Robert Nelson Fite (born October 22, 1968) is an American former film and television actor. Beginning his professional career as a child actor and model at the age of six, Fite is perhaps best known for his recurring role as J.T. Martin on the NBC comedy series Silver Spoons, as well as for his feature film roles in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, The Legend of Billie Jean, and Explorers.
Early life
Fite was born in Dallas, Texas to parents Roselle and Robert Fite. Growing up in Dallas, Fite began his show business career at the age of six after taking it upon himself to contact local talent agent Kim Dawson. When recounting the experience years later, Dawson explained, "He said, 'I want to be an actor.' I remember how amazed I was. I told him what he'd have to do, and he said, 'I can do that.'" In the following years, Fite worked as a child actor and model, appearing in local commercials and print advertorials. With his youthful looks and Texas drawl, Fite was frequently cast as the southern boy, primarily playing roles several years younger than his true age throughout most of his career as a child star.
Career
Early career
In 1982, Fite made his television debut with a co-starring role in the NBC movie-of-the-week, The Long Summer of George Adams. Premiering on NBC's Monday Night at the Movies in January 1982, but filmed when he was twelve years old, Fite portrayed Bill Adams, one of three sons to James Garner's character John Adams, an Oklahoma railroad man in the 1950s, whose job is threatened when plans are made to replace steam engines with diesels. In July of that year, Fite made his feature film debut with a small role as Dulcie Mae's son in Universal's film adaptation of the Broadway musical-comedy The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, starring Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton. In December of that same year, Fite appeared in a co-starring role in the CBS television movie Miss All-American Beauty. In the film, Fite portrayed Petey Butterfield, the youngest of two brothers to Diane Lane's character, Sally Butterfield, a girl who struggles with her newfound notoriety and responsibilities after winning a Texas beauty pageant.
Rise to fame
In January 1983, Fite landed a recurring role on the NBC comedy series Silver Spoons. On the series, Fite portrayed the smooth-talking cowboy with a Texas twang, J.T. Martin, a role that established him as a teen idol among the show's teen and tween audience alongside the show's other teen stars Ricky Schroder and Jason Bateman. Fite was a recurring guest-star on the series for two seasons, and in 1983, his portrayal earned him a Youth in Film Award (now known as the Young Artist Award) nomination as "Best Young Actor in a Comedy Series". Later that same year, Fite appeared in his first starring role in an episode of CBS Children's Mystery Theatre, an hour-long anthology showcase for children's films much like the ABC Afterschool Specials and ABC Weekend Specials of the 1970s and 1980s. In the episode entitled "The Dirkham Detective Agency", Fite starred as David, a pre-teen detective, alongside fellow child stars, Mara Hobel (Mommie Dearest) and Leo O'Brien (The Last Dragon), out to solve their first case after two poodles are "dog-napped". On October 21 of that year, Fite guest-starred on the CBS series The Dukes of Hazzard. In the episode entitled "The Boar's Nest Bears", Fite portrayed Tommy, one of the farm boys on Hazzard County's pee-wee basketball team owned by Boss Hogg. On October 29 of that same year, Fite guest-starred on the CBS Saturday morning science-fiction series, Benji, Zax & the Alien Prince. In the episode entitled "The Locals", Fite portrayed Will, the leader of a gang of bullies who cause trouble for the series' three title characters.