Willie Aames, who achieved widespread fame as a teen idol in the 1970s and 80s, has spoken out about the difficulties he faced once his popularity waned, leading to bankruptcy and homelessness.

Aames, 66, first rose to prominence in 1977 playing Tommy Bradford on the ABC sitcom "Eight Is Enough." He then spent much of the 1980s as Buddy Lembeck on the CBS series "Charles in Charge" alongside Scott Baio. Reflecting on his career in a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Aames stated, "After Charles in Charge, I couldn't get arrested."

He described how, despite having multiple shows in syndication and appearing on television six nights a week, the public's interest eventually shifted. "Nobody wanted to see me. I had five shows in syndication, I was on TV six nights a week. And people were like, 'Love ya, but got enough of ya,'" he told the outlet.

Despite his status as a heartthrob, Aames admitted to feeling uncomfortable with photoshoots and never considered himself conventionally handsome or particularly talented. "I never saw myself as handsome. I never saw myself as talented," he said. "Doing a photo session is the most embarrassing thing for me on the planet."

At the height of his career, Aames was earning over a million dollars annually. However, a battle with substance abuse led to the loss of his fortune. At his lowest point, he described being divorced, bankrupt, and homeless. He credits his faith for helping him through this period. "There was a time where I didn't know if I would ever smile again. Could I ever feel happiness again?" he recalled.

Aames has been candid about his struggles, previously telling Studio 10, "I lost everything. At one point I went from eating at the White House to sleeping in the bushes and brought myself back again." He recounted sleeping in bushes near the Hollywood Bowl and realizing he had to take personal responsibility. "I had a choice. I could either start over at 47, or choose to be a victim. So, what did I do? I became your favorite celebrity satellite installer and I learnt a trade, and then I went to work on a cruise ship."

He told People in 2023 that beginning his life over at 48 required him to relearn everything and discover his identity anew, moving past past mistakes. Aames has continued to act, appearing in Hallmark TV movies, and also worked as a cruise ship director for many years.

His acting career began in childhood, with his first professional credit on "The Odd Couple" in 1971. He appeared in various other shows before being cast in "Eight Is Enough" from 1977 to 1981. Following that role, he voiced a character in the animated series "Dungeons & Dragons" and then joined "Charles in Charge" from 1984 until its conclusion in 1990.

Aames has been married three times. His first marriage was to Vicki Weatherman, with whom he shares a son. His second marriage was to Maylo McCaslin. He married his current wife, Winnie Hung, in 2014 after they met as pen pals.