Thread: Child-TV Star, Willie Aames, now Assistant Cruise Director

Former child star Willie Aames has taken on an unexpected career--he's working as an assistant director on a cruise liner.

The "Charles In Charge" costar declared bankruptcy in 2008, citing nearly $350,000 worth of debts.

In recent years, he had appeared on several VH1 reality shows. He participated in a season of "Celebrity Fit Club," and late in 2009 the cable channel aired the special "Willie Aames: Broke In Famous." In that one-hour special, viewers found Aimes headed towards divorce, living in a house with no electricity and only only days away from foreclosure.

During the course of the special, he took on a job as a carpenter and later as a finacial advisor for people facing the same kind of challenges he had experienced.

Earlier this year, he began working for Oceania Cruise Lines (Child-TV Star, Willie Aames, now Assistant Cruise Director).

Aames, 50, recently told the National Enquirer, "I'd hit rock bottom and now I'm back on top. I'm almost done with my training, and I absolutely love spending time with the guests, assisting as an escort on tours and hosting tables."

Aames even draws on his experience in showbusiness to help with the ship's entertainment and he loves it.

He adds, "It's like working for a top hotel on the high seas."

Willie Aames Takes Job On Cruise Ship

During the course of the special, he took on a job as a carpenter and later as a finacial advisor for people facing the same kind of challenges he had experienced.


Somehow, the bolded part doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Not sure I would want to take financial advice from someone who couldn't afford to keep his lights on.

Maybe he tells him how not to make the same mistakes! Some people in financial trouble have trouble relating to people in much better positions, and would rather talk to someone who had "walked in their shoes".

Well, there you are. Another way to look at it.

Basically, I just want to resurrect this thread because of my undying love for Willie Aames - the greatest child co-star of the 80s to declare bankruptcy in the 2000s.

It's a tough list to be on top of - there's a lot of names to include and to beat out Todd Bridges of "Different Strokes" fame should say something.

Smooth move, Oceania.

I guess I can't add much here,as I don't remember thiss so famous child star.
I vaguely remember that there was a program (a sitcom, maybe?) called "Charles in Charge," but that's as far as it goes.

On the financial thing ...some experts who have never been in financial crap just don't know, like thin people telling those with weight problems how to solve them.

Everything you ever wanted to know about Willie Aames , and possibly more is available here:
Willie Aames - IMDb
He is also known for his role on Eight is Enough, where he played one of the children in a large family.

Oh, I think that is so cool! I saw him on some VH1 show awhile back, he seems like a really nice guy. I had a guilty pleasure for Charles in Charge too!

Sounds like a great job to me. It's great that he's enjoying his life on the high seas!!