Meredith Willson, in his book "But He Doesn't Know The Territory" about the making of The Music Man, said his wife, Rini, saw Eddie on the TV show "Name That Tune" (1953) and told Meredith they had their Winthrop.
Dropped out of performing and eventually became a mental health counselor in his native Mississippi.
Had several hit records in the early 1960s, most notably "I'm Gonna Knock on Your Door" and "Girls Were Made to Love."
Has shared two roles with Ron Howard. Hodges played Winthrop Paroo in the original Broadway cast of "The Music Man"and the title role in the film The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1960). Howard played Winthrop Paroo in the film version of The Music Man (1962) and the title role in the 1975 made-for-TV Huckleberry Finn (1975) (TV).
Often stated as a boy that he wanted to become a Baptist minister when he grew up. Ironically, he converted to Roman Catholicism during the 1990s.
Played Henry Fonda's son on Broadway in "Critic's Choice" and on film in Advise & Consent (1962).
Ten-year-old Eddie split the $25,000 grand prize with future astronaut and American hero Maj. John Glenn as his teammate after successfully appearing on a very popular episode of the TV game show "Name That Tune" (1953) on Oct 4th 1957.