Rusty Hamer

Russell Craig "Rusty" Hamer (February 15, 1947 – January 18, 1990) was an American stage, film, and television actor. He portrayed Rusty Williams, the wisecracking son of entertainer Danny Williams (Danny Thomas), on the ABC/CBS situation comedy Make Room for Daddy (later retitled The Danny Thomas Show), from 1953 to 1964. He reprised the role in three reunion specials and the sequel series, Make Room for Granddaddy, which aired on ABC from 1970 to 1971.

Early life Born in Tenafly, New Jersey, Hamer was the youngest of three sons of Arthur Walter John Hamer Sr., a men's shirt salesman and Dorothy Hamer (née Chretien), a former silent film actress of Maltese heritage. He had two older brothers, John and Walter. As a child, Hamer was nicknamed "Rusty" as a derivative of his first name Russell, and also because of his red hair and freckles.

Career Due to his parents' involvement in community theater productions, Hamer and his brothers performed 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 in Los Angeles, Hamer's older brother John was discovered by an agent while performing in a local stage production in which Rusty was also performing. The agent signed both boys to a film contract.

In 1953, entertainer Danny Thomas's 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.

Make Room for Daddy debuted on ABC on September 29, 1953, and, while critically acclaimed, garnered poor ratings. After four seasons, the series moved to CBS where it was re-tooled and retitled The Danny Thomas Show.

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.

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 (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.

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 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. To support himself, he began working for a messenger service in Los Angeles and later worked as a carpenter's apprentice.

Hamer (top left) in 1970 with co-stars in Make Room for Granddaddy.

In 1969, Hamer again reprised his role as Rusty Williams in a third reunion special, Make Room for Granddaddy. The special aired on CBS on September 14. Due to the ratings success of the reunion specials, ABC created a weekly sequel series, also titled Make Room for Granddaddy, for their fall 1970 schedule. The series premiered on September 24, 1970, but failed to catch on with audiences. Make Room for Granddaddy was cancelled after one season. It was Hamer's final acting role.

Later years 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 older brother John. John had opened a cafe where, in his final years, Rusty Hamer occasionally worked as a short order cook.

Death 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.

John Hamer later said he believed that his brother had remained bitter over his inability to transition into acting as an adult. He also said he believed that his brother's chronic and debilitating back pain (for which Hamer refused to seek medical treatment) and their mother's illness had contributed to Hamer's depression.

Hamer's body was cremated and no service was held.

Legacy 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.

Hamer's suicide raised awareness of the potential mental fragility of child performers and inspired fellow former child actor Paul Petersen, formerly of ABC's The Donna Reed Show, to establish the support group A Minor Consideration. The group seeks to improve working conditions for young actors and assists former child entertainers in making the transition from past fame to adult life.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1953 Fort Ti Jed's Nephew Uncredited 1953–1964 Make Room for Daddy Rusty Williams 323 episodes 1954 Four Star Playhouse Dickie Episode: "Vote of Confidence" 1954 Shower of Stars Rusty Episode: "Entertainment on Wheels" 1956 Dance with Me, Henry Duffer Final 'Abbott & Costello' film 1958 The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour Rusty Williams Episode: "Lucy Makes Room for Danny" 1958 Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse Rusty Williams Episode: "Lucy Makes Room for Danny" 1958 The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford Himself Episode #3.13 1961 The Red Skelton Show Guest drummer Episode #10.12 1965 The Joey Bishop Show Rusty Williams 3 episodes 1967 The Danny Thomas Hour Rusty Episode: "Make More Room for Daddy" 1969 Green Acres Alfred Episode: "Oliver's Schoolgirl Crush" 1970–1971 Make Room for Granddaddy Rusty Williams 24 episodes, (final appearance)