Willie Aames
| Willie Aames | |
|---|---|
| Born | Albert William Upton July 15, 1960 Newport Beach, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, director, producer, screenwriter, Cruise Director |
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Spouse(s) | Currently Unmarried |
Willie Aames (born July 15, 1960) is an American actor, film and television director, television producer, and screenwriter. Aames is well known for playing Tommy Bradford on the 1970s television series Eight Is Enough, Buddy Lembeck on the 1980s series Charles in Charge and Bibleman.
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Early life [edit]
Born Albert William Upton[1] in Newport Beach, California, Aames attended Edison High School in Huntington Beach, California, and was in both the choir and the Madrigal Ensemble.
Career [edit]
Aames began acting in the late 1960s as a child actor and appeared in shows such as Gunsmoke, The Wonderful World of Disney, Adam 12, and The Courtship of Eddies 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 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. 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.[2]
In 1976, 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”, where he was lead singer/guitarist. Formed while Aames was in junior high school, the group eventually landed a recording contract with CBS Custom Label.[3] During this time, Aames appeared in his first movie role in Scavenger Hunt. After the series ended in 1981, Aames appeared in more film roles, including Zapped! opposite Scott Baio, and Paradise with Phoebe Cates.[4]
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.[5] 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, Aames re-created and starred in a video series, and annual touring performances as the Christian superhero Bibleman. Although Aames directed and wrote the majority of Bibleman series, he does not have any stake in the ownership.[6]
Personal life [edit]
Aames struggled with drug, substance and sexual abuse during the 1970s and early 1980s and it was during this time that he became an ordained minister.[7]
Aames has a son, Christopher.[8] and a daughter, Harleigh Jean. Since 2010, Aames has been working as a Cruise Director for Oceania and Regent Cruises.[9]
Aames is married to actress Maylo Upton-Aames who has been credited in film and television as Maylo McCaslin or Maylo McCaslin-Aames.
Selected filmography [edit]
| 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 | Young 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 | 111 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 | 126 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/Miles Peterson | Director, producer, writer |
| 2006 | Bugtime Adventures | Narrator | Unknown episodes |
References [edit]
- ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dfJZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=00oNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4563,3974382&dq=willie+aames&hl=en
- ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ThRZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YEYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5491,2920298&dq=willie+aames&hl=en
- ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eksmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5lgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5458,1962868&dq=willie+aames&hl=en
- ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3lNUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jI0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5182,3477772&dq=willie+aames&hl=en
- ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aE4xAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jUUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4290,1096659&dq=willie+aames&hl=en
- ^ http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Celebrities/Willie-Aames-On-Fit-Club-Faith-And-Fame.aspx
- ^ "Willie Aames Accepts The Past With Grace". cbsnews.com. 2008-02-11. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
- ^ http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/22681734/ns/today-today_news/t/willie-aames-wards-demons-armed-robber/#.T3hektWZOp0
- ^ Sloan, Gene (2010-07-12). "Former child TV star Willie Aames' new job: Cruise ship director". usatoday.com. Retrieved 2012-01-17.
External links [edit]
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- 1960 births
- Actors from California
- American child actors
- American male film actors
- American film directors
- American game show hosts
- American male television actors
- American television directors
- American television producers
- American screenwriters
- American voice actors
- American Christian clergy
- Living people
- People from Huntington Beach, California
- 20th-century American actors
- 21st-century American actors
- Film directors from California
- Television producers from California
- Participants in American reality television series
