Biography for
Willie Aames More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

15 July 1960, Los Angeles, California, USA

Birth Name

Albert William Upton

Nickname

Buddy

Height

5' 6" (1.68 m)

Mini Biography

Aames has a son, Christopher, with his first wife. Aames met his second wife, Maylo McCaslin, in 1984 on the set of "Rocky Road" (1985), a cable sitcom in which she starred. They live in rural Olathe, Kansas with their daughter, Harleigh.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous

Spouse

Maylo McCaslin	(15 March 1986 - present) (separated) 1 child
Victoria Weatherman	(15 December 1979 - 1984) (divorced) 1 child

Trivia

Dated his "Eight Is Enough" (1977) TV sister Connie Needham.

The youngest of two older brothers and an older sister.

Met his second wife, actress Maylo McCaslin, on the set of "Rocky Road" (1985), a cable-TV show in which he was guest-starring, in 1984.

During his "Eight Is Enough" (1977) years, he formed a rock band (Willie Aames & Paradise). His band made appearances on an "Eight Is Enough" (1977) episode, The Easter Seals Telethon, United Cerebal Palsy Telethon & Kids Are People Too.

Favorite past times are hunting, fishing, and woodworking.

Son Christopher William Upton born 25 June 1981. Daughter Harleigh Jean Upton born 21 July 1990.

He donated many items to Rocky Stone to be given to less fortunate kids as part of the Toy Mountain Campaign.

Willie, his wife, his son Christopher, and his son's date were robbed at gunpoint January 7, 2007 while walking around Hollywood. They were not injured.

Fondly refers to his character of Bibleman as "a grape in a cape".

Daughter Harleigh Upton has guest-starred in the "Bible Man" (1996) episode "Lead Us Not Into Temptation".

His past child-star history included sexual abuse (he was molested while a youngster), alcohol, cocaine and sexual addiction and suicide attempts. He is fully recovered for over two decades from both his cocaine and alcohol addictions.

Father was a firefighter.

One of his first acting jobs as a youngster was in an ad for Phillips 66.

His first child, a son named Christopher, is a bass player for a rock band.

His second wife Maylo was also a cocaine and crystal meth user. He helped her get clean and they wed in 1986.

Found religion after entering a 12-step program.

Overcame a painkiller addiction after getting injured playing the Christian superhero "Bibleman" in a traveling show.

Personal Quotes

You get to a point where you have one of two choices. You either put a gun to your head or you pray.

I didn't become an actor because I wanted to act. Actually, I wanted to become a marine biologist. But most of all, I wanted to be accepted.

I had older brothers and sisters who were high achievers, and I felt different, misunderstood by my family. That's not my family's fault; it was my perception.

[about his church's influence on his finally getting clean and sober] When I listened to this guy on the radio, he seemed to understand what was going on with me. So Maylo and I checked this guy out at his church. We sat in the back and had a terrific time. People were warm and friendly. They didn't seem to mind that I was dressed in leather and that my girlfriend had purple hair. It didn't matter to them what we looked like or who we were. It only mattered that we were there.

When you're a celebrity, people think they know you, but they don't have a clue.

I never thought of myself as handsome.

[2007 interview] Since I was 9, I'd been told what to say, what to think. I plan to spend the second half of my life free. I've never been happier.

Where Are They Now

(2000) Lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife and daughter, and works as a children's pastor. He also tours the country as Bibleman.

(2003) Has announced that he will be stepping down from the part of Bibleman in the touring production so that he may spend more time with his family.

(July 2005) Competing on VH1's "Celebrity Fit Club" (2005).

(January 2008) Release of his book, "Grace is Enough" by Willie and his wife, Maylo McCaslin Aames.

(March 2009) Olathe, Kansas - selling off his belongings in suburban Kansas City, following his filing for bankruptcy in 2008.

(November 2009) As of late 2009, he is working his way toward being a fully licensed financial advisor. It is his hope that his experiences will help others get through dire financial straits.

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