Willie Aames

Willie Aames (born Albert William Upton; July 15, 1960)[1] is an American actor, film and television director, television producer, and screenwriter. He is best 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,[2] 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[edit] ==
Aames was born in Newport Beach, California in 1960.[3] He attended Edison High School in Huntington Beach, California, and he was in both the choir and the Madrigal Ensemble.
== Career[edit] ==
Aames began acting in the late 1960s as a child,[4] 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 Swiss Family Robinson.[5]
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.[6] 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.[7]
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.[8] 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.[9]
In 2010, Aames's career changed direction when he began working as a cruise director for Regent Seven Seas Cruises.[10][11] He also worked for Oceania Cruises and Viking (Ocean) Cruises, then returned to acting in 2016.[12]
== Personal life[edit] ==
Aames is a Christian.[13] He has been married three times. Aames married Vicki Weatherman in 1979, having one child, Christopher.[14] He married Maylo McCaslin in 1986,[15] having one child, Harleigh Jean.[16] Aames married Winnie Hung in 2014.[17][18]
Aames has battled alcohol addiction in his life.[19]
== Filmography[edit] ==
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"
1973 	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"
1974 	The Wonderful World of Disney 	Jeff Peterson 	episode: "Runaway on the Rogue River"
1975 	The Waltons 	Danny Comley 	episode: "The Beguiled"
1975 	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[9] 	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
2016 	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
Film
Year	Film 	Role 	Notes
1979	Scavenger Hunt 	Kenny Stevens 	
1982	Paradise 	David 	
1982	Zapped! 	Peyton Nichols	
1984	Goma-2 [it] 	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
2003	Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star	himself 	
2020	Bottle Monster 	George 	
Category:1960 births
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:American Christian clergy
Category:American game show hosts
Category:American male child actors
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male screenwriters
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male voice actors
Category:American television directors
Category:Film directors from California
Category:Living people
Category:Male actors from Huntington Beach, California
Category:Participants in American reality television series
Category:Screenwriters from California
Category:Television producers from California
Category:Edison High School (Huntington Beach, California) alumni