‘Family Affair’ Star Johnny Whitaker Opens Up About Anissa Jones’ Tragic Passing & Giving Jodie Foster That Kiss
Johnny Whitaker — the red-haired, freckle-faced boy who gained fame as Jody Davis on Family Affair — began his screen career at age 3, so he was already a pro when, at 6 years old, he starred on the show opposite his onscreen sister Anissa Jones.
At the MidSouth Nostalgia Festival in June, Whitaker reflected on his memories of Jones, who passed tragically in 1976, as well as how he ended up on the show in the first place — a story that involves his role in the 1966 film, The Russians Are Coming The Russians Are Coming, which also featured one of his Family Affair costars, Brian Keith.
Laurie Jacobson
Working With Brian Keith
“Brian’s hotel room was right next door to mine,” Whitaker told the audience in Olive Branch, Mississippi, at the MidSouth Nostalgia Festival. “After work, he would knock on my door and ask my mom if I could come out to play. And he and I would go into the parking lot and throw a ball and have a good time.
“He told my mother that he was getting ready to do a TV series and would like me to be seen for it. My agent called and discovered they were looking for a 10-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl. ‘Maybe we can put the 6-year-olds together.’ My agent claims it was her idea. Brian claims it was his. But when I screen tested with Anissa Jones, the producer said, ‘This is magic, it’s going to be twins – Buffy and Jody.’ Our chemistry was so good; and we really did look like twins even though Anissa was two years older.”
© Everett Collection / Everett Collection
Family Affair, which aired from 1966 to 1971, told the story of three orphaned children (Johnny, Anissa and Kathy Garver as Cissy) who come to live in a New York high-rise apartment with their bachelor uncle Bill, played by Brian, as well as his gentleman’s gentleman, Mr. French, played by Sebastian Cabot. And according to Whitaker, their relationship was rather close to the one the fictional Jody and Bill enjoyed.
“Brian was a wonderful man, like an uncle,” Whitaker recalled. “He loved the kids, hated the adults, hated everything about Hollywood, but loved his job, loved the fact that he could act and do what he wanted to do. He would pick us up from the school room, throw us on his back and we’d horsey into the set.
“Sebastian was Canadian but trained and worked in London. He always said that the actor prepares,” Whitaker added. “If we wanted to play, he would say ‘I’m happy to run the lines with you, but you know, we don’t dilly dally.’ He was a perfect Mr. French. And he was smart. During scenes with us kids, you’ll notice he is usually stroking his beard which pulled focus to him. He was a wonderful man and a good man. But he was business, and Brian was, ‘Let’s just enjoy ourselves and have a good time.’”
Everett Collection
Whitaker shared some unusual memories of shooting the series, including how they filmed nine months of the year, but Brian Keith only had to be present for three months. “So, all 26 or 27 episodes had to be scripted and ready before we started filming,” he said. “Brian would shoot all his scenes in those three months; and the next six months it was just Anissa, Sebastian, Kathy and myself and whatever guests we would have.
“Anissa liked to act, but she was more like Brian. She didn’t like doing the publicity. They had a Buffy and a Jody line of clothing and on our hiatuses, we would go around the country doing fashion shows. She did not really like the adulation.”
Whitaker later appeared in many shows like Bonanza, Marcus Welby, M.D., Gunsmoke, Bewitched and more. In 1973, he portrayed the title character in a musical version of Tom Sawyer.
Working With Jodie Foster
Everett Collection
“I wasn’t supposed to do the film,” Whitaker remembered. “I was a Boy Scout and planned to attend Boy Scout Camp. The problem was the start of the film was the third day of camp; and I did not want to miss it. The producers made the agreement that I would go to camp for four days, then fly to Missouri on the 5th day. I’d only miss one day of camp. I gratefully agreed. It was very embarrassing. They sent a helicopter to the camp and flew me to LAX.
“Jodie Foster played Becky Thatcher. She and I worked together in a movie the year before called Napoleon and Samantha with Michael Douglas and Will Geer. But in Tom Sawyer, I have the honor and distinction of giving Jodie her first on-screen kiss … and then she turned gay,” Johnny teased.
Memories of His Onscreen Twin Anissa Jones
Following the film, Johnny worked in Sid and Marty Krofft’s Sigmund and the Sea Monster (1973-75). His career was in full swing. Meanwhile, his “twin,” Anissa, had a more difficult time. Brian Keith offered her a role in his new show, but she declined, eager to take a break from acting. In 1975, she was offered the role of Iris in Taxi Driver, but by then, Anissa was floundering, influenced by a bad crowd she’d fallen in with. The part went to Jodie Foster.
Months later, in 1976, at just 18, Anissa died from a drug overdose.
Everett Collection
“Anissa’s death really shook me up. I was a good Mormon boy and decided to get out of show business. I went on a mission to Portugal. When I came home, I tried to get back in the business; but the business doesn’t like when you leave it,” Whitaker shared. “It doesn’t mind leaving you, but if you leave it, you don’t recover easily.”
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