Willie Aames is an American actor,
filmA film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and
television directorA television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
,
television producerThe primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
, and
screenwriterScreenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
. He played Tommy Bradford on the 1970s’
Eight Is EnoughEight Is Enough is an American television comedy-drama series which ran on ABC from March 15, 1977 until August 29, 1981. The show was modeled after syndicated newspaper columnist Thomas Braden, a real-life parent with eight children, who wrote a book with the same name...
and Buddy Lembeck on the 1980s’
Charles in ChargeCharles in Charge is an American sitcom series which starred Scott Baio as Charles, a 19-year-old student at the fictional Copeland College in New Jersey, who worked as a live-in babysitter in exchange for room and board...
.
Early life
Born
Albert William Upton in
Newport Beach, CaliforniaNewport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
, Aames attended
Edison High SchoolEdison High School is a secondary school located in Huntington Beach, California which first began operation in 1969. It is a part of the Huntington Beach Union High School District.-History:...
in
Huntington Beach, CaliforniaHuntington Beach is a seaside city in Orange County in Southern California. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 189,992; making it the largest beach city in Orange County in terms of population...
, and was in both the choir and the Madrigal Ensemble.
Career
Aames began acting in the early 1970s as a
child actorThe term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
. In 1971, he originated the role of Leonard Unger, the son of
Felix UngerFelix Unger was one of the principal characters in Neil Simon's play The Odd Couple. Felix was portrayed in the original Broadway production of the play by Art Carney, in the film by Jack Lemmon, and in the television series by Tony Randall.-Character overview:Felix is a divorced, middle-aged man...
(
Tony RandallTony Randall was a U.S. actor, comic, producer and director.-Early years:Randall was born Arthur Leonard Rosenberg to a Jewish family in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the son of Julia and Mogscha Rosenberg, an art and antiques dealer...
), on the ABC-TV series
The Odd CoupleThe Odd Couple is a television situation comedy broadcast from September 24, 1970 to July 4, 1975 on ABC. It starred Tony Randall as Felix Unger and Jack Klugman as Oscar Madison. It was based upon the play of the same name, which was written by Neil Simon.Felix and Oscar are two divorced men....
, a part that was later played by
Leif GarrettLeif Garrett is an American singer and actor. He became famous in the late 1970s as a teen idol, but received much publicity in later life for his drug abuse and legal troubles.-Early life:...
. The following year, he voiced the character of Jamie Boyle in the animated series
Wait till Your Father Gets HomeWait Till Your Father Gets Home was an animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera that aired in first-run syndication in the United States from 1972 to 1974...
. Aames has guest-starred on various television series including
The WaltonsThe Waltons is an American television series created by Earl Hamner, Jr., based on his book Spencer's Mountain, and a 1963 film of the same name. The show centered on a family growing up in a rural Virginia community during the Great Depression and World War II. The series pilot was a television...
and
Adam-12Adam-12 was a television police drama which followed two police officers of the Los Angeles Police Department, Pete Malloy and Jim Reed, as they patrolled the streets of Los Angeles in their patrol unit, 1-Adam-12. Created by Jack Webb who is known for creating Dragnet, the series captured a...
. In 1974, he portrayed a 12-year old
Benjamin FranklinDr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
in the
miniseriesA miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
Benjamin Franklin. The next year, he co-starred in the short lived series
We'll Get ByWe'll Get By is a short-lived American television sitcom that aired on the CBS network. The series was created by Alan Alda and ran for twelve episodes from March 14, 1975 to May 30, 1975.-Synopsis:...
.
In 1977, he landed the role of Tommy Bradford in the dramedy
Eight is EnoughEight Is Enough is an American television comedy-drama series which ran on ABC from March 15, 1977 until August 29, 1981. The show was modeled after syndicated newspaper columnist Thomas Braden, a real-life parent with eight children, who wrote a book with the same name...
. 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!Zapped! is a 1982 teen sex comedy starring Scott Baio as a teen who acquires telekinetic powers. The film is regarded as a parody of Carrie but also includes spoofs of The Exorcist, Taxi Driver, Star Trek and the 1969 Kurt Russell film The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes.-Cast:Baio stars as Barney...
opposite
Scott BaioScott Vincent James Baio is an American actor and television director, best known for his roles as Chachi Arcola on the sitcom Happy Days and its spin-off, Joanie Loves Chachi, and as the title character on the sitcom Charles in Charge....
, and
ParadiseParadise is a 1982 English language romance and adventure film starring Phoebe Cates and Willie Aames, written and directed by Stuart Gillard. The original music score was composed by Paul Hoffert with the theme song sung by Phoebe Cates....
with
Phoebe CatesPhoebe Cates is an American film actress, model, and entrepreneur known for her roles in several teen films, most notably Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Gremlins.-Early life:...
.
Before portraying the role of Buddy Lembeck in
Charles in Charge in 1984, Aames played the character of Robbie Hamlin on the ABC
soap operaA soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
The Edge of NightThe Edge of Night is an American television mystery series/soap opera produced by Procter & Gamble. It debuted on CBS on April 2, 1956, and ran as a live broadcast on that network until November 28, 1975; the series then moved to ABC, where it aired from December 1, 1975, until December 28, 1984...
. From 1983 to 1985, he was the voice of Hank on the cartoon
Dungeons & DragonsDungeons & Dragons is an American fantasy animated television series based on TSR's Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. A co-production of Marvel Productions and TSR, the show originally ran from 1985 through 1987 for three seasons on CBS for a total of twenty seven episodes.The show focused on a...
. After the end of
Charles in Charge in 1990, Aames hosted the game show
The Krypton FactorThe Krypton Factor was a United States game show based on the UK series of the same name. The series originally ran on ABC from August 7 to September 4, 1981 and NBC from 15th December 1982 to present...
. From 1995 to 2004, he starred in a video series and annual touring performances as the Christian superhero
BiblemanBibleman is an American video series with an evangelical superhero character . The series includes videos, books and live shows, where they tour locations around North America.-Bibleman Live:...
, although he has since retired from the role.
Personal life
Aames struggled with drugs and alcohol during the 70's and early 80's and it was during this time that he became a born-again Christian and an ordained minister.
Aames resides in California once again and is divorced from his second wife, Maylo McCaslin, with whom he co-wrote the book
Grace Is Enough in 2007.
They married on March 15, 1986, and have a daughter, Harleigh Jean. Aames also has a son, Christopher, from his first marriage.
Selected filmography
| Film |
| Year |
Film |
Role |
Notes |
| 1979 |
Scavenger Hunt Scavenger Hunt is a 1979 comedy film with a large ensemble cast, in the mold of the 1963 comedy It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.-Plot summary:...
|
Kenny Stevens |
|
| 1982 |
ParadiseParadise is a 1982 English language romance and adventure film starring Phoebe Cates and Willie Aames, written and directed by Stuart Gillard. The original music score was composed by Paul Hoffert with the theme song sung by Phoebe Cates....
|
David |
|
Zapped!Zapped! is a 1982 teen sex comedy starring Scott Baio as a teen who acquires telekinetic powers. The film is regarded as a parody of Carrie but also includes spoofs of The Exorcist, Taxi Driver, Star Trek and the 1969 Kurt Russell film The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes.-Cast:Baio stars as Barney...
|
Peyton Nichols |
|
| 1984 |
Goma-2 |
Tony |
Alternative title: Killing Machine |
| 2003 |
The Missy Files |
- |
Direct-to-DVD release Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
Director, writer |
| Television |
| Year |
Title |
Role |
Notes |
| 1971 |
The Odd CoupleThe Odd Couple is a television situation comedy broadcast from September 24, 1970 to July 4, 1975 on ABC. It starred Tony Randall as Felix Unger and Jack Klugman as Oscar Madison. It was based upon the play of the same name, which was written by Neil Simon.Felix and Oscar are two divorced men....
|
Leonard |
1 episode |
| 1971–1972 |
The Courtship of Eddie's FatherThe Courtship of Eddie's Father is an American television sitcom based on the 1963 movie of the same name, which was based on the book written by Mark Toby...
|
Harold O'Brien |
4 episodes |
| 1971–1973 |
Gunsmoke Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West....
|
Tom
Andy |
2 episodes |
| 1971–1974 |
Adam-12Adam-12 was a television police drama which followed two police officers of the Los Angeles Police Department, Pete Malloy and Jim Reed, as they patrolled the streets of Los Angeles in their patrol unit, 1-Adam-12. Created by Jack Webb who is known for creating Dragnet, the series captured a...
|
Little Boy
Billy Ray |
2 episodes |
| 1971–1975 |
Medical Center Medical Center is a medical drama series which aired on CBS from 1969 to 1976.-Synopsis:The show starred James Daly as Dr. Paul Lochner and Chad Everett as Dr. Joe Gannon, surgeons working in an otherwise unnamed university hospital in Los Angeles. The show focused both on the lives of the doctors...
|
Eric
Jeff |
3 episodes |
| 1972 |
CannonCannon is a CBS detective television series produced by Quinn Martin which aired from March 26, 1971 to March 3, 1976.The primary protagonist was the title character, Frank Cannon, played by William Conrad....
|
Macklin Boy |
1 episode |
| 1972–1974 |
Wait Till Your Father Gets HomeWait Till Your Father Gets Home was an animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera that aired in first-run syndication in the United States from 1972 to 1974...
|
Jamie Boyle (Voice) |
38 episodes |
| 1973 |
Adam's Rib |
Boy |
1 episode |
| 1974 |
Benjamin Franklin |
Benjamin Franklin (12 years old) |
Miniseries A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
|
| The Wonderful World of Disney |
Jeff Peterson |
1 episode |
| 1975 |
The WaltonsThe Waltons is an American television series created by Earl Hamner, Jr., based on his book Spencer's Mountain, and a 1963 film of the same name. The show centered on a family growing up in a rural Virginia community during the Great Depression and World War II. The series pilot was a television...
|
Danny Comley |
1 episode |
| We'll Get By We'll Get By is a short-lived American television sitcom that aired on the CBS network. The series was created by Alan Alda and ran for twelve episodes from March 14, 1975 to May 30, 1975.-Synopsis:...
|
Kenny Platt |
12 episodes |
| 1975–1976 |
The Swiss Family Robinson |
Fred Robinson |
20 episodes |
| 1976 |
Rich Man, Poor Man Book II Rich Man, Poor Man Book II is an American television miniseries that aired on ABC in one-hour episodes at 9:00pm ET/PT on Tuesday nights between September 21, 1976 and March 8, 1977...
|
Young Wesley Jordache |
Miniseries |
| 1976–1977 |
Family Family is an American television drama series that aired on ABC from 1976 to 1980. Creative control of the show was split between executive producers Leonard Goldberg, Aaron Spelling and Mike Nichols...
|
T.J. Latimer |
6 episodes |
| 1977 |
Little House: A New Beginning |
Seth |
1 episode |
| 1977–1981 |
Eight is EnoughEight Is Enough is an American television comedy-drama series which ran on ABC from March 15, 1977 until August 29, 1981. The show was modeled after syndicated newspaper columnist Thomas Braden, a real-life parent with eight children, who wrote a book with the same name...
|
Tommy Bradford |
112 episodes |
| 1982 |
The Love BoatThe Love Boat is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from September 24,1977, until May 24,1986.The show starred Gavin MacLeod as the ship's captain...
|
Danny — Doc's Nephew |
1 episode |
| 1983 |
The Edge of NightThe Edge of Night is an American television mystery series/soap opera produced by Procter & Gamble. It debuted on CBS on April 2, 1956, and ran as a live broadcast on that network until November 28, 1975; the series then moved to ABC, where it aired from December 1, 1975, until December 28, 1984...
|
Robbie Hamlin |
Unknown episodes |
| 1983–1985 |
Dungeons & DragonsDungeons & Dragons is an American fantasy animated television series based on TSR's Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. A co-production of Marvel Productions and TSR, the show originally ran from 1985 through 1987 for three seasons on CBS for a total of twenty seven episodes.The show focused on a...
|
Hank the Ranger (Voice) |
27 episodes |
| 1984–1990 |
Charles in ChargeCharles in Charge is an American sitcom series which starred Scott Baio as Charles, a 19-year-old student at the fictional Copeland College in New Jersey, who worked as a live-in babysitter in exchange for room and board...
|
Buddy Lembeck |
126 episodes |
| 1986 |
Blacke's Magic Blacke's Magic was a short-lived American TV show about a magician, Alexander Blacke , who, with some help from his con-man father, Leonard , solves mysteries that get in the way of his performances. It ran for one season in 1986 for 13 episodes and featured crimes that tested logic against...
|
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 |
Director, producer, writer |
| 2006 |
Bugtime Adventures Bugtime Adventures is an American children's animated series that began airing in 2006. Episodes air on Christian TV stations like TBN. The entire series is also available on DVD.-Synopsis:...
|
Narrator |
Unknown episodes |
External links