Make Room for Daddy debuted on ABC on September 29, 1953, and, while critically acclaimed, garnered poor ratings. He had a great eat timing and you could change a line on him at the last minute and he came right back with it." Thomas later said of Hamer, "He was the best boy actor I ever saw in my life. Thomas was also impressed by the 6-year old and cast Hamer as his precocious and quick-witted son, Rusty Williams. She suggested that Thomas audition Hamer for a role in his upcoming sitcom Make Room for Daddy. In 1953, entertainer Danny Thomas' secretary saw Hamer in a stage production and was impressed by the child's talent and charm. The following year, Hamer won his first acting role in the 3-D Western Fort Ti, starring George Montgomery and Joan Vohs. The agent signed both boys to a film contract. Shortly after arriving, Hamer's elder brother John was discovered by an agent while performing in a local stage production in which Rusty was also performing. 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). As a toddler, Hamer memorized and recited stories and performed skits for service club luncheons, women's clubs and church groups. Career ĭue to his parents' involvement in community theatre productions, Hamer and his brothers also began performing in stage productions. As a child, Hamer was nicknamed "Rusty" as a derivative of his first name Russell, but also because of his red hair and freckles. He had two elder brothers, John and Walter.
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.
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