This once-promising career began early, and by his teenage years, success seemed limitless. Reflecting on his meteoric rise in the co-authored book “Grace Is Enough,” the star divulged, “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 peak of his stardom on “Eight Is Enough,” the actor experienced significant personal milestones. In 1979, he married Victoria Averbach, and two years later, in 1981, they welcomed their son, Christopher Aames, their only child together.

The couple’s marriage ended in 1984, marking the beginning of a devastating period for the actor. At the height of his success on “Eight Is Enough,” alongside Adam Rich whom he once referred to as his “little brother” and “lifelong friend,” the TV star earned just over a million dollars annually.

He described the experience as deeply shameful, recalling moments spent lying beneath bushes and questioning, “Is this how it turns out? Is this how my life really turns out?”

During this difficult period, he also battled addiction to drugs and alcohol. In an interview on “Studio 10,” he reflected on his struggles, emphasizing personal accountability, “The fact is, I made my own poor choices, and knew better, in most cases. And I paid the price for it.”

Faced with a turning point, he realized, “I had a choice. I could either start over at 47, or choose to be a victim.” Determined to rebuild, he took on various roles, starting as a satellite installer and learning to trade. Later, he joined a cruise ship crew, beginning humbly as a pingpong boy and steadily working his way up to become the cruise director.

By the 2000s, his financial struggles had reached a breaking point. Facing bankruptcy and foreclosure, he recalled having only $10 to his name with nowhere to turn. Desperate, he borrowed money to fly back to his Kansas City home, where he broke in and squatted as he worked to rebuild his life. To generate income, he placed an ad on Craigslist and began searching for work.

Reflecting on his journey of reinvention, Willie Aames acknowledged the immense challenges he faced. “When I started my life over at 48, I had to learn everything new again,” he shared in an interview. “I had to learn who I was again. I had to get over all of the past mistakes.”

By 2010, he had reconnected with his daughter and was pursuing a new career path. “I never dreamed I would want to be or become a financial advisor,” he admitted, adding, “I am well on my way.”

In June 2024, Willie honored his son with a heartfelt birthday tribute on Facebook, sharing a photo of the pair and writing, “Happy Birthday to my beautiful son, Chris. He is the man I most respect in my life. Integrity-filled, a talented composer, funny, and yes… handsome.”