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Willie Aames

Willie Aames

Actor and writer · Born July 15, 1960 (66) · Orange County, California, USA

Willie Aames (born July 15, 1960) is an American actor, film and television director, television producer, and screenwriter. He played Tommy Bradford on the 1970s' Eight Is Enough, and Buddy Lembeck on the 1980s sitcom Charles in Charge.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 15, 1960 (66)
From
Orange County, California, USA
Works as
Actor and writer
Titles
23 on MovieCove · 65 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 26% in 30 days

What are Willie Aames' films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 23rd percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
50%
Self
23%
Survival
10%
Morality
10%
Society
5%
Power
2%
Romantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeParenthood2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 12 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 9 · Serious 1 · Dark 2

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 10 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

Gentle: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their gentle movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 6 · Charged 5 · Intense 1

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 9 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 1

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 10 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Trickster: 3 of 8 analyzed roles.

Trickster
3 of 8
Ally
2 of 8
Hero
1 of 8
Mentor
1 of 8
Shadow
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
9
Tense
5
Joyful
6
Romantic
6
Hopeful
4
Other
8

How their films linger

Feel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCozy3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet2
  • Cyclical2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Willie Aames' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 16 of their 23 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Hallmark+ (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Willie Aames' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

65 credits, 23 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Armageddon Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Pale Rider

  • Love in the Limelight(2022)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Bottle Monster(2020)

    as George

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Picture Perfect Mysteries: Exit, Stage Death(2020)

    as Neil Khan

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Love on the Menu(2019)

    as Martin Thomas

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • One Small Indiscretion(2017)

    as Mr. Peterson

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Date My Dad(2017)

    Show 2 episodes · as Principal Reed

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Every Christmas Has a Story(2016)

    as Vernon Hollis

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Dater's Handbook(2016)

    as Kyle

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Harvest Moon(2015)

    as William Stone

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Public Life of Sissy Pike: New Girl in Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director · Writer · as Pastor Keith Pike

  • Bibleman: Divided We Fall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director · as Bibleman

  • Bibleman: A Light in the Darkness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Director · Writer · as Bibleman

  • Bibleman: Jesus Our Savior (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Bibleman / Miles Peterson

  • Bibleman: Conquering the Wrath of Rage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Bibleman / Miles Peterson

  • Bibleman: Lead Us Not Into Temptation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director · as Bibleman

  • Bibleman: Breaking The Bonds of Disobedience (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director · Writer · as Bibleman / Miles Peterson

  • Bibleman: Shattering The Prince Of Pride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Director · Writer · as Bibleman / Miles Peterson

  • Bibleman: The Fiendish Works of Dr. Fear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director · as Bibleman

  • Bibleman: The Incredible Force of Joy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director · Producer · as Bibleman / Miles Peterson

  • The Visual Bible For Kids - The Birth of Jesus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Bibleman / Miles Peterson

  • Bibleman: Defeating the Shadow of Doubt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Bibleman / Miles Peterson

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Bibleman: Silencing the Gossip Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Bibleman / Miles Peterson

  • Bibleman: The Six Lies of the Fibbler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Bibleman / Miles Peterson

  • Bibleman: Back to School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Bibleman/Miles Peterson

  • Bibleman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 17 episodes · as Bibleman

  • Bibleman: Big, Big Book! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Bibleman / Miles Peterson

  • An Eight Is Enough Wedding(1989)

    as Tommy Bradford

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Eight Is Enough: A Family Reunion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Tommy Bradford

  • Blacke's Magic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cut and Run(1984)

    as Tommy Allo

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Charles in Charge(1984)

    Show 126 episodes · Director · as Buddy Lembeck

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all shows

  • Killing Machine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Tony

  • Dungeons & Dragons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 27 episodes · as Hank (voice)

  • Zapped!(1982)

    as Peyton

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Paradise(1982)

    as David

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Scavenger Hunt(1979)

    as Kenny Stevens

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Danny - Doc's Nephew

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Eight Is Enough(1977)

    Show 112 episodes · as Tommy Bradford

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • Battle of the Network Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Young Wesley Jordache

  • Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Swiss Family Robinson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 20 episodes · as Fred Robinson

  • We'll Get By (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 11 episodes · as Kenny Platt

  • The Family Nobody Wanted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Donny

  • Runaway on the Rogue River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Jeff Peterson

  • The Lives of Benjamin Franklin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Twelve-Year-Old Benjamin Franklin

  • Little House on the Prairie(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Seth Johnson

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Unwed Father (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Gum

  • Pssst! Hammerman's After You! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Kid at Gumball Machine

  • Adam's Rib (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Boy

  • Frankenstein (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as William Frankenstein

  • Frankenstein (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 2 episodes · as William Frankenstein

  • ABC Afterschool Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Kid at Gumball Machine

  • The Waltons(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Wait Till Your Father Gets Home(1972)

    Show 48 episodes · as Jamie Boyle (voice)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Cannon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Petey Macklin

  • The Odd Couple(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Leonard

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Medical Center (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Eric · as Jeff · as Joe Gannon as a Boy · as Tony

  • The Courtship of Eddie's Father(1969)

    Show 3 episodes · as Harold O'Brien · as Scott

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Adam-12(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Billy Ray Roberts · as Little Boy

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • The Edge of Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 306 episodes · Actor

  • Gunsmoke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Andy Ballou · as Tom

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Jeff Peterson

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 65 titles from 1954 to 2026; peak year 1981.

Biggest box office

Zapped! (1982)

$17M worldwide

Highest rated

Love on the Menu (2019)

Midcredits 74th

Most popular right now

Charles in Charge (1984)

Film career

19542026

Peak 1981 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 3 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting64 of 65: 48 only acting, 16 with another role · typical Midcredits score47thDirecting16 of 65: 0 only directing, 16 with another roleWriting12 of 65: 1 only writing, 11 with another roleProducing8 of 65: 0 only producing, 8 with another role

65 titles, 16 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 16 of them.

By decade

1950s3 · acting1960s3 · acting1970s22 · acting1980s9 · 9 acting · 1 crew1990s10 · 10 acting · 7 crew2000s8 · 8 acting · 8 crew2010s6 · acting2020s4 · 3 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 11% of 9 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Willie Aames' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 43rd percentile, the median of all 13; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 39th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Midcredits score across 23 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 23 titles are Mixed.

  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

Bottle Monster (2020)

87th percentile spread · 17% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Love on the Menu (2019)

Midcredits 74th · 66% liked

Reviewers score the acting 52/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles; fans 68, detractors 28. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Willie Aames' work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 36 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 62 · intenseMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 38 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 19 · mildMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Willie Aames work with?

People who share at least 2 of Willie Aames' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ron Oliver shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers

Producers

Mixed roles