Rusty Hamer
Actor

Rusty Hamer Net Worth

Rusty Hamer was a precocious child actor who rose to fame in the 1950s as Danny Thomas' son on the hit sitcom Make Room for Daddy. Despite his success, Hamer's career ended abruptly when he became a teenager and offers dried up. He left Hollywood and returned once for a failed show, and then left for good. With no job skills, he struggled to find direction and eventually fell into poverty, depression, and alcohol abuse. He tragically died by suicide in 1990 at the age of 42.
Rusty Hamer is a member of Actor

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Actor, Soundtrack
Birth Day February 15, 1947
Birth Place  Tenafly, New Jersey, United States
Age 73 YEARS OLD
Died On January 18, 1990(1990-01-18) (aged 42)\nDeRidder, Louisiana, U.S.
Birth Sign Pisces
Cause of death Self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head
Education Palisades Charter High School
Occupation Actor
Years active 1953–1971

💰 Net worth: $1.7 Million (2024)

Rusty Hamer, a well-known actor and accomplished music artist in the United States, is projected to have a net worth of approximately $1.7 million by 2024. With his impressive talent and contributions to both the film industry and music scene, Hamer has captivated audiences and established a prominent career. From his iconic roles in various films and TV shows to his notable musical contributions as a soundtrack artist, Hamer has undoubtedly left a lasting impact. As his net worth continues to grow, it is a testament to his success and the widespread recognition he has garnered throughout his career.

Famous Quotes:

"He hasn't really been happy since his early 20s. But he didn't show any signs of this happening. It was just all of the sudden. [...] He was a very unhappy, very confused young man. No one does something like that if he isn't confused. I've heard of a lot of child actors who have become unhappy with their lives after they've left the industry."

Biography/Timeline

1951

Born in Tenafly, New Jersey, Hamer was the youngest of three sons of Arthur Walter John, Sr., a men's shirt salesman and Dorothy Hamer (née Chretin), a former silent film Actress. He had two elder brothers, John and Walter. As a child, Hamer was nicknamed "Rusty" because of his red hair and freckles. Due to his parents' involvement in community theatre productions, Hamer and his brothers also began performing in stage productions. As a toddler, Hamer memorized and recited stories and performed skits for Service club luncheons, women's clubs and church groups. In 1951, the Hamers moved to Los Angeles where Arthur Hamer worked as representative for a manufacturer of men's sport shirts (Arthur Hamer died eight months after his son was cast in The Danny Thomas Show). Shortly after arriving, Hamer's elder brother John was discovered by an agent while performing in a local stage production in which Hamer was also performing. The agent signed both boys to a film contract. The following year, Hamer won his first acting role in the 3-D Western Fort Ti, starring George Montgomery and Joan Vohs.

1953

In 1953, entertainer Danny Thomas' secretary saw Hamer in a stage production and was impressed by the child's talent and charm. She suggested that Thomas audition Hamer for a role in his upcoming sitcom Make Room for Daddy. Thomas was also impressed by the 6-year old and cast Hamer as his precocious and quick-witted son, Rusty Williams. Thomas later said of Hamer, "He was the best boy actor I ever saw in my life. He had a great memory...great timing and you could change a line on him at the last minute and he came right back with it." Make Room for Daddy debuted on ABC on September 29, 1953 and, while critically acclaimed, garnered poor ratings. After three seasons, the series moved to CBS where it was re-tooled and retitled The Danny Thomas Show. The retooled version quickly became a hit with audiences and was a Top 20 hit for its remaining seven seasons. During the run of The Danny Thomas Show, Hamer attempted to launch a singing career. He first performed a song in a 1956 episode of Danny Thomas entitled "The Talented Kid". In 1959, Hamer released his only single, a "rockaballad" called "Two-of-a-Kind" (with the b side "If Only Mother Would Let Me") written by Wally Gold and Aaron Schroeder, through Mercury Records. The single was a commercial failure and Hamer never released another single.

1960

On February 8, 1960, Hamer was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in television. His star is located at 6323 Hollywood Boulevard.

1963

By late 1963, The Danny Thomas Show had garnered five Primetime Emmy Awards (among other awards) and was still ranked in the Top 10. However, Danny Thomas announced that he had decided to end the show in order to produce and star in other projects. After the series ended, 17-year old Hamer enrolled at Palisades High School (years later restructured as Palisades Charter High School), but had difficulty adjusting to public school as he was accustomed to being privately tutored on the set. Shortly before graduating in June 1964, Hamer granted an interview with reporter Bob Thomas. He stated that he intended to continue his acting career and hoped to branch out into dramatic roles. Hamer said that he was under consideration for roles in several television series including Mr. Novak, Arrest and Trial and Ben Casey. Hamer also said that he planned to attend college on the advice of Danny Thomas, whom he considered a second father, since his own father had died in 1953.

1966

A year after The Danny Thomas Show ended, Hamer reprised the role of Rusty Williams in the reunion special The Danny Thomas TV Family Reunion, which aired on NBC. On December 27, 1966, Hamer underwent emergency surgery at Santa Monica Emergency Hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound to the abdomen when a gun he was carrying in a shoulder holster slid out, fell to the ground and discharged. Hamer was carrying the gun after having just returned from an overnight hunting trip. After recovering, he appeared in a second reunion special, "Make More Room For Daddy", that aired during a segment of the NBC anthology series The Danny Thomas Hour, in 1967. Throughout the mid to late 1960s, Hamer continued to attempt a transition into adult roles and, according to Danny Thomas, enrolled in acting classes, but was unable to land any acting jobs. By the end of the decade, he had grown increasingly bitter and depressed over his waning career. To support himself, he began working for a messenger Service in Los Angeles and later worked as a carpenter's apprentice. Hamer's only post Danny Thomas Show acting role was a guest spot on the CBS sitcom Green Acres, that aired in November 1969.

1970

In the 1970s, Hamer moved to southwestern Louisiana where he worked on an off-shore oil rig for Exxon and delivered newspapers. In 1976, he relocated to DeRidder, Louisiana to be closer to his ailing mother, Dorothy, who was suffering from Alzheimer's disease and lived with his elder brother John. John Hamer had moved to the area and opened a cafe where, in his final years, Hamer occasionally worked as a short order cook.

1981

In October 1981, Hamer reunited with former co-stars Danny Thomas and Angela Cartwright. The reunion was televised as part of the ABC special What Became Of...?, that aired on October 25.

1990

On the night of January 18, 1990, John Hamer found his brother's body in his trailer home in DeRidder, Louisiana. Hamer had shot himself in the head with a .357 Magnum revolver.

Some Rusty Hamer images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.