Willie Aames Opens Up About Love, Loss, And Redemption

Picture this: falling head over heels for your teenage idol and eventually tying the knot with him. That’s the incredible reality for Winnie Hung and former Eight Is Enough star, Willie Aames. "Back in the day, I used to receive thousands of letters from fans. I felt guilty because each letter often included a picture of a girl and a phone number," Willie, now 59, chuckles to Closer Weekly in their latest issue, available on newsstands. "One day, I decided to call one of them — ‘Hi, this is Willie Aames’ — and guess what? She hung up on me!" He couldn’t believe it. But Willie didn’t give up. He called back, and they became pen pals for an incredible 30 years.

During those decades, Willie's life took many twists and turns. He starred in hit shows like Charles in Charge, dabbled in preaching, battled substance abuse, endured two divorces, and even experienced homelessness. Yet, through sheer grit and determination, he turned his life around. He became a cruise director, and fate had a surprise in store for him. When his ship docked in Winnie’s city, they finally met in person and fell madly in love. On March 21, Willie and Winnie will celebrate six joyous years of marriage. Willie's even penned a screenplay about their love story, hoping to turn it into a movie. Despite his tumultuous past, Willie reflects, “I consider my life one of the greatest lives lived.”

Keep scrolling for more from our exclusive chat with Willie Aames!

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Looking Back: Early Days in Acting

Willie’s journey in the entertainment world began at the tender age of nine. He recalls those early days with fondness. "I was working on Medical Center with Chad Everett in 1971, and just before that, I had a role in The Courtship of Eddie’s Father with Bill Bixby. It was hilarious because they were arguing over who discovered me first! It was such a sweet moment," Willie reminisces.

Fun on Set: Willie's Pranks

One Christmas Eve, while shooting The Family Nobody Wanted, Willie pulled off a memorable prank. "I had the makeup artist paint 'Merry Christmas' on my backside. Then I mooned the camera and yelled, 'Merry Christmas, everybody!'" Shirley Jones thought it was adorable. Later, Willie was walking at Universal Studios when none other than Alfred Hitchcock pointed at him. A half-block away, John Wayne shouted, “Get over here. You’re the kid that mooned the suits!” It turned out the studio head had sent copies of the prank to all the offices. "I still laugh about it today," Willie shares.

Stardom on Eight Is Enough

Willie’s big break came with Eight Is Enough. "There’s no doubt about it. That’s when I truly felt like a star. We had so much fun on set. I was incredibly confident, and we created some amazing work. I adored working alongside Dick Van Patten and Grant Goodeve," Willie reflects.

Laughing Through Charles in Charge

When it came to Charles in Charge, Willie found himself in stitches more often than not. "There were endless pranks. I’d stand behind a door munching on a raw onion, and when Scott Baio would open it, we were in front of a live audience, so there was nothing he could do. It was pure comedy gold," Willie laughs.

How It All Began

Willie never imagined becoming an actor. "My teacher’s boyfriend wanted to become an agent. He saw me doing little skits at school and asked my mom if he could introduce me to someone. Two weeks later, she called. At first, my dad was adamantly against it. He said, 'My son doesn’t need an agent. Absolutely not!' But I begged because I had three popular older siblings. He relented, giving me three months to prove myself. Three weeks later, I landed my first commercial, and soon after, I starred in The Young Rebels with David Soul," Willie explains.

First Kiss with Jodie Foster?

Yes, indeed. "I gave Jodie her first kiss during a screen test. We both wiped our mouths with the backs of our hands afterward! We were supposed to film Tom Sawyer, but I took a jump on my bike, the front wheel flew off, and I broke my jaw. It was wired shut for months," Willie recalls with a laugh.

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Music and Rebellion

Willie’s musical talents emerged early. "I started playing in bands when I was just 12 or 13. Once Eight Is Enough hit, I remember performing in front of 10 to 15,000 screaming girls and thinking, 'I’m not that good.' The teen idol thing was both embarrassing and surreal. Looking back, I can admit I was ripped, but I was so self-conscious about my body. I even got my first big tattoos to stop the network from making me take my shirt off on Eight Is Enough and the reunions. I didn’t like being manipulated," Willie admits.

Lessons from Past Marriages

Willie’s early marriages to Victoria Weatherman (1979–1984) and Maylo McCaslin (1986–2009) taught him valuable lessons. "Getting married so young was a rebellious act — a way of saying, 'You don’t want to treat me right, I’ll start my own family.' I don’t talk much about Maylo out of respect for my current wife, Winnie," Willie says thoughtfully.