Once upon a time, this teen heartthrob dazzled audiences with his roles in “Eight Is Enough” and “Charles in Charge.” But behind the glitz and glamour, his life took a downward spiral, ultimately leading to homelessness and a strained relationship with his child. Let’s explore the ups and downs of his remarkable journey.

From an early age, this star’s career seemed destined for greatness. At just nine, he appeared in his first commercial, and by nineteen, he was earning a million dollars annually. In his co-authored book “Grace Is Enough,” he shared, “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.”

During his prime on “Eight Is Enough,” he experienced major life events. He tied the knot with Victoria Averbach in 1979, and soon after, in 1981, they celebrated the arrival of their son, Christopher Aames.

Alas, by 1984, his marriage ended, marking the start of a rough patch. At the zenith of his fame, this actor, who cherished his bond with co-star Adam Rich as a “little brother,” was raking in over a million dollars each year. Yet, life as he knew it unraveled quickly.

He recounted, “Then suddenly there was no job, no bank account, no wife, no child. I never dreamt it could happen that fast.” With nowhere to go, he revealed, “I found myself virtually homeless. I stayed with friends when I could, slept in parking garages, or in the park.”

This experience was profoundly humiliating. Remembering his time under the bushes, he often wondered, “Is this how it turns out? Is this really my life?”

Reports indicated that he may have reached breaking point, leading to thoughts of self-harm. Reflecting on this era, he admitted, “I gave people a lot of cause for concern, and I am thankful they acted on those concerns. Beyond that, that time period is a blur.”

Throughout these troubled times, he grappled with addictions to drugs and alcohol. In a “Studio 10” interview, he discussed his struggles, focusing on personal responsibility, “The fact is, I made my own poor choices and knew better, in most cases. And I paid the price for it.”

Asked about his circumstances, he previously shared, “I lost everything at one point. I went from eating at the White House to sleeping in the bushes.” Despite his dire straits, no one stepped in to help, prompting him to rebuild his life by himself.

Reaching a crossroads, he acknowledged, “I had a choice. I could either start over at 47 or choose to be a victim.” With new determination, he explored different jobs, starting as a satellite installer. Eventually, he found his way onto a cruise ship crew, where he rose from pingpong boy to cruise director.

As he pieced his life back together, he also navigated personal changes. His second marriage was to actress Maylo McCaslin in 1986, and they welcomed their daughter, Harleigh Aames. Sadly, their union ended in 2009. Interestingly, Harleigh followed in her parents’ footsteps and became an actress.

By the 2000s, his financial woes had come to a head, with bankruptcy and foreclosure looming. With only ten dollars in his pocket and nowhere else to go, he borrowed money to return to his Kansas City home. Desperate, he broke in, squatting as he looked for work and placed an ad on Craigslist, determined to start anew.