Lee William Aaker (September 25, 1943 – April 1, 2021)Goldrup, Tom & Goldrup, Jim (2002) Growing Up on the Set: Interviews with 39 Former Child Actors of Classic Film and Television, McFarland & Co Inc, , pp. 5–12 was an American former child actor, producer, carpenter, and ski instructor known for his appearance as Rusty of "B-Company" in the 1950s television program The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin. He was the final surviving cast member of the series. In 1952, Aaker appeared in Desperate Search with Howard Keel and Keenan Wynn.

Early years Aaker was born to DeForest LeRoy Aaker and Dorothy Dean Baker. His mother later married Myles Wilbour in Los Angeles on January 19, 1951. She was the owner of a Los Angeles dance school. (Another source says that she "ran a children's theatre academy" and that when Aaker was 4, she had him "singing and dancing at local clubs.") Lee Aaker had an elder brother, Dee Aaker (born 1941), also a child actor.

Film Aaker appeared on television as a young child, and landed uncredited roles in motion pictures beginning at age eight, in films such as The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) and High Noon (1952). He quickly moved to featured status by the end of that year. He played the kidnapped "Red Chief" in a segment of the film O. Henry's Full House (1952) and another kidnap victim as the son of scientist Gene Barry in The Atomic City (1952). In 1953, Aaker co-starred in the John Wayne western classic Hondo (1953), as the curious blond son of homesteader Geraldine Page. He also appeared in other film styles such as the film noir thriller Jeopardy (1953) with Barbara Stanwyck, the horse opera drama Arena (1953) with Gig Young, and the comedies Mister Scoutmaster (1953) with Clifton Webb and Ricochet Romance (1954) with Marjorie Main.

Television

In 1953–54, Aaker was among the many child actors who auditioned for the role of "Jeff Miller" on the original 1954 Lassie series, which later aired as Jeff's Collie. That role went to Tommy Rettig. Two weeks later, Aaker won the role of "Rusty" on The Adventures of Rin-Tin-Tin, co-starring James Brown (1920–1992) as Lieutenant Ripley "Rip" Masters.

Aaker and Rettig were friends, and both shows were popular with audiences. The two actors and the two star dogs appeared together in a photograph used on the cover of the July 2, 1955 issue of TV Guide.

Later years Aaker told a newspaper reporter that when he reached the age of 21, he was paid a $10,000 lump sum () by the studio that produced Rin Tin Tin "and he spent the rest of the '60s traveling around the world 'as sort of a flower child." Unable to find work as an adult actor, Aaker got involved as a producer and later worked as a carpenter.

Personal life and death In the late 1960s, Aaker was married to Sharon Ann Hamilton for two years. He resided in Mammoth Lakes, California, for many years and was the first adaptive sports instructor for Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra at Mammoth Mountain.

According to Paul Petersen, an advocate for former child actors, Aaker experienced poverty toward the end of his life, and had struggled for years with substance abuse. Petersen said Aaker had suffered a stroke and died in Maricopa County, Arizona, near the city of Mesa, on April 1, 2021, and was listed as an "indigent decedent". Petersen was arranging Aaker's burial. As a US Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War, Aaker was buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix.

Recognition In 2005, Aaker won the Golden Boot Award as Kids of the West.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1951 Benjy Benjy 1952 The Greatest Show on Earth Boy Uncredited 1952 Something to Live For Alternate Boy Uncredited 1952 My Son John Boy Scenes deleted 1952 No Room for the Groom Donovan 1952 High Noon Boy Uncredited 1952 The Atomic City Tommy Addison 1952 O. Henry's Full House J. B. Dorset aka Red Chief (The Ransom of Red Chief) 1952 Desperate Search Don Heldon 1952 Hans Christian Andersen Little Boy Uncredited 1953 Jeopardy Bobby Stilwin 1953 Take Me to Town Corney Hall 1953 Arena Teddy Hutchins 1953 Mister Scoutmaster Arthur 1953 A Lion Is in the Streets Johnny Briscoe Uncredited 1953 Hondo Johnny Lowe 1954 Ride Clear of Diablo Boy Uncredited 1954 The Raid Larry's Friend Uncredited 1954 Her Twelve Men Michael Elliott Uncredited 1954 Ricochet Romance Timmy Williams 1954 Destry Eli Skinner 1954 Black Tuesday Little Boy Uncredited 1957 The Challenge of Rin Tin Tin Rusty 1963 Bye Bye Birdie Student leader

Television Year Title Role Notes 1952 Your Jeweler's Showcase Episode: "Teacher of the Year" 1953 Fireside Theatre Sandy Episode: "The Boy Down the Road" 1953–1954 The Ford Television TheatreTony Evans / Joey 3 episodes 1953–1955 Letter to LorettaJimmy Preston / Myron 2 episodes 1954 Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Episode: "Pearl-Handled Guns" 1954 General Electric Theater Tim Kelly Episode: "Wild Luke's Boy" 1954–1959 The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin Rusty 164 episodes 1955 The Adventures of Spin and Marty on Walt Disney Presents Russell 1955 The Lone Ranger Tommy Righter Episode: "The School Story" 1955 Screen Directors Playhouse Cowhide Episode: "The Brush Roper" 1956–1957 The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford (two Christmas episodes, with Rin Tin Tin) 1957 Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers Govinda Episode: "The Glass Necklace" 1959 The Millionaire Tommy Spencer Episode: "Millionaire Henry Banning" 1959 Rescue 8 Billy Episode: "Runaway" 1959–1961 The Donna Reed Show Walter the Wizard / Kenny 2 episodes 1959–1962 Disneyland Willy / Chuck Taylor 4 episodes 1960 Make Room For Daddy Charles Crane Episode: "Rusty Meets Little Lord Fauntleroy" 1963 The Lucy Show Cadet Blake Episode: "Lucy and the Military Academy"

References

Further reading Goldrup, Tom and Jim. Growing Up on the Set: Interviews with 39 Former Child Actors of Classic Film and Television. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 2002, pp. 5–12. Holmstrom, John. The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995, Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, p. 241. Dye, David. Child and Youth Actors: Filmography of Their Entire Careers, 1914–1985. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 1988, p. 1.

External links