His family abandoned this legendary actor during one of his darkest moments. He bravely rebuilt his life after struggling with suicidal thoughts. Today, he is “happier” than ever after accepting a new beginning in his third marriage.

This ’70s and ’80s adolescent star rose to prominence with “Eight Is Enough” and “Charles in Charge.” However, his life crumbled when his marriage failed, leaving him destitute and isolated from his child.

This once-promising career began early, and by his adolescence, success appeared boundless. Reflecting on his spectacular ascent in the co-authored book “Grace Is Enough,” the actor revealed, “I did my first commercial at the age of nine, and by nineteen, I was making a million dollars a year—and doing a killer job of going through most of it.”

At the height of his success on “Eight Is Enough,” the actor reached huge personal milestones. He married Victoria Averbach in 1979, and their only child, Christopher Aames, was born two years later, in 1981.

The couple’s marriage dissolved in 1984, signaling the start of a traumatic time for the actor. At the peak of his fame on “Eight Is Enough,” with Adam Rich, whom he previously referred to as his “little brother” and “lifelong friend,” the TV star made slightly more than a million dollars every year.

“Suddenly, there was no job, no bank account, no wife, and no child.” “I never imagined it could happen so quickly,” the star said. Struggling to subsist, he admitted, “I found myself essentially homeless. I slept with friends wherever possible, slept in parking garages, or slept in parks.”

He characterized the experience as terribly embarrassing, recalling times spent lying behind bushes and wondering, “Is this how life ends out?” Is this how my life will turn out?”

The difficulties he faced throughout this chaotic period took a terrible toll, with rumors indicating he may have reached a breaking point and attempted suicide. Looking back, he admitted, “I gave people a lot of cause for concern, and I believe they acted on those concerns.” I am delighted they did. Beyond that, the specific period remains unclear.

During this terrible time, he struggled with drug and alcohol addiction. In an interview with “Studio 10,” he reflected on his challenges, emphasizing personal accountability: “The truth is, I made my own stupid decisions, and I knew better in most situations. And I paid for it.”

When asked what occurred, he replied bluntly, “I lost everything at one point. I went from dining in the White House to sleeping in the woods.” The TV producer also revealed that no one offered assistance during this period, leaving it up to him to turn his life around.

When faced with a pivotal moment, he realized, “I had a choice.” I could either start over at 47 or become a victim.” Determined to recover, he took on a variety of positions, beginning as a satellite installer and learning to trade. Later, he joined a cruise ship crew, starting as a ping-pong boy and gradually working his way up to become the cruise director.

While he was rebuilding his life, he was also coping with personal changes from his second marriage. In 1986, he tied the knot with actress Maylo McCaslin, with whom he had a daughter, Harleigh Aames, before they parted in 2009. She’s also an actor.

By the 2000s, his financial difficulties had escalated to a critical stage. Faced with bankruptcy and repossession, he recalls having only $10 and nowhere to turn. Desperate, he borrowed money to return to his Kansas City house, where he broke in and squatted while attempting to restore his life. To earn revenue, he posted an ad on Craigslist and started looking for jobs.

Despite the firm’s initial reluctance to hire him due to his fame, he eventually secured a job with Dish Network. Dish Network hired him for $8.60 an hour after receiving special approval from their corporate headquarters in Colorado. During this period, the challenges of a second divorce worsened his situation, leading to the auction of his belongings, including trophies and mementos, from his home.

Reflecting on his reinvention journey, Willie Aames recognized the enormous hurdles he encountered. “When I started my life over at 48, I had to learn everything new again,” he said in an interview. “I had to figure out who I was again. I have to overcome all of my prior faults.”

Willie Aames encountered several rejections as he worked to rebuild his life, one of which was a rejection for a wilderness guide position. Eventually, he obtained work with a construction business, which marked a tiny but significant advancement.

In 2010, he had bonded with his daughter and was pursuing a new profession. “I never dreamed I would want to be or become a financial advisor,” he told me. He continued, “I am well on my way.”

Throughout his troubles, Willie had unflinching support from his son, Chris, whom he characterized as one of his closest pals. “[…] He was one of the few people who never gave up on me.[…] “We talk three times and text ten times per day,” said the pleased father.

Willie paid a passionate birthday greeting to his son on Facebook in June 2024, posting a photo of the two and commenting, “Happy Birthday to my beautiful son, Chris.” He is the man I most admire in my life. He embodies integrity, is a talented composer, witty, and, yes, incredibly attractive.

Despite the difficulties he endured, Willie looked back on his trip with thankfulness, saying, “I consider my life one of the greatest lives lived.” Willie’s road to love concluded in a romance that had been decades in the making.

He met his soulmate in actress Winnie Hung, a former admirer and pen buddy with whom he corresponded for more than three decades. Their relationship began with a simple letter, which led to years of infrequent conversations and correspondence before they lost touch.

They reunited on social media in their late forties and decided to meet in person during a cruise stop in Vancouver. Willie felt an instant connection. “That afternoon, I took one look at her, and I knew,” he recalls. He gave her a charm engraved with “Fairytale,” imploring her not to miss out on “your own real-life fairy tale.”

Winnie believed the timing was ideal, citing their years of writing as the foundation for trust. Willie echoed the sentiment: “Had I not gone through the ups and downs in my life that I did, I would not have been the right man for Winnie.” After their initial encounter, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He returned to Canada and informed her, “I’m going to marry you.”

Ten months later, with her family’s blessing, they married in 2014. Winnie reminisced on their love’s surprising nature, adding, “I never once thought it was even a possibility.”

Willie and Winnie developed a means to share their incredible love story with the rest of the world. They brought their real-life romance to life in Hallmark’s “Love in the Limelight,” making it an uplifting film.

Willie Aames’ story is a brilliant example of persistence, love, and fresh beginnings, demonstrating that even amid life’s worst periods, renewal is possible. Through his challenges and achievements, he discovered true love and produced a tale worth telling, both on and off film.