I am the nephew of Rusty Hamer (Williams) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Ian Hamer · 06-16-2002, 09:21 PM

I grew up hanging out with my uncle Rusty and heard all the good stories about the show from he and my father. I have many promo shots of them all, some signed and unsigned. Rusty had no children so I was like a son to him while he was around. He was a good man but very depressed about the way Hollywood treated him after the show ended. He wasnt a drunk loud violent man like the papers said when he died. he liked fishing and cooking, like a normal person! feel free to reply or e-mail me Ian Hamer

Pitooey · 06-16-2002, 11:27 PM

Hi Ian................ You know...... I grew up watching your Uncle when I was a young girl and I use to watch the show religiously. I felt so sad to hear what happened to Rusty because he was so comical on the Danny Thomas Show. He always made me laugh especially with Danny Thomas. When the 2 would argue on the show I would just love it. They had such comraderie........ I'm glad you came here to tell us
about him.

Ian Hamer · 06-17-2002, 07:53 AM

I loved my uncle very much and saw how unhappy he was everyday. We used to go fishing together and he taught me about guns and things. He lived alone in a small mobile home in the woods on our land and didnt talk alot, but loved to stop by my grandmothers and talk to her and help her in her garden. Alot of people thought he was weird or mean, but he didnt mean to hate people. Hollywood really messed him up!! Paul Peterson (Jeff on the Donna Reed show) has started a child actors support group type of thing after Rusty died and Jay North (Dennis the Menace) had problems. They all were on the Sally Jesse Rapheal show after Rusty died to talk about how bad Hollywood treated em after there shows ended. Its a damn shame!!!! If anyone knows how to get a copy of the Sally show let me know I have abadd copy thats been played many times but would like to have a better one. Iwill check with Sally's web site to see if I can get one from them. thank you all for your support of The show and if we all do more maybe we can get it on Nick at Nite? hope so I miss seeing it on TV Ian H

Pitooey · 06-17-2002, 09:23 AM

Ian You're right I had seen the Sally Jesse Raphael Show after Rusty had died and I remember Paul Peterson talking about the pressures of fame and how Hollywood just forgets about their young actors. It's sad to hear what happened to Rusty. Always remember the good times with your famous uncle...........

PS I always wondered if he ever had a crush on Angela Cartwright........... She was so pretty too...

Ian Hamer · 06-18-2002, 06:17 PM

My uncle had never talked about his personal relationships with Angela or the other cast members other than Danny. Ill ask my father next time I talk to him. My father appeared on the show 3 times as a walk on or as the college boyfriend/friend later in the show. I need to refresh some of the old stories now that I have peoploe to talk to about it. Ill get back on here with some stories soon. bye for now Ian H

Fan of old shows · 10-13-2002, 02:20 AM

I just found out Rustys death was sucide. thats sad. i never was sure about his death and was shocked about it being sucide. i cant imagine what goes through peoples heads when they have no hope in anything. im really sorry about your Uncles death Ian.

johnnyboy1962 · 11-03-2002, 12:00 PM

Hello Ian ! Like so many others, I grew up watching your uncle and felt a kinship to him. He was a wonderful and talented young actor and it's really a shame that Hollywood has a terrible track record in the way they treat their own. Can you tell me at what point did Rusty leave Hollywood and had he kept in touch with any of the cast members since he left ? Thank you.

Ian Hamer · 11-05-2002, 06:04 AM

Uncle Rusty did keep in touch with Danny but not really any of the others for he became very distant and alone after his 20's. He stayed in Hollywood for a bit doing odd jobs and some small nothing roles in b movies (Fort ty) was one. I cant find it. My father was in it also. He then moved to Louisiana in the early 80's and stayed near us and becasme a fisherman and ran a local paper route to give him something to do during the day. He became very distant and somewhete mean after about 86-87 or so. But calmed down some around the time of his death when he helped out at the family resteraunt cooking and such and then was located by a local TV man and interview a couple times and that may have brought back some old memories wich had led to his ending of his own life in his home by way of a S&W 357 Magnum to the head. We all miss him so and I regret the last time he and I spoke I was 12 and we were fighting. If U can hear me Unc I Love U!!! and we are all doing well, and I just had my first Baby boy born in August and he looks so much like U!!!

bye for now Ian H.

BundyBoy10 · 04-24-2003, 10:07 PM

WHOA!! Thanks for all the great info about your uncle! I learned alot!

Janice · 06-21-2003, 03:42 PM

nevermind

Pitooey · 06-21-2003, 07:44 PM

Ian - I just saw your post on the baby so Congratulations! I'm happy for you.

Also do you have that wonderful head of hair that Rusty had?

donald snl · 11-07-2003, 07:12 PM

hi i just wanted to say ive been a big fan of your uncle since i saw my first rerun at 11 i even have quite a few on tape my fave ep that he was featured in was the one where danny tries to convince rusty not to beleve in peter pan and also there was one where hugh o brien guest stared he even had his wyatt erap getup on rusty even sang in that one anyway im sorry for your loss hollywood may have forgotten but we true fans sure havent

MikeZ · 02-01-2004, 03:21 PM

Ian, it is a pleasure and an honor to be able to chat with you....Rusty was one of my favorite young actors...I was growing up when the Danny Thomas was first being showed, and I never missed an episode.

You are correct when you mention about how Hollywood can mess up the lives of young actors...there have been far too many beautiful lives lost there, and it has not stopped...we just lost Jon Brandis. Paul is a wonderful person, I have exchanged messages with him several times, and he feels the pain of each and every child actor who has been hurt by the industry.

Please keep posting here, it is wonderful to hear your memories of one of our favorites!

Ian Hamer · 08-13-2004, 10:12 AM

No I unfortunalty didnt get his Curly hair but my son does. I have also been informed by my mother that the show has been picked up by one of the Big guys (TV Land or Nick) Let me know if you guys hear as to which one has it and lets all support the greatest show of the 50's. Take care all. Let me know if you see where it will be playing e-mail ianhamer@bellsouth.net

Bob's TV Treasures · 08-15-2004, 10:19 PM

Message to Ian Hamer,

I guess you know that your UNCLE RUSTY was also a semi-regular in the final season of "The Joey Bishop Show" on CBS.
If you don't have those episodes, get back to me. I have at least 2.

06-16-2002, 09:21 PM	#1
Ian Hamer Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 16, 2002 Location: South Carolina Posts: 8	I am the nephew of Rusty Hamer (Williams) I grew up hanging out with my uncle Rusty and heard all the good stories about the show from he and my father. I have many promo shots of them all, some signed and unsigned. Rusty had no children so I was like a son to him while he was around. He was a good man but very depressed about the way Hollywood treated him after the show ended. He wasnt a drunk loud violent man like the papers said when he died. he liked fishing and cooking, like a normal person! feel free to reply or e-mail me Ian Hamer

06-16-2002, 11:27 PM	#2
Pitooey Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 15, 2001 Location: Rocking in Transylvania. Posts: 15,042	Hi Ian................ You know...... I grew up watching your Uncle when I was a young girl and I use to watch the show religiously. I felt so sad to hear what happened to Rusty because he was so comical on the Danny Thomas Show. He always made me laugh especially with Danny Thomas. When the 2 would argue on the show I would just love it. They had such comraderie........ I'm glad you came here to tell us about him.
	__________________ Pitooey... AKA JennyLee - I love the Monkees all over again! *SAY NO TO DRUGS* Jesus saves...

06-17-2002, 07:53 AM	#3
Ian Hamer Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 16, 2002 Location: South Carolina Posts: 8	about Rusty!! I loved my uncle very much and saw how unhappy he was everyday. We used to go fishing together and he taught me about guns and things. He lived alone in a small mobile home in the woods on our land and didnt talk alot, but loved to stop by my grandmothers and talk to her and help her in her garden. Alot of people thought he was weird or mean, but he didnt mean to hate people. Hollywood really messed him up!! Paul Peterson (Jeff on the Donna Reed show) has started a child actors support group type of thing after Rusty died and Jay North (Dennis the Menace) had problems. They all were on the Sally Jesse Rapheal show after Rusty died to talk about how bad Hollywood treated em after there shows ended. Its a damn shame!!!! If anyone knows how to get a copy of the Sally show let me know I have abadd copy thats been played many times but would like to have a better one. Iwill check with Sally's web site to see if I can get one from them. thank you all for your support of The show and if we all do more maybe we can get it on Nick at Nite? hope so I miss seeing it on TV Ian H

06-18-2002, 06:17 PM	#5
Ian Hamer Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 16, 2002 Location: South Carolina Posts: 8	Rusty info My uncle had never talked about his personal relationships with Angela or the other cast members other than Danny. Ill ask my father next time I talk to him. My father appeared on the show 3 times as a walk on or as the college boyfriend/friend later in the show. I need to refresh some of the old stories now that I have peoploe to talk to about it. Ill get back on here with some stories soon. bye for now Ian H

11-03-2002, 12:00 PM	#7
johnnyboy1962 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 05, 2001 Location: stamford Posts: 5	Rusty was wonderful !!! Hello Ian ! Like so many others, I grew up watching your uncle and felt a kinship to him. He was a wonderful and talented young actor and it's really a shame that Hollywood has a terrible track record in the way they treat their own. Can you tell me at what point did Rusty leave Hollywood and had he kept in touch with any of the cast members since he left ? Thank you.

06-17-2002, 09:23 AM	#4
Pitooey Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 15, 2001 Location: Rocking in Transylvania. Posts: 15,042	Ian You're right I had seen the Sally Jesse Raphael Show after Rusty had died and I remember Paul Peterson talking about the pressures of fame and how Hollywood just forgets about their young actors. It's sad to hear what happened to Rusty. Always remember the good times with your famous uncle........... PS I always wondered if he ever had a crush on Angela Cartwright........... She was so pretty too...

10-13-2002, 02:20 AM	#6
Fan of old shows Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 25, 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 417	I just found out Rustys death was sucide. thats sad. i never was sure about his death and was shocked about it being sucide. i cant imagine what goes through peoples heads when they have no hope in anything. im really sorry about your Uncles death Ian.

11-05-2002, 06:04 AM	#8
Ian Hamer Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 16, 2002 Location: South Carolina Posts: 8	reply to after his career ended Uncle Rusty did keep in touch with Danny but not really any of the others for he became very distant and alone after his 20's. He stayed in Hollywood for a bit doing odd jobs and some small nothing roles in b movies (Fort ty) was one. I cant find it. My father was in it also. He then moved to Louisiana in the early 80's and stayed near us and becasme a fisherman and ran a local paper route to give him something to do during the day. He became very distant and somewhete mean after about 86-87 or so. But calmed down some around the time of his death when he helped out at the family resteraunt cooking and such and then was located by a local TV man and interview a couple times and that may have brought back some old memories wich had led to his ending of his own life in his home by way of a S&W 357 Magnum to the head. We all miss him so and I regret the last time he and I spoke I was 12 and we were fighting. If U can hear me Unc I Love U!!! and we are all doing well, and I just had my first Baby boy born in August and he looks so much like U!!! bye for now Ian H.

04-24-2003, 10:07 PM	#9
BundyBoy10 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 24, 2002 Posts: 311	WHOA!! Thanks for all the great info about your uncle! I learned alot!

06-21-2003, 03:42 PM	#10
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,389	nevermind

06-21-2003, 07:44 PM	#11
Pitooey Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 15, 2001 Location: Rocking in Transylvania. Posts: 15,042	Ian - I just saw your post on the baby so Congratulations! I'm happy for you. Also do you have that wonderful head of hair that Rusty had?

11-07-2003, 07:12 PM	#12
donald snl Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 06, 2003 Posts: 456	hi i just wanted to say ive been a big fan of your uncle since i saw my first rerun at 11 i even have quite a few on tape my fave ep that he was featured in was the one where danny tries to convince rusty not to beleve in peter pan and also there was one where hugh o brien guest stared he even had his wyatt erap getup on rusty even sang in that one anyway im sorry for your loss hollywood may have forgotten but we true fans sure havent

02-01-2004, 03:21 PM	#13
MikeZ The Phoenix Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 01, 2003 Posts: 208	Ian, it is a pleasure and an honor to be able to chat with you....Rusty was one of my favorite young actors...I was growing up when the Danny Thomas was first being showed, and I never missed an episode. You are correct when you mention about how Hollywood can mess up the lives of young actors...there have been far too many beautiful lives lost there, and it has not stopped...we just lost Jon Brandis. Paul is a wonderful person, I have exchanged messages with him several times, and he feels the pain of each and every child actor who has been hurt by the industry. Please keep posting here, it is wonderful to hear your memories of one of our favorites!

08-13-2004, 10:12 AM	#14
Ian Hamer Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 16, 2002 Location: South Carolina Posts: 8	No I unfortunalty didnt get his Curly hair but my son does. I have also been informed by my mother that the show has been picked up by one of the Big guys (TV Land or Nick) Let me know if you guys hear as to which one has it and lets all support the greatest show of the 50's. Take care all. Let me know if you see where it will be playing e-mail ianhamer@bellsouth.net

08-15-2004, 10:19 PM	#15
Bob's TV Treasures Member Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 12, 2004 Location: california Posts: 529	Message to Ian Hamer, I guess you know that your UNCLE RUSTY was also a semi-regular in the final season of "The Joey Bishop Show" on CBS. If you don't have those episodes, get back to me. I have at least 2.