Former Child T.V. Star Joins Crew of Oceania Cruises
Former child sitcom star Willie Aames recently joined the crew of an Oceania cruise ship as an assistant cruise director, according to several news sources.
You may recall Mr. Aames as Tommy Bradford in the sitcom Eight is Enough. He starred in a few movies and some other T.V. shows. At one point, he was reportedly making a million dollars a year.
But the make-believe life of young Tommy Bradford was in stark contrast to .jpg)
the real life woes of Willie Aames. He fell into some serious hard times, due to alcohol and drugs. The bank foreclosed on his house, his wife left him, and he became homeless. In 2008, he attempted suicide by cutting his throat after drinking a cocktail of Jack Daniels and pills while alone in a hotel room.
He is now clean and living a sober life. Good for him. But I am having a 
hard time imagining what the cruise line's human resources department was thinking when they read his resume: Child star, drug addict, born again Christian, ordained minister, furniture builder, suicide survivor, financial advisor, and bankruptcy petitioner.
Working on a cruise ship is a stressful job. Let's keep our fingers crossed and pray that Mr. Aames finds redemption on the high seas.
Credits:
Photograph 2, sojoco.blogspot.com; photograph 3, National Enquirer.
Jim Walker is a maritime lawyer who has attended seven Congressional hearing on issues of cruise ship crime, passenger disappearances,
It is said everyone deserve a second chance, maybe this is his. His job is to help the guests have fun so since he can't cut it in the real world, eating the company food and having certain perks is probably his grass is greener on the other side . . . so all he did is find another cushie life, or maybe not.
Having worked in the cruise industry for many years, and knowing the easy tempations that will be all around him, I hope he is able to rise above that which will continually tempt him. That said, I think it is terrific he has been given this opportunity. His performance background will serve him well in this position, and I would venture to guess, he will be very popular with the passengers of Oceania.
In response to Rachael.... Do you really think cruise ship life is cushie??? Yes, i forgot, all thats involved in working on a cruise ship is eating the company food and of course the certain perks! Have you tried working 7 days a week 8 hours a day?? not seeing your family for 6 months at a time?? eating whats given to you and not what you want?? No?? Didnt think so, so dont judge what its like to work on a cruise ship, when clearly you have no idea. I have followed the Willie Aames story and if you want to beleive EVERYTHING you read on the internet, then go ahead... cleary you have no idea about the real world and what the media can turn you into by writing storys that are only half true.
Im sure Willie Aames doesnt give 2 hoots what you or anyone else thinks.... Im sure he is enjoying the grass on the other side, and travelling the world for free!!! Jealous much?
Hey guys. I discover this site by mistake I'm from Transylvania (Romania the real one ) and i work whit Willi i don't know how well you know him but me i work whit him for a wild.
he is the most hard working and great person i ever meet in my life !!!!! He is always able to smile even that on the ship is a ................ disaster live !! Yes you are not able to see you family and your friends for minimum 6 month's and Somme time even more !
And believe me it is not a easy live at all !!! You have to smile at all the time it really doesn't Mather if you have problem's or somethings YOU HAVE TO SMILE !!! So the live on the ship is not that easy !! Stop judge him every body deserve a second chance !!
We have just sailed on Oceania Regatta and met Willie Aames. He is doing a fantastic job as Cruise Director! We have been very fortunate to have been able to cruise often and with different companies, and only a few Cruise Directors really stand out in our memories. Willlie will be one of the Outstanding ones! I have never seen a CD work so diligently at the job. Willie was everywhere...he visited all the classes, lectures, sport events and was definitely visible and accessible to all passengers! This usually doesn't happen. People would stop him to chat at any time, and any problems were addressed immediately. One woman said she told him the stool at the dressing table was uncomfortable without a back... and the next morning a chair with a back was in her cabin. Oceania is fortunate to have someone who is so diligent and affable; if I owned a cruise ship or worked at a cruise line, I'd hire him in a heartbeat. You can't find very many people who try so hard and work at a position the way Willie does. He is a definite asset to Oceania!
I dont know about any of you but my God is a God of second chances and if Wiilie has found a career and a passion in cruising then so be it, leave the man be.
Tough times don't last, tough people do. Willie is prove of this.
what do you think?
for some people it's a second chance, for some a way to escape your past
believe me after more that 7 years at sea in different cruise line company i met people with different story mostly sad story...and they did a great job 7 days 10 to 12 hours a day for 5 to 9 month contract. But there are still hidden vices when you work onboard...
What a mean-spirited write-up on this diligent, energetic, talented man. We just returned from a Regent cruise, where Willy was the Cruise Director. He was superb: organized, friendly, intelligent and well-liked by crew and guests. Glad the other comments were also supportive. Shame on you Jim, no need for your negative focus and snide remarks.
Marcy:
Willy is a remarkable fellow. He fought an amazing struggle which he is winning. I'm not going to disrespect him by sugar-coating his difficult journey for your reading pleasure.
Jim Walker