<Tr> <Th> Occupation </Th> <Td> Actor </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Years active </Th> <Td> 1953--1971 </Td> </Tr> <P> Russell Craig "Rusty" Hamer (February 15, 1947--January 18, 1990) was an American stage, film and television actor . He is best known for portraying Rusty Williams, the wise cracking son of entertainer Danny Williams (Danny Thomas), on the popular 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, that aired on ABC from 1970 to 1971 . </P> <P> 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 . </P>

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