Willie Aames, widely recognized for his roles in the 1970s and 1980s television series "Eight Is Enough" and "Charles in Charge," recently made a rare public appearance in Los Angeles. At 65, Aames has been open about significant financial and personal challenges he faced following his peak fame.

Aames began his acting career as a child star in the early 1970s, securing his first professional acting credit in an episode of "The Odd Couple" in 1971. Throughout the decade, he appeared in various shows and films, including "Gunsmoke," "The Waltons," and "Scavenger Hunt." His breakthrough came with the role of Tommy Bradford in "Eight Is Enough" from 1977 to 1981. He later starred as Buddy Lembeck in "Charles in Charge" from 1984 to 1990.

During his time on "Eight Is Enough," Aames reportedly earned over a million dollars annually. However, he has candidly spoken about a subsequent period of severe financial hardship and addiction that led him to experience homelessness. In a 2009 interview, he described losing his job, bank account, wife, and child, leading to a period where he slept in parking garages and parks.

"It was shameful. I remember laying underneath the bushes thinking, 'Is this how it turns out? Is this how my life really turns out?'" Aames recalled in a 2017 interview. He described the turning point in his late 40s, where he had to make a choice to either "be a victim" or "start over." He learned a trade and worked on a cruise ship, emphasizing that no one offered him a handout.

By 2023, Aames told People magazine that he had to learn everything anew when he started his life over at age 48, including rediscovering himself and overcoming past mistakes. He has since returned to acting, appearing in Hallmark TV movies such as "Harvest Moon" (2015), "Every Christmas Has A Story" (2016), and "Love On The Menu" (2019). His most recent acting credit listed is the 2026 film "Armageddon Road."

Aames has been married three times. His first marriage to Vicki Weatherman (1979-1984) produced a son, Christopher. His second marriage to Maylo McCaslin (1986-2009) resulted in a daughter, Harleigh Jean. He married Winnie Hung in 2014.

He is scheduled to celebrate his 66th birthday on July 15. Aames was seen in Los Angeles this week wearing a black shirt, khaki shorts, and sneakers, carrying a water bottle.