanHallmark TV movie
Film
YearFilmRoleNotes
1979 Scavenger Hunt Kenny Stevens
1982 Paradise David
1982 Zapped! Peyton Nichols
1984 Goma-2  [ it ]Tonyalternative title: Killing Machine
1985 Cut and Run Tommy Alloalternative title: Amazon: Savage Adventure
2003The Missy Files
direct-to-video
director, writer
2003 Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star himself
2020Bottle MonsterGeorge

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olathe, Kansas</span> County seat of Johnson County, Kansas

Olathe is the county seat of Johnson County, Kansas, United States. It is the fourth-most populous city in both the Kansas City metropolitan area and the state of Kansas, with a 2020 population of 141,290.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phoebe Cates</span> American actress (born 1963)

Phoebe Belle Cates Kline is an American former actress, known primarily for her roles in films such as Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), Gremlins (1984), Drop Dead Fred (1991) and Princess Caraboo (1994).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackie Earle Haley</span> American actor

Jack Earle Haley is an American actor and director. His earliest roles included Moocher in Breaking Away (1979) and Kelly Leak in The Bad News Bears (1976), The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training (1977) and The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (1978). After spending many years as a producer and director of television commercials, he revived his acting career with a supporting role in All the King's Men (2006). This was followed by his performance in Little Children (2006), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Edwards (actor)</span> American actor and director (born 1962)

Anthony Charles Edwards is an American actor, director, and producer. He played Dr. Mark Greene on the first eight seasons of ER, for which he received a Golden Globe Award and six Screen Actors Guild Awards, and was nominated for four consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards. He has appeared in various films and television series, including Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Top Gun, Zodiac, Gotcha!, Miracle Mile, Revenge of the Nerds, Planes, Northern Exposure and Designated Survivor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sebastian Cabot (actor)</span> English actor (1918–1977)

Charles Sebastian Thomas Cabot was a British actor. He is best remembered as the gentleman's gentleman, Giles French, opposite Brian Keith's character, William "Uncle Bill" Davis, in the CBS-TV sitcom Family Affair (1966–1971). He was also known for playing the Wazir in the film Kismet (1955) and Dr. Carl Hyatt in the CBS-TV series Checkmate (1960–1962).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Cullen</span> Canadian voice actor

Peter Claver Cullen is a Canadian voice actor. He is notable for voicing Optimus Prime in the original 1980s Transformers animated series, later returning to the role in Transformers media in 2007, starting with the first live-action film. He has also voiced many other characters across a wide variety of popular media, including Eeyore in the Winnie the Pooh franchise, Monterey Jack in Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, the first voice of KARR in Knight Rider and the vocalizations of the title character in Predator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Ashmore</span> Canadian actor (born 1979)

Aaron Richard Ashmore is a Canadian actor. He is known for his roles on American television series such as Jimmy Olsen on Smallville, Steve Jinks on Warehouse 13 and Johnny Jaqobis on the Canadian television series Killjoys. He is the identical twin brother of actor Shawn Ashmore.

<i>Eight Is Enough</i> American comedy-drama television series (1977–1981)

Eight Is Enough is an American comedy-drama television series that aired on ABC from March 15, 1977, to May 23, 1981. The show was modeled on the life of syndicated newspaper columnist Tom Bradford, a real-life parent with eight children, who wrote a book by the same title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dick Van Patten</span> American actor (1928–2015)

Richard Vincent Van Patten was an American actor, comedian, businessman, and animal welfare advocate, whose career spanned seven decades of television. He was best known for his role as patriarch Tom Bradford on the television series Eight Is Enough.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Weller</span> American actor (born 1947)

Peter Francis Weller is an American actor and television director.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clint Howard</span> American actor

Clinton Engle Howard is an American actor. He is the second son born to American actors Rance and Jean Howard, and younger brother of actor and director Ron Howard. His 200-plus acting credits include feature films such as The Waterboy and Apollo 13, as well as television series, such as Gentle Ben, The Baileys of Balboa, The Cowboys, My Name Is Earl, and several entries in the Star Trek franchise. He has appeared in many films directed by his brother, Ron, and had a small role in the 1967 animated film The Jungle Book. He is lead singer of his own band, The Kempsters, and also makes custom snow globes.

<i>Charles in Charge</i> American comedy television series

Charles in Charge is an American sitcom television series that premiered on October 3, 1984, on CBS. The series was a production of Al Burton Productions and Scholastic Productions in association with Universal Television and starred Scott Baio, who had previously starred in Happy Days, in the title role. Willie Aames, who had previously been a cast member on Eight Is Enough, also starred as Charles’ best friend Buddy Lembeck.

<i>Paradise</i> (1982 film) 1982 Canadian film

Paradise is a 1982 Canadian adventure-romance film written and directed by Stuart Gillard. It stars Phoebe Cates, Willie Aames, and Tuvia Tavi. The original music score was composed by Paul Hoffert with the theme song written and produced by Joel Diamond and L. Russell Brown and sung by Phoebe Cates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Dooley</span> American actor, writer and comedian

Paul Dooley is an American character actor, writer, and comedian. He is known for his roles in Breaking Away, Popeye, Sixteen Candles, Strange Brew and many Christopher Guest mockumentaries. He co-created the PBS show The Electric Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Lembeck</span> American actor and director

Michael Lembeck is an American actor and television and film director. He is best known as Max Horvath in One Day at a Time (1979–1984).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Martsolf</span> American actor

Eric Martsolf is an American television actor. Since November 2008, he has played the role of Brady Black on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives for which he won a Daytime Emmy in 2014. He also played the role of Ethan Winthrop in the NBC soap opera Passions from 2002 to 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Emerson</span> American actor (born 1954)

Michael Emerson is an American actor who is best known for his roles as Benjamin Linus on Lost (2006–2010) and as Harold Finch in the CBS series Person of Interest (2011–2016). Other prominent roles include Zep Hindle in the horror film Saw (2004) and the recurring role of Cayden James on Arrow (2017–2018). He currently stars as Dr. Leland Townsend in the Paramount+ thriller series Evil (2019–present), and as Wilzig in the Prime Video post-apocalyptic drama series Fallout (2024-present).

<i>The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause</i> 2006 film directed by Michael Lembeck

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause is a 2006 American Christmas comedy film directed by Michael Lembeck. It is the third installment in The Santa Clause franchise, following The Santa Clause (1994) and The Santa Clause 2 (2002). The film features Tim Allen returning as Scott Calvin, who must find a way to reverse a spell cast by Jack Frost that caused him to lose his title of Santa Claus. Allen and Short had previously worked together in the 1997 Disney comedy film, Jungle 2 Jungle. Most of the supporting actors from the first two films reprise their roles, with the exception of David Krumholtz. As a result of his absence, Curtis, who was previously the Assistant Head Elf, has now been promoted to Bernard's former position. This was Peter Boyle's final film to be released during his lifetime. Its production was completed in February 2006.

Lorna Patterson is a retired American film, stage and television actress. As an actress, her best-known roles were as Randy, the singing stewardess, in Airplane!, and as the lead in the television series Private Benjamin.

The Comeback Kid is a 1980 American made-for-television romantic comedy sports film starring John Ritter, Susan Dey and Doug McKeon which was broadcast on ABC on April 11, 1980. The film features many actors well known from their TV appearances: Ritter, Dey, Gregory, Licht, Lembeck, McKeon, and Kim Fields. It also stars Patrick Swayze in an early minor role.

References

  1. https://www.californiabirthindex.org/birth/albert_w_upton_born_1960_7461103
  2. Balogun, Oyin (August 11, 2020). "Willie Aames Used to Sleep under Bushes after Going Broke – inside the Actor's Life Struggles". news.amomama.com. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  3. Kliener, Dick (November 30, 1981). "'Idol' Status Not For Willie". Waycross Journal-Herald. p. P5. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  4. Flynn, Liz (November 19, 2019). "Whatever Happened to Willie Aames?". TVOvermind. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  5. "Swiss Family Schoolhouse". The Victoria Advocate. January 18, 1976. p. 6. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  6. "Willie Aames' TV Series Not Helping His Music". The Evening Independent. August 24, 1979. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  7. Sheffield, Skip (May 11, 1982). "Lost In 'Paradise'". Boca Raton News. p. 17. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  8. Passalacqua, Connie (September 9, 1983). "Willie Aames spices up 'Edge of Night'". Rome News-Tribune. p. 5. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  9. 1 2 "Pastor to Replace Aames". Times Daily. Florence, Alabama. December 29, 2003. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  10. "How Willie Aames Went from Teen Idol to Cruise Ship Director". Oprah.com. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  11. "Actor Willie Aames makes comeback after bankruptcy, homelessness".
  12. "'70s Teen Heartthrob No Longer a Cruise Director | Frommer's". www.frommers.com. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  13. https://mydevotionalthoughts.net/2016/11/interview-with-actor-willie-aames-every-christmas-has-a-story.html
  14. Perry, Beth (February 4, 2008). "Straight Aames". People. 69 (4). Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  15. "Willie Aames – Eight Wasn't Enough, but Life in Kansas Is Plenty for Willie Aames". People. 44 (3). July 17, 1995. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  16. Celizic, Mike (January 16, 2008). "Willie Aames wards off demons, armed robber". Today. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  17. "Willie Aames". Archived from the original on 14 August 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  18. "Willie Aames Gushes About His Epic Love Story With Wife Winnie". Closer Weekly. January 26, 2020. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  19. "Willie Aames Accepts The Past With Grace". CBS News. February 11, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2016.