RUSTY HAMER

A Legend Gone, But Not Forgotten

February 15, 1947 - January 18, 1990

Beloved Rusty Hamer is remembered by many as the Child Star of the Number One TV Show of the 1950-60's. Even today, the classic show Make Room for Daddy can be watched on cable channels.

Make Room for Daddy was an early TV sitcom which aired during the beginning years of television from 1953-1964. Rusty played the freckle-faced young son of the series star, Danny Thomas. Hamer grew up on the show, beginning as a young 5-year-old child actor. His funny wise-cracking behavior made him the center of attraction throughout the show's 335 episode run. It was obvious that Rusty never acted; he just delivered smart-alecky quips. And he laughed at his own jokes - something that real, self-scripted smart alecks did. Rusty was a know-it-all jerk, but he got away with it. There was the obvious boyish appeal in that.

The Hollywood entertainment environment was familiar to Rusty. His father was a movie film technician who had developed several patented camera lenses. His mother was Dorothy Chretin, an actress in silent movies.

Rusty co-starred in the Abbot and Costello movie Dance with Me made in 1956. He briefly returned to TV in the remake, Make Room for Granddaddy, in 1970-1971 in which Rusty played a medical student. The show didn't catch on and was canceled after only one season.

In the early years of television, child actors were not paid the huge salaries like today. Once the work stopped, there was very little to fall back on. Danny Thomas wanted to send Rusty to college and pay all of the expenses but for some reason, the offer was not accepted.

It was the marriage of Martha Houston to his brother John that brought Rusty to DeRidder, where he settled on a couple acres of land near Bundick Lake. Unfortunately for Rusty, he had not learned much about the real working world, had no job experience and survived by doing odd jobs. In 1981 he was hired by an offshore oil company, but he had very little mechanical skills. While Rusty was a very friendly person with an entertaining personality, he was not good as an offshore roustabout. Rusty's offshore career ended when he resigned in 1982.

Then, from 1982 to 1989, Rusty's life took a nose dive. He did not find steady work but worked off and on, in his brother John's small cafe known as Richlighter near Bundick Lake on Highway 394, southeast of DeRidder.

His life quickly fell apart. He spireled into deep depression that led to a delusional state. On January 18, 1990, far from the limelight he knew growing up in Hollywood, Rusty Hamer put a .357 pistol to his head and pulled the trigger. He died instantly. Rusty's suicide is an extreme sample of adverse effect of early stardom and of a person not adequately protected by law and industry policies. He could be classified as a "child chattel."

Rusty Hamer was born on February 5, 1947 and died on January 18, 1990. Many famous movie stars wanted to come to DeRidder for his funeral. It would have been the biggest event that ever happened in this rural Louisiana town. Nevertheless his body was cremated and ashes scatter at sea. He rests in peace.

Provided by:  Velmer Lenora Smith, DeRidder Historian