Lee Aaker, ‘Adventures of Rin Tin Tin’ child star, dead at 77

Lee Aaker, best known as the 1950s child star of The Adventures of Rin-Tin-Tin, has died at 77.

Aaker’s career began propitiously. Even before "Rin Tin Tin," at the age of 8, he had uncredited appearances in films such as "The Greatest Show on Earth" (1952) and "High Noon" (1952). Aaker then appeared opposite Barbara Stanwyck in director John Sturges’ noir thriller "Jeopardy" (1953). That same year he co-starred in five other films, including "Hondo" alongside John Wayne and Geraldine Page. But it was "Rin Tin Tin" that solidified him in the public imagination. ABC reran the series from 1959 to 1961. It was then picked up by CBS from 1962-1964. A new round of reruns began in 1976 and continued into the 1980s.