I just found out about Anissa Jones!

[McGillicuddy]

Originally Posted by catlover79

She IS like an octopus - arms reaching out in all directions for money and attention.

I wish those kids could be taken away from her. It may be too late for the older 6, but the octuplets should be removed from that setting while they're still young, and maybe they could have a chance at a normal functional life!

[sixfingers]

Originally Posted by Chad Michael Murray

I can't believe this! How traumatizing. I used to watch this show on FX in the afternoons when I was young and then hadn't seen it for years after that. Then, with it popping up last night on the new "ME Too" station in Chicago, I got to see it again and decided to come find out if it was on DVD or not--and thanks to the magic of the internet, I do a little browsing and discover that adorable little Buffy didn't live many more years after the show was done!

How awful.

Do we dare tell him about Brian Keith?

[liane49]

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

I thought her death had been common knowledge for years, I guess I was wrong.

I still lived at home but I don't remember how old I was. My mother ws in the kitchen eatting breakfest and reading the paper. I had come out of my room I think and she told me she died. It was so sad. I just saw Jonny (Jodie) and Kathy(Sissy) on the old Jane Whitney show and Kathy had said Annisa was offered the role in the Exercist and turned it down. I didn't know that.

[Legs]

I was born in 2002 so my Mom actually told me about her Death when I was 8 years old and we were watching the show. I was so sad because she was my favorite on the show.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by Family Fan

Yes, her home life had much to do with her descent into the drug culture time. Over the years , I have met both Kathy Garver(Cissy), and John Whittacker (Jody), although they both went on, in the case of John 'Sigmund and the Sea Monsters', and Kathy did 'cartoon voice overs, the tragedy of Annisa spooed them and they were on to other things. Sebastian Cabot(French) also passed away soon after the show was over, and Brian Keith (Uncle Bill) was suffereing from Emphysima and ended his life. Still, in those days, TV shows aimed toward children were far superior in content and responsiblity. Still, enjoyed by kids of all ages worldwide. Family Affair remains one of the sweetest shows ever on television, from a time when kids were still allowed to be kids.

I think what also sent Brian Keith over the edge was the recent suicide of his daughter. I don't think that it's an understatement that Anissa's life was all around tragic. Due to her small figure and baby face, she was cast to play a six year old on Family Affair even though she was in reality, nine at the time. And because Anissa was the main reason for Family Affair's booming success, the powers that be refused to allow Buffy to grow up. Consequently, Anissa was forced to wear pig tails, pinafore dresses, and Mary Jane's until she was 13 years old, when the show was finally, blessedly canceled.

After Family Affair was cancelled, Anissa turned her back on acting completely. She tried to support herself as a counter girl at a donuts shop. But so many customers recognized her and asked her embarrassing questions about why she was working there, that she had to quit.

Even when Anissa wasn't working on Family Affair during its run, she was still working non-stop, traveling around the country doing appearances as Buffy. So, when she finally stood up to her mother (who pretty much treated her daughter as a meal ticket) and said "no more", there was friction and abuse.

[Coffeecup]

TMC = I agree I would find it hard to get back to non show business life job after being seen by millions nationwide. People would compare you to your character and some plot line you had. I did see a E story of her life and it was tough. She was only a little girl. Real life family was weak. Her tv character's family had more to offer. A loving uncle, nice brother and sister and a manservant.

[paul.austin]

The proposed "Family Affair" in-character reunion in the eighties would have needed a Fake Buffy and a Fake Mr. French. Brian Keith nixed it. He felt that without Anissa and Sebastian, there was no "Family Affair".

[Dick York was Darrin]

Another child actor destroyed by Hollywood.

[Hazel Anyday]

Who knows what happened in Buffy's private life. I'm sure it must have been kinda rough just trying to work a normal job and have people ask you about Buffy. But, heck, you get used to that kind of thing and if Buffy had lived long enough I'm sure she would have been able to handle it. Unfortunately she made some serious mistakes that literally cost her her life. I think her overdose was an accident. But, when you're young and foolish sometimes you don't get a 2nd chance.

[paul.austin]

Anissa's druggie friends helped themselves to her stuff and stole her car while she lay dead in that bed in Oceanside.