Willie Aames (Courtesy Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

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 and Buddy Lembeck on the 1980s series Charles in Charge.

Early life

Born Albert William Upton in Newport Beach, California, Aames attended Edison High School in Huntington Beach, California, and was in both the choir and the Madrigal Ensemble.

Career

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.

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. He also appeared in his first movie role in Scavenger Hunt during this time. After the series ended in 1981, Aames appeared in more film roles, including Zapped! opposite 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.

From 1995 to 2004, Aames re-created and starred in a video series, and annual touring performances as the Christian superhero Bibleman. Initially reluctant to take the role. Although Aames directed and wrote the majority of Bibleman series, he does not have any stake in the ownership.

Personal life

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.

Aames has a son, Christopher. and a daughter, Harleigh Jean. Since 2010, Aames has been working as a Cruise Director for Oceania and Regent Cruises.

Selected filmography

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

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