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Exclusive: Willie Aames Fights Back Following Suicide Attempt

January 7, 2009
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Playing Tommy Bradford on Eight is Enough and Buddy Lembeck on Charles in Charge, the curly-haired Willie Aames developed a huge following — with pin-up photos in teenybopper magazines to prove it. Now 48, the former child star opens up to Star in our Jan. 19 issue about his shocking Thanksgiving Day suicide attempt — and how he's getting his life back on track.

Willie confides that he tumbled into a dark pit of despair when Maylo Upton, his wife of 22 years, asked for a divorce. Depressed and shaken, he left their Kansas home and rented a room from a friend in Los Angeles. That's when Willie lost it.

"I stole a bottle of Jack Daniel's from the guy I was renting the room from," Willie tells Star in an exclusive interview. "I'd been sober for 20 years when I took that first drink. I was also taking antidepressants and antianxiety pills. It got so bad, I put a knife to my throat and cut myself in six places. The police came, put me in handcuffs and whisked me away. I was completely devastated... I kept asking, 'What did I do wrong?'"

Just a month earlier, Willie — whose last TV appearance was on the VH1 reality series Celebrity Fit Club — had declared bankruptcy and had his car repossessed. Then Maylo, 45, left him. It was more than he could take. After he was taken to the USC psych ward in L.A., a doctor told him that "most people were there because they'd either lost a job, a family member or relocated," Willie recalls. "I was there for of all those."

Pick up the Star — on sale now — for the full story, including his doctor's scary observation, his drastic decision to quit taking his medications cold turkey and what he's doing to carve out a new life for himself.

If you know more about this story, contact us at tips@starmagazine.com or 1-800-609-8312

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READERS COMMENTS:


Willie - I will Pray for you tonight - DO NOT GIVEUP
-- Tony Braswell

i just saw on the news that Willie is going to loose his home and he was selling his stuff in a garage sale , i felt really sad , where is Scott Baio , his old friend maybe he can do something .

-- alice

I'd just mentioned to a friend the other day about having met Willie when he was on tour for Bibleman. A man who loves God and knows the only life is that in Christ. Jesus loves you and has not forsaken you. God is faithful and will perfect that which concerneth you Willie as he has for so many before and after you. My prayers for Maylo and your children.
God knows and he loves you both.

In prayer
-- AW

Just because he played Bibleman does not make him immune to hurt and pain, please be kind and pray for him and do not cast stones, wishing you again God's strength
-- Sharron

Yes, God Bless you, don't hurt yourself, God loves you and so do the many of us that are fans. May God strengthen your heart, I know how tough loss is, but keep the faith
-- Sharron Hilsabeck

Life is truly a long and winding road. Willie will emerge to help others in need. How else can one understand other's pain and know how to help them overcome until it is done within their own life. God bles you, Willie. You have much more left to do.
-- Cyn

That is so SAD; The way that the economy is and how everyone is loosing everything that they have worked for all their lives. I can totally relate to Willie Ames right now. God Bless you and I truly hope the best for you...

-- Kathy

The situation is sad but at the heart of Willie and Maylo is their deep down desire is to glorify God. That is what God sees. Scripture speaks of a man that to the world looked like he has failing to live a godly life, but God called him "a man after my own heart".
Hollywood did them dirty, their families mistreated them, but by far worse than that, was the way the Christian community treated them.
Man will always let us down but God will never. Willie, find a good solid bible teaching church and stay with it. We are praying for you and for your family.
~Nickie Robinson- Pastor's wife

-- Nickie Robinson- pastor's wife

God bless you in your recovery, Willie. My son and I just finished watching an episode of Bibleman on TBN's "Smile of a Child" network. Jesus still loves you, remember His promise to "never leave nor forsake you." Everyone in this world has to strugle against sin in some area of their life...give it to Jesus daily. We do not condemn or judge you but pray for your full recovery. Keep up the good fight of faith!
-- Mr. Brown

You know, if it were raining, and it were Sunday Morning and there was this old train whistle in the background, it would make one hell of a country and western song.

Hope all is well and that things end up for the best.
-- EL LEON NEGRO

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