Do You Remember the Obscure ‘Family Affair’ Remake Starring Tim Curry?
Family Affair premiered on CBS on September 12, 1966, and introduced viewers to bachelor Bill Davis, his butler, Mr. French, and three orphaned children who unexpectedly came to live with them. The beloved series aired for five seasons. Exactly 36 years later, on September 12, 2002, The WB debuted a new version of Family Affair. The remake kept the familiar characters and New York City setting but gave the story a more modern look with a completely new cast led by Gary Cole and Tim Curry.
If you don’t really remember this version, there is a good reason. Only 15 episodes were produced, and two of them never aired. Let’s compare the cast and the premise to find out why the 2000s version didn’t succeed.
Brian Keith and Gary Cole as Uncle Bill
Gene Trindl/TV Guide/Everett Collection; Everett Collection
In the original series, Brian Keith played Bill Davis, a successful civil engineer and longtime bachelor whose life changed when his late brother’s three children came to live with him. Bill had plenty of help from Mr. French, but he gradually became a devoted father figure to Cissy, Buffy and Jody.
Gary Cole took over the role in the 2002 remake. Cole was already known for The Brady Bunch Movie and Office Space, and he played the updated Bill as a wealthy Manhattan bachelor living in an impressive apartment with his English butler.
Kathy Garver, who played Cissy in the original series, recently praised Cole as an actor but said she did not believe he was right for Uncle Bill. She felt that no one could replace Keith’s strength and sensitivity in the role.
Sebastian Cabot and Tim Curry as Mr. French
Everett Collection
Sebastian Cabot played Giles French in the original Family Affair. At first, he was uncomfortable around the children, but as he warmed up, he became perhaps the most loved part of the series.
Tim Curry stepped into the role for the remake. Best known for The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Clue, and It, Curry played a more openly irritated and sarcastic version of Mr. French. Critics generally considered Curry the highlight of the new series, but Garver said that he made the character completely different.
“When they did the remake, I did my scene with him, but he has a whole different kind of humor,” Garver recently told Entertainment Weekly. “Tim Curry, you know, was a little more edgy.”
Kathy Garver and Caitlin Wachs as Cissy
Gene Trindl/TV Guide/Everett Collection; Everett Collection
Kathy Garver played teenage sister Cissy Davis in the original series. Cissy helped her uncle and Mr. French care for the younger children while also dealing with school and dating.
Caitlin Wachs played the same role, generally listed as Sissy Davis, in the remake. In this version, the character was still the twins’ older sister but was portrayed as a more modern, confident teenager. Garver also made a guest appearance in the 2002 Christmas episode “Holiday Fever.” However, instead of returning as Cissy, she played a character named Beverly.
Anissa Jones and Sasha Pieterse as Buffy
Ken Whitmore/TV Guide/Everett Collection; Everett Collection
Anissa Jones was just eight years old when she became known as Buffy Davis in the original Family Affair. Buffy was rarely seen without Mrs. Beasley, her glasses-wearing doll with a polka-dot dress and distinctive voice.
The remake also included Mrs. Beasley. Sasha Pieterse played the new Buffy, and the doll even received her own episode, “Mrs. Beasley Disappears.” Pieterse was only six when the series premiered. She later became much better known for playing Alison DiLaurentis on Pretty Little Liars.
Johnny Whitaker, Luke Benward and Jax Pinchak as Jody
Ken Whitmore/TV Guide/Everett Collection; Everett Collection
Johnny Whitaker played Buffy’s twin brother, Jody, in the original series. Like Garver, Whitaker returned for the remake’s Christmas episode, appearing as a character named Kevin.
The remake actually had two different actors playing Jody. Luke Benward appeared in the one-hour pilot, but Jimmy “Jax” Pinchak replaced him beginning with the second episode. The change was made without an explanation. Benward went on to appear in Disney projects including Minutemen and Good Luck Charlie. Pinchak later had roles in All I Want for Christmas and Ender’s Game.
Why did the Family Affair remake fail?
Everett Collection
The remake initially attracted some curiosity. Its hour-long premiere drew about 4.55 million viewers, but the audience quickly declined as the series competed on Thursday nights.
The WB pulled Family Affair from its schedule in December 2002. It returned with three additional episodes in February and March 2003 before disappearing again. The network officially passed on a second season that May, leaving two completed episodes unaired. While several critics enjoyed Curry’s performance, many felt the newer series couldn’t match how authentic and memorable the original series felt.
Garver offered an even blunter assessment in 2026, calling the remake “terrible” before adding, “Excuse my language, it sucked. In my opinion, it’s very difficult to do remakes. I think sequels are great and they usually do well, but once something is embedded in the culture and in the fan or audience mind, that’s their character. Those are their friends.”
What did you think of the remake? Let us know in the comments!
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