Hollywood’s history is filled with stories of young actors who were exploited and then forgotten, their well-being disregarded once they aged out of the spotlight. This harsh reality certainly applied to Anissa Jones, the actress who embodied the character of Buffy Davis on the beloved sitcom Family Affair.
Family Affair, a heartwarming series that aired on CBS from 1966 to 1971, spanning 138 episodes, revolved around bachelor Bill Davis (played by Brian Keith). Bill’s life takes an unexpected turn when he becomes the guardian of his orphaned nieces and nephew – Cissy (Kathy Garver), Buffy, and Jody (Johnny Whitaker) – following the tragic death of their parents, his brother Bob and sister-in-law Mary, in a car accident.
Initially overwhelmed by the sudden shift in his bachelor lifestyle, Bill gradually embraces his role as a family head, striving to create a loving home for the children with the help of his ever-dependable butler, Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot).
Anissa Jones, born on March 11, 1958, in Lafayette, Indiana, spent her early years in Charleston, West Virginia. Her life took a dramatic turn when her family relocated to California. Her parents’ subsequent divorce inadvertently propelled her into the world of acting.
However, Anissa Jones’s story is not a fairytale of Hollywood success. It’s a poignant narrative that took a tragic turn, as detailed below.
Anissa Jones, the child actress who played Buffy Davis on Family Affair, posing for a portrait in 1969.
From Introspective Child to Television Star
In 1966, an article in California’s Independent Star-News described Anissa Jones as “an imaginative, introspective little girl who spends many hours in make-believe with her collection of dolls.” This description hinted at the depth and sensitivity of the young actress who would soon capture America’s hearts.
The article further acknowledged her remarkable ability to convey a wide spectrum of childhood emotions on screen. Anissa could effortlessly project “feeling of pride, rejection, fun, sadness, wish to be loved and stubbornness” – often within a single half-hour episode of television. This natural talent was key to Buffy Davis’s appeal and the show’s success.
Divorce and a Twist of Fate into Acting
The Jones family’s move to California in 1959 was followed by her parents’ divorce. This life change led Anissa’s mother, Mary, to seek employment. As The San Francisco Examiner reported, acting became an unexpected opportunity. A neighbor, whose child was involved in TV commercials, suggested Anissa for similar work. After appearing in four commercials, Anissa’s talent caught the attention of a Family Affair producer, and she was cast as Buffy Davis. This accidental entry into show business would define Anissa’s young life.
A scene from Family Affair in 1967 with Diane Brewster interacting with child actors Anissa Jones, Kathy Garver, and Johnny Whitaker, highlighting the family dynamic of the show.
The Demanding Schedule of Family Affair
Producer Don Fedderson, known for My Three Sons, implemented a unique shooting schedule to attract Fred MacMurray to television. MacMurray’s scenes were filmed in a concentrated period, allowing him to minimize his time commitment. A similar arrangement was made to secure Brian Keith for Family Affair.
Geoffrey Mark, producer of Inside Television’s Greatest documentaries, explained, “Fred MacMurray and Brian Keith would only have to work six or 10 weeks a year. So all of their scenes from the entire season were filmed at once, and they would all later be edited into the individual episodes. Then, the regular cast and guest stars would have to come back and one by one they would shoot the episodes in order.”
This schedule, while beneficial for the adult stars, created a demanding workload for the child actors. The entire season’s scripts had to be finalized in advance. While Brian Keith had a limited shooting schedule, Johnny Whitaker and Anissa Jones faced a different reality. Due to child labor laws restricting their working hours, filming became particularly challenging for them. Kathy Garver, once she turned 18, could work longer hours, bearing more of the workload as the older sibling character.
The Burdens of Buffy and Public Life
Anissa Jones’s character, Buffy, became synonymous with her “Mrs. Beasley” doll, a prop that turned into a highly successful piece of merchandise. However, this association meant Anissa was expected to carry the doll virtually everywhere, a requirement that became increasingly embarrassing as she grew older. Beyond the doll, she faced constant media attention and relentless interviews.
In 1967, The Los Angeles Times observed, “Every Monday night, little Anissa Jones enters the wonderful world of make believe for half an hour to play Buffy. But away from the series, the studio and her ‘career,’ Anissa could pass for a typical 9-year-old.” The article noted her precociousness yet natural and unaffected demeanor despite her burgeoning fame.
The original cast of Family Affair in 1966, featuring Brian Keith, Sebastian Cabot, and child stars Anissa Jones, Johnny Whitaker, and Kathy Garver, showcasing the core family unit of the popular sitcom.
In an interview with the LA Times, Anissa offered glimpses into her personal life, mentioning her 54 pets, including a bird she often forgot to feed. She also expressed a preference for swimming pools over the ocean, stating the ocean’s unpredictable depth as a concern. These anecdotes painted a picture of a child trying to navigate the complexities of fame while still holding onto childlike perspectives.
Perfume and “Business Practices”
Anissa also shared with the LA Times her entrepreneurial side, describing her perfume business. She created “perfume” by crushing flowers, adding water, and bottling the concoction, which she sold for ten cents a bottle. The source of these flowers, however, was somewhat unconventional.
“The neighbors’ yards,” Anissa admitted matter-of-factly. “Sometimes we just pick the flowers and then sell them, but we’re always careful not to sell the flowers to the lady we pick them from.” This innocent yet slightly mischievous “business practice” highlights the contradictions of a child star navigating the adult world of commerce.
Struggling with Identity
As Family Affair progressed, Anissa began to struggle with being constantly identified as Buffy. Her mother, Mary, told the media, “She is always ready to say, ‘Please call me Anissa’ when people refer to her as Buffy. I do think she likes to be recognized in public. For her, it has some meaning.” While she appreciated recognition, Anissa yearned to be seen as an individual beyond her television persona.
By October 1967, her frustration became more evident. The Republic of Columbus reported, “She finds playing a mere child of 6 ‘babyish’ and quickly reveals her true age to anyone willing to listen.” At nine years old, Anissa felt increasingly confined by playing a character perpetually stuck at age six.
Relentless Public Appearances
Even when Family Affair wasn’t filming, Anissa’s schedule remained packed. By 1970, she was spending every other weekend traveling to various cities to promote the show. The San Bernardino County Sun highlighted the toll this took on her childhood:
“She should be allowed to stay at home and play during her out-of-school and off-the-set hours. Anissa is in the sixth grade at Paseo del Rey Grammar School when not filming Family Affair or making personal appearances. She doesn’t know, she said seriously, if she wants to stay in show business and confident that she hopes to ‘retire when I’m 14,’ which prompted a man in the crowd to say, ‘Over her mother’s dead body.’”
Geoffrey Mark adds, “So, not only are they working as actors in a weekly show, but in addition they’re required to do talk shows and publicity stunts and meet with the sponsors and fly across the country. Their time, as set by contract, belonged to the production company and the network. That’s a lot of pressure to put on someone less than 10 years old…” He further emphasizes the lack of a stable family life to buffer these pressures, noting her parents’ divorce and her mother’s role as a “pushy stage mother” who relied on Anissa as the family’s primary earner after her father’s death.
Family Affair‘s Cancellation and a Fleeting Freedom
When Family Affair was canceled in 1971 after six seasons, it offered Anissa a chance at a different life. The Sacramento Bee reflected two years later, “The show’s cancelation represented a chance for its then 14-year-old leading lady to finally be herself, free from the psychological burden of submerging her personality inside a screen character who never grew older.” However, this newfound freedom proved to be tragically short-lived and fraught with challenges.
Anissa Jones in 1971, towards the end of Family Affair, capturing her growing up but still associated with the Buffy image.
The Pursuit of Adult Roles and a Downward Spiral
The limitations of the Buffy image became apparent as Anissa sought more mature roles. She was rejected by director William Friedkin for The Exorcist (the role ultimately went to Linda Blair). Martin Scorsese invited her to audition for Taxi Driver (Jodie Foster’s role), but by then, Anissa was disillusioned with Hollywood. Seeking normalcy, she enrolled at Westchester High School in Los Angeles.
However, normalcy remained elusive. Geoffrey Mark explains that her life began to unravel, exacerbated by a bitter custody battle between her parents over Anissa and her brother Paul, which her father won. Following her father’s death, instead of living with her mother, Anissa became a ward of the court.
Mark suggests that her behavior became indicative of deeper issues: “And anyone who knew anything about drugs would have been watching her behavior and would have known that Anissa was in trouble: taking jobs and then quitting them, petty shoplifting, bad eating patterns, incredible mood swings, bad sleeping patterns.”
Upon turning 18, Anissa Jones inherited approximately $200,000 in savings, which she reportedly spent within a few months.
A Tragic End
On August 28, 1976, at the young age of 18, Anissa Jones died from a drug overdose after a night of partying. The coroner’s report revealed Quaalude, cocaine, PCP, and Seconal in her system. Her doctor, Carlos Moshos, who prescribed the Seconal, was arrested and charged with manslaughter, but he died before facing trial, and the case was closed. Following a private service, Anissa Jones was cremated, and her ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean.
A portrait of Anissa Jones in 1971, reflecting the young actress as she navigated the transition away from her childhood role on Family Affair.
Geoffrey Mark poignantly reflects, “Any child would agreed that when you’re being treated like a little baby when you’re in the midst of puberty is confusing, embarrassing and frustrating. So she was unhappy at home and, at work, feeling undervalued and overworked. It seems like she had no port in the storm and the storm finally overtook her — literally — at the beach.”
Anissa’s Legacy Beyond Buffy
Brian Keith O’Hara, a blogger and friend of Anissa’s mother, emphasized Anissa’s strong desire to be recognized for who she was, not just as Buffy from Family Affair.
O’Hara wrote, “If you wanted to end a conversation or prevent one from starting at all, all you had to do was bring up the show or call her ‘Buffy.’ But if you wanted to talk about poetry, Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men or just about anything else, then you had a chance of making a new friend. And she was as smart as anyone you ever met.”
Anissa Jones’s life serves as a cautionary tale about the pressures of child stardom in Hollywood. While Family Affair brought joy to millions, it also cast a long shadow over Anissa’s life. Her story reminds us of the importance of recognizing child actors as individuals beyond their on-screen personas and the need to protect them from the potential pitfalls of fame. Anissa Jones was more than just Buffy; she was a bright, intelligent young woman whose life was tragically cut short.
