Willie Aames

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title: "Willie Aames" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1960-births", "20th-century-american-male-actors", "21st-century-american-male-actors", "american-christian-clergy", "american-game-show-hosts", "american-male-child-actors", "american-male-film-actors", "american-male-screenwriters", "american-male-television-actors", "american-male-voice-actors", "american-television-directors", "film-directors-from-california", "living-people", "male-actors-from-huntington-beach,-california", "participants-in-american-reality-television-series", "screenwriters-from-california", "television-producers-from-california", "edison-high-school-(huntington-beach,-california)-alumni"] description: "American actor, film and television director (born 1960)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Aames" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American actor, film and television director (born 1960) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]

Field	Value
name	Willie Aames
image	Willie Aames at the Chiller Theatre Expo 2017.jpg
caption	Aames at the Chiller Theatre Expo in 2017
birth_name	Albert William Upton
other_names	Willie Ames
birth_date
birth_place	Newport Beach, California, U.S.
occupation
years_active	1971–present
spouses	{{plainlist
children	2
::

| name = Willie Aames | image = Willie Aames at the Chiller Theatre Expo 2017.jpg | caption = Aames at the Chiller Theatre Expo in 2017 | birth_name = Albert William Upton | other_names = Willie Ames | birth_date = | birth_place = Newport Beach, California, U.S. | occupation = | years_active = 1971–present | spouses = {{plainlist|

| children = 2 | relatives =

Albert William Upton (born July 15, 1960), known professionally as Willie Aames, is an American actor, film and television director, television producer, and screenwriter.

He is widely 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, 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.

Early life

Aames was born in Newport Beach, California, in 1960. 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, 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 The Swiss Family Robinson.

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. 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.

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.

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

In 2010, Aames's career changed direction when he began working as a cruise director for Regent Seven Seas Cruises. He also worked for Oceania Cruises and Viking (Ocean) Cruises, then returned to acting in 2016.{{cite web |title='70s Teen Heartthrob No Longer a Cruise Director |website=Frommer's |url=https://www.frommers.com/blogs/passportable/blog_posts/70s-teen-heartthrob-no-longer-a-cruise-director |date=July 4, 2016 |first=Zac |last=Thompson |access-date=October 1, 2025 |language=en}}

Personal life

Aames is a Christian. He has been married three times. Aames married Vicki Weatherman in 1979, having one child, Christopher. He married Maylo McCaslin in 1986, having one child, Harleigh Jean. Aames married Winnie Hung in 2014.

Aames has battled alcohol addiction. He admitted to cutting himself following guilt over stealing a bottle of whiskey from his landlord. In 2009, following the repossession of his car, Aames hosted a garage sale in Olathe, Kansas, to sell off memorabilia and autographs, which was attended by fans as well as those in similar situations from the Great Recession.

Filmography

::data[format=table title="Television"]

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1971	The Odd Couple	Leonard	episode: "Win One for Felix"
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	Petey Macklin	episode: "A Flight of Hawks"
1972–1974	Wait Till Your Father Gets Home	Jamie Boyle (voice)	38 episodes
1973	Adam's Rib	Boy	episode: "Katey at the Bat"
Frankenstein	William Frankenstein	two-part episode of The Wide World of Mystery
1974	Benjamin Franklin	Benjamin Franklin (at 12 years old)	miniseries; episode: "The Whirlwind"
The Wonderful World of Disney	Jeff Peterson	episode: "Runaway on the Rogue River"
1975	The Waltons	Danny Comley	episode: "The Beguiled"
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; episode: "Chapter I"
1976–1977	Family	T.J. Latimer	6 episodes
1977	Little House on the Prairie	Seth	episode: "Injun Kid"
1977–1981	Eight Is Enough	Tommy Bradford	111 episodes
1982	The Love Boat	Danny	episode: "Doc's Nephew"
1983	The Edge of Night	Robbie Hamlin	unknown episodes
1983–1985	Dungeons & Dragons	Hank the Ranger (voice)	main role
1984–1990	Charles in Charge	Buddy Lembeck	126 episodes
1986	Blacke's Magic	Eric Wilson	episode: "The Revenge of the Esperanza"
1987	Eight Is Enough: A Family Reunion	Tommy Bradford	TV movie
1989	An Eight Is Enough Wedding	Tommy Bradford	TV movie
1995–2003	Bibleman	Miles Peterson / Bibleman	23 episodes
2005	Celebrity Fit Club – Season 2	Himself	8 episodes
2006	Bugtime Adventures	Narrator	13 episodes
2007	MacMillan River Adventures - Season 1	Himself	27 episodes
2008	Celebrity Fit Club: Boot Camp – Season 8	Himself	8 episodes
2015	Harvest Moon	William Stone	Hallmark TV movie
2016	Dater's Handbook	Kyle	Hallmark TV movie
Every Christmas Has A Story	Vernon Hollis	Hallmark TV movie
2017	Date My Dad	Principal Reed	2 episodes
2019	Love on the Menu	Martin Thomas	Hallmark TV movie
2020	Picture Perfect Mysteries: Exit Stage Death	Neil Khan	Hallmark TV movie
::

::data[format=table title="Film"]

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1979	Scavenger Hunt	Kenny Stevens
1982	Paradise	David
Zapped!	Peyton Nichols
1984	**	Tony	alternative title: Killing Machine
1985	Cut and Run	Tommy Allo	alternative title: Amazon: Savage Adventure
2003	The Missy Files		direct-to-video
director, writer
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star	himself
2020	Bottle Monster	George
::

References

References

1. "The Birth of Albert Upton".
2. Balogun, Oyin. (August 11, 2020). "Willie Aames Used to Sleep under Bushes after Going Broke – inside the Actor's Life Struggles".
3. Kliener, Dick. (November 30, 1981). "'Idol' Status Not For Willie". Waycross Journal-Herald.
4. Flynn, Liz. (November 19, 2019). "Whatever Happened to Willie Aames?".
5. (January 18, 1976). "Swiss Family Schoolhouse". [[The Victoria Advocate]].
6. (August 24, 1979). "Willie Aames' TV Series Not Helping His Music". [[Evening Independent.
7. Sheffield, Skip. (May 11, 1982). "Lost In 'Paradise'". [[Boca Raton News]].
8. Passalacqua, Connie. (September 9, 1983). "Willie Aames spices up 'Edge of Night'". [[Rome News-Tribune]].
9. (December 29, 2003). "Pastor to Replace Aames". [[TimesDaily]].
10. "How Willie Aames Went from Teen Idol to Cruise Ship Director".
11. Barnhart, Aaron. (November 5, 2009). "Actor Willie Aames makes comeback after bankruptcy, homelessness".
12. (November 9, 2016). "Interview with Actor Willie Aames, "Every Christmas Has a Story"".
13. (February 4, 2008). "Straight Aames".
14. (July 17, 1995). "Willie Aames – Eight Wasn't Enough, but Life in Kansas Is Plenty for Willie Aames". People.
15. Celizic, Mike. (January 16, 2008). "Willie Aames wards off demons, armed robber". [[Today (American TV program).
16. "Willie Aames".
17. (January 26, 2020). "Willie Aames Gushes About His Epic Love Story With Wife Winnie".
18. Castellanos, Melissa. (February 11, 2008). "Willie Aames Accepts The Past With Grace". [[CBS News]].
19. (March 25, 2015). "'Charles in Charge' Star Willie Aames Holds Garage Sale After Bankruptcy, Suicide Attempt".

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