The Cast Of American Sitcom Charles In Charge – What Happen To Them? 

Following the success of the 1980s sitcom Charles in Charge, the cast went on to star in several other prominent productions. Charles in Charge, which premiered in 1984, lasted five seasons and was one of Universal’s most successful television programs, alongside Miami Vice. While hiring several renowned sitcom stars of the day, such as Scott Baio from Happy Days, to play key roles, Charles in Charge’s ensemble included many relative rookies who would go on to pursue different careers after the show ended in 1990. However, long after the program had ended, Charles in Charge’s cast would face widespread criticism for allegations of misconduct on set.

Into To The Cast Of Charles In Charge

Charles in Charge, starring Scott Baio in the lead role, follows a college student at the fictional Copeland College in New Brunswick, New Jersey who moves in with the hyperactive Pembroke family to work as a live-in maid. Rather than receiving cash, the family provides Charles with housing and board in exchange for caring for the children Jason, Douglas, and Lila. However, Charles in Charge’s ensemble changed dramatically in season 2, with only Happy Days star Scott Baio and Will Aames, who played Charles’ best friend Buddy, continuing in key roles. 

When Charles in Charge season 2 began, the lead character returned to the Pembroke home after summer vacation to discover that they had relocated to Seattle, where a new family, the Powells, had moved in and kept Charles as their live-in housekeeper.

Other Cast Members Of Charles In Charge TV Show

Aside from the principal actors, the Charles in Charge cast included early guest appearances by superstars who were not yet established. Meg Ryan appeared in a two-episode arc during Charles in Charge season 1, Matthew Perry from Friends appeared in a 1985 episode, Christina Applegate appeared in two episodes, Pamela Anderson appeared in a Charles in Charge season 5 episode, and Mark-Paul Gosselaar from Saved by the Bell guest-starred in a 1988 episode. Here’s a look at what happened to the core Charles in Charge cast following the series conclusion.

Scott Baio As Charles

Scott Baio, who had previously gained fame as The Fonz’s cousin Chachi Arcola on the sitcom Happy Days and its sequel Joanie Loves Chachi, was scouted to play the titular character in the syndicated series Charles in Charge, whose surname is unknown. After five seasons as the star in Charles in Charge, Baio went on to direct the children’s comedy program Out of This World from 1987 to 1991. From 1993 to 1995, the Charles in Charge actor played Dr. Jack Stewart in Diagnosis: Murder, and he also appeared in guest parts on popular sitcoms such as Full House and The Nanny. 

Baio went on to play Bob Loblaw, the Bluth family’s lawyer, in Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2, Wes Craven’s Cursed, and Arrested Development. The original Charles in Charge cast member has been on VH1’s reality TV shows Scott Baio is 45…and Single, Scott Baio is 46…and Pregnant, and hosted Confessions of a Teen Idol. Baio’s recent acting credits include Nickelodeon’s See Dad Run, Sam & Cat, and A Fairly Odd Summer.

Will Ames As Buddy Lembeck

Charles in Charge starred Will Aames as Buddence “Buddy” Lembeck, Charles’ best friend throughout the show. Aames is most remembered for his role as Tommy Bradford in the 1970s sitcom Eight is Enough, but he continued to appear in TV movies and reality shows after Charles in Charge. From 1995 to 2003, Aames played Miles Peterson/Bibleman in the children’s direct-to-video Christian series Bibleman. He later featured as himself in the reality TV shows Celebrity Fit Club in 2005 and Celebrity Fit Club – Boot Camp in 2008. Before returning to Hallmark TV movies in 2016, Aames changed careers in 2010 to become a Cruise Director for many cruise companies.

Nicole Eggert As Jamie Powell

Nicole Eggert, who had previously acted in minor roles on TV shows such as Fantasy Island and T.J. Hooker, gained prominence as Jamie Powell, one of the children that Charles watches after on Charles in Charge. Eggert joined the cast of Charles in Charge when the show switched up the performers and roles for season 2, and she remained in the role until the conclusion. Following Charles in Charge, Eggert appeared in the films Blown Away, The Demolitionist, Decoys, and Cattle Call. The Charles in Charge cast member’s most notable role was as Roberta “Summer” Quinn on the iconic TV show Baywatch, which Eggert played from 1992 to 1994.

Josie Davis As Sarah Powell

Josie Davis is most remembered for her role as the bookish and quiet Sarah Powell on Charles in Charge as a child, but she has also been in numerous other famous television shows. Davis appeared as a guest on shows such as Baywatch, L.A. Heat, and Profiler after leaving the Charles in Charge ensemble in the 1990s. Davis was cast as Camille Desmond on Beverly Hills, 90210 in 2000, and she also appeared as Laurie Williams on Titans. The former Charles in Charge cast member then appeared on other shows, including NCIS, Two and a Half Men, and the Nickelodeon comedy Hollywood Heights. Davis has also been in many made-for-television movies on the Lifetime and Hallmark channels since 2005. 

Alexander Polinsky As Adam Powell

Alexander Polinsky rose to prominence as Adam Powell in Charles in Charge, and he went on to do voice work in television shows, films, and video games. Polinsky has voiced Control Freak in Teen Titans, Argit and other characters in Ben 10, Jelly, Lanky, and Stumpy in Breadwinners, Darington in Blaze and the Monster Machines, and other characters in the 2015 Minions film.

James T. Callahan As Walter Powell

James T. Callahan is most known for his performances in TV sitcoms from the 1960s to the 1980s, including Dr. Kildare, Wendy and Me, and The Runaways, but he is best recognized for his role in Charles in Charge. After playing the Powell children’s grandfather Walter on Charles in Charge, Callahan appeared in The Golden Girls, Return of the Living Dead 3, and ER. In 2007, the principal Charles in Charge cast member died at the age of 76.