Lee Aaker
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Lee Aaker | |
|---|---|
 Lee Aaker and Rin Tin Tin (1956) | |
| Born | Lee William Aaker September 25, 1943 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, producer, carpenter, ski instructor |
| Years active | 1951–1963 (actor) |
| Spouse | Sharon Ann Hamilton (1969-71) (divorced) |
Lee William Aaker (born September 25, 1943)[1] is an American former child actor known for his appearance as Rusty "B-Company" in the television program The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin.
Early years
Aaker's mother, Mrs. Myles Wilbour,[2] was the owner of a dancing school in Los Angeles.[3] (Another source says that she "ran a children's theatre academy" and that at age 4 she had Aaker "singing and dancing at local clubs.")[4]
Film
On television as a young child, he started appearing uncredited at the age of 8 in films such as The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) and High Noon (1952).[1] He quickly moved to featured status by the end of that year.
He showed talent as the kidnapped Indian "Red Chief" in a segment of the film O. Henry's Full House (1952) and another kidnap victim as the son of scientist Gene Barry in The Atomic City (1952).
In 1953, he co-starred in the John Wayne western classic Hondo (1953) as the curious blond son of homesteader Geraldine Page.[1]
He also appeared in other film styles such as the film noir thriller Jeopardy (1953) with Barbara Stanwyck, the horse opera drama Arena (1953) with Gig Young, and the comedies Mister Scoutmaster (1953) with Clifton Webb and Ricochet Romance (1954) with Marjorie Main.
Television
In 1953-54, Aaker was among the many child actors who auditioned for the role of "Jeff Miller" on the original 1954 Lassie series, which later aired as Jeff's Collie. That role went to Tommy Rettig. Two weeks later, Aaker won the role of "Rusty" on The Adventures of Rin-Tin-Tin, co-starring James Brown (1920–1992) as Lieutenant Ripley "Rip" Masters.[1] Aaker and Rettig were friends, and both shows were popular with audiences. The two actors and the two star dogs appeared together in a photograph used on the cover of the July 2, 1955 issue of TV Guide.[3]: 236
Later years
Aaker told a newspaper reporter that when he reached the age of 21, he was paid a $10,000 lump sum by the studio that produced Rin Tin Tin "and he spent the rest of the '60s traveling around the world 'as sort of a flower child.'"[5] Unable to find work as an adult actor, Aaker got involved as a producer and later worked as a carpenter.[1]
Personal life
In the late 1960s, Aaker was married to Sharon Ann Hamilton for two years.[4] He has resided in Mammoth Lakes, California, for many years and is a special-needs ski instructor.[1]
Recognition
In 2005, Aaker won the Golden Boot Award[6] as Kids of the West.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Benjy | Benjy | |
| 1952 | The Greatest Show on Earth | Boy | Uncredited |
| 1952 | Something to Live For | Alternate Boy | Uncredited |
| 1952 | My Son John | Boy | Uncredited |
| 1952 | The Atomic City | Tommy Addison | |
| 1952 | No Room for the Groom | Donovan | |
| 1952 | O. Henry's Full House | J. B. Dorset aka Red Chief (The Ransom of Red Chief) | |
| 1952 | Desperate Search | Don Heldon | |
| 1952 | Hans Christian Andersen | Little Boy | Uncredited |
| 1953 | Jeopardy | Bobby Stilwin | |
| 1953 | Take Me to Town | Corney Hall | |
| 1953 | Arena | Teddy Hutchins | |
| 1953 | Mister Scoutmaster | Arthur | |
| 1953 | A Lion Is in the Streets | Johnny Briscoe | |
| 1953 | Hondo | Johnny Lowe | |
| 1954 | Ride Clear of Diablo | Boy | Uncredited |
| 1954 | The Raid | Larry's Friend | Uncredited |
| 1954 | Her Twelve Men | Michael Elliot | Uncredited |
| 1954 | Ricochet Romance | Timmy Williams | |
| 1954 | Destry | Eli Skinner | |
| 1954 | Black Tuesday | Little Boy | |
| 1955 | Spin and Marty: The Movie | Russell the Muscle | |
| 1956 | Bigger Than Life | Joe | Uncredited |
| 1957 | The Challenge of Rin Tin Tin | Rusty | |
| 1963 | Bye Bye Birdie | Student leader | Uncredited |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Your Jeweler's Showcase | Episode: "Teacher of the Year" | |
| 1953 | Fireside Theatre | Sandy | Episode: "The Boy Down the Road" |
| 1953–1954 | The Ford Television Theatre | Tony Evans / Joey | 3 episodes |
| 1954 | Schlitz Playhouse of Stars | Episode: "Pearl-Handled Guns" | |
| 1954 | General Electric Theater | Tim Kelly | Episode: "Wild Luke's Boy" |
| 1955 | The Adventures of Spin and Marty on Walt Disney Presents | Russell | |
| 1955 | The Lone Ranger | Tommy Righter | Episode: "The School Story" |
| 1953–1955 | Letter to Loretta | Jimmy Preston / Myron | 2 episodes |
| 1955 | Screen Directors Playhouse | Cowhide | Episode: "The Brush Roper" |
| December 20, 1956; December 19, 1957 | The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford | (two Christmas episodes, with Rin Tin Tin) | |
| 1957 | Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers | Govinda | Episode: "The Glass Necklace" |
| 1959 | The Millionaire | Tommy Spencer | Episode: "Millionaire Henry Banning" |
| 1954–1959 | The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin | Rusty | 164 episodes |
| 1959 | Rescue 8 | Billy | Episode: "Runaway" |
| 1959–1961 | The Donna Reed Show | Walter the Wizard / Kenny | 2 episodes |
| 1959–1962 | Disneyland | Willy / Chuck Taylor | 4 episodes |
| 1960 | Make Room For Daddy | Charles Crane | Episode: "Rusty Meets Little Lord Fauntleroy" |
| 1963 | The Lucy Show | Cadet Blake | Episode: "Lucy and the Military Academy" |
References
- ^ a b c d e f Goldrup, Tom & Goldrup, Jim (2002) Growing Up on the Set: Interviews with 39 Former Child Actors of Classic Film and Television, McFarland & Co Inc, ISBN 978-0-7864-1254-9, p. 5-12
- ^ "'Corporal Rusty' Battles Indians On Television and Books With Tutor". The Times. Indiana, Hammond. International News Service. October 28, 1956. p. 85. Retrieved November 26, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Orlean, Susan (2011). Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend. Simon and Schuster. p. 191. ISBN 9781439190159. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
- ^ a b Garver, Kathy; Ascher, Fred. X Child Stars: Where Are They Now?. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 32–33. ISBN 9781630761141. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
- ^ "Rin Tin Tin's friend is now a carpenter". Southern Illinoisan. Illinois, Carbondale. November 15, 1976. p. 18. Retrieved November 30, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "The Golden Boot Awards". The Old Corral. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
Further reading
- Goldrup, Tom and Jim. Growing Up on the Set: Interviews with 39 Former Child Actors of Classic Film and Television. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 2002, p. 5-12.
- Holmstrom, John. The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995, Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, p. 241.
- Dye, David. Child and Youth Actors: Filmography of Their Entire Careers, 1914-1985. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 1988, p. 1.
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