After the show, she struggled to get more roles as people knew her for being Buffy. She stepped into showbiz with a breakfast cereal ad marking her first television feature when she was just six years old. She then started living in a rented apartment with her brother Paul. I also took some classes in memoir writing, and I had to produce pages each week. And she was as smart as anyone you ever met.. Her life came to a tragic end at the age of 18 when she died of a drug overdose at a friends house in 1976. With her blond pigtails and eager smile, Anissa Jones charmed TV audiences in her role as Buffy on Family Affair. Spanning five decades, Dick Cavetts television career has defined excellence in the interview format. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! It also involved the stress over her and her brothers custody. Try our quiz and enter to win $500!Click below to check the trivia questionRemember Anissa Jones? I'm learning from my son how to cook some more because I measure everything and have to have everything correctly. Anissa Jones Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements Here's What Happened to Anissa Jones a.k.a. 'Buffy' from 'Family Affair' When she auditioned for the role of Regan MacNeil in The Exorcist (1973), the director had a hard time imagining adorable little Buffy possessed by a demon. Just before she rose to fame, Jones' parents divorced and were engaged in a lengthy custody battle. Even the doll that she used in the show became a best-seller in North America when it was marketed by Mattel. If you wanted to end a conversation or prevent one from starting at all, all you had to do was call her Buffy or bring up the show. She received a little less than $200,000, which she blew almost immediately, Mark recalled. The next year, she received her trust fund savings when she turned 18. At the age of six, Anissa snagged her first role advertising cereal in a television commercial, and two years later she landed the role of Buffy in Family Affair. Buffy had a doll named Mrs. Beasley that went wherever she did; it became so popular that it became Americas best selling doll during the comedys run. Anissa Jones was only 18 years old when she died. When she turned 18 years old in 1976, Jones finally had access to the salary she acquired from "Family Affair." After reading about the life and death of Anissa Jones, look through the tragic stories behind some of Hollywoods biggest child stars. Family Affair hit the trifecta. Her middle name Anissa in Arabic means Little Friend. She was still working when she got the news. Her father died suddenly, two years after the show ended. Its just a really nice thing to do. We're living two kinds of different lives, and I just moved down to Los Angeles. She was arrested and spent a few months in a juvenile detention center. She was only 18 years old. Her parents divorce had led to a bitter custody battle, which resulted in her father winning custody of Jones and her brother. It never eats. Life is advocating for oneself. Her hard-driving mother enrolled Anissa in dance classes at the tender young age of four. Around that time, producers Henry Garson and Edmund Beloin were developing a new show titled "Family Affair," and they thought Jones would be perfect for the role of Buffy. Fox News: Do you remember the last time you spoke to her?Garver: Yes, that was after her 18th birthday party. However, Moshos died on December 27, 1976 due to cancer before the verdict on the case came out that found him 30% liable of Anissas death. But away from the series, the studio and her career, Anissa could pass for a typical 9-year-old; somewhat precocious, but very natural and unaffected by her show business activities., In that interview, Anissa talked about her love of art and the fact that she used to have 54 pets, which caused her mother to raise an eyebrow in response. 'Family Affair': The Heartbreaking Story Behind the - Outsider He has appeared in movies, tv specials, tv commercials, and several Broadway plays. When the show was abruptly canceled in 1971, Jones then 13 years old was eager to turn over a new leaf. Her father, who was an engineer, got a job at the University of Southern California and at the Hughes Aircraft Company, so the family relocated to The Golden State. Today, Anissa Jones is best remembered for the role that made her famous. Tragically, Anissa Jones wasnt the only Family Affair cast member to suffer an untimely death. The actress is fondly remembered as Catherine Cissy Patterson-Davis in the hit TV series Family Affair, which starred Brian Keith, John Whitaker, Sebastian Cabot, as well as child star Anissa Jones. She bonded with local teenage friends and started to have the freedom that had been denied her the five years she was on the TV show.. But shaking off her reputation as the adorable Buffy proved an insurmountable challenge. She was a little girl whom other little girls envied, but who, in truth, experienced tremendous pressures during those years that should be reserved for the simple joys of childhood, wrote Marilyn. So I just kept starring in different kinds of comedies and dinner theater there after my Shakespearean experience. But if one can put something in a single word or a single sentence, that I think explains the unexplainable to many people. Kathy landed a once in a lifetime role, and as a . Following her cremation the ashes were dispersed over the Pacific Ocean. In 1964, Anissa, accompanied by her mother, went for an open audition for a breakfast cereal commercial. This goes from Shirley Temple and Judy Garland and Jackie Coogan all the way through to todays young people. 20 Facts about the Famous 'Family Affair' TV Series Even Fans - AmoMama He had invited me over to have dinner with his family. Born In: Lafayette, Indiana, United States, place of death: Oceanside, California, United States, Cause of Death: Combined Drug Intoxication, See the events in life of Anissa Jones in Chronological Order. He'll go into the kitchen and cook something very nice. He passed away soon after, a factor that caused her to become rebellious. Why in the world would her mother allow that? This show, I thought, without being exploitive or macabre, really did a whole autopsy in a forensic way, because they had a forensic pathologist. Bright and personable, her role as Buffy was to cause her increasing psychological straining She was nearly 14 when Family Affair ended and, at an age where she was growing interested in boys, was still being instructed to play with dolls on camera and on personal appearance tours. It was quite embarrassing, but it broke the ice and we laughed. It seemed to us then, as it does now, that she should be allowed to stay at home and play during her out-of-school and off-the-set hours. In four or five months.. Family Affair lunch boxes and coloring books were popular; there were also Buffy paper dolls, a Buffy childrens clothing line, as well as a 1971 cookbook with Anissas face on the cover. I felt like I had this helmet of gold on, like something out of Goldfinger. I was talking with the producer and she said, "What's wrong with your hair? Although she became a household name, the hectic schedule, promotions, and also of the products associated with the show like Buffy paper dolls, a clothing line and lunch boxes among others took a toll on Anissa who was still a kid. Anissa Jones was an American child actress known for her role as Buffy Davis on the show Family Affair. On August 28, 1976, while at a friends house party, Anissa took a cocktail of barbiturates, phencyclidine, cocaine, and methaqualone. We won't post to any of your accounts without asking first. At eight years old, Anissa was cast as Buffy on Family Affair, which aired from 1966 until 1971. Anissa Jones was born on 11 March 1958 in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA. So, he says, not only are they working as actors in a weekly show, but theyre also required to do talk shows and publicity stunts and meet with the sponsors and fly across the country. The parents divorced shortly after moving to California and Mrs. Jones suddenly had to look for a job. The coroner said it was one of the most massive overdoses hed ever recorded, Garver wrote. Actually, she did know, Anissa bought a place for her and her brother to stay and spoiled him with a stacked out Camero. I dont think theres any curse, she told Fox News. Unless they have good parents and wonderful producers, they arent taught how to be adults, because the people in charge want to keep them controlled. Her doctor, Don Carlos Moshos, was later charged with 11 felony counts of illegally prescribing powerful drugs, according to the New York Times. Anissa Jones was born on March 11, 1958, in West Lafayette, Indiana. Mary Anissa Jones was an American child actress who rose to stardom playing Ava Elizabeth 'Buffy' Patterson-Davis on the American television sitcom 'Family Affair'. ``I just took what came along. 17 Anissa Jones Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO 17 Anissa Jones Premium High Res Photos Browse 17 anissa jones photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. The coroner would later report that she had cocaine, PCP, Quaalude and Seconal in her system. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Courtesy of Kathy Garver. Closer Weekly is part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Copyright a360media 2023. Disillusioned, Jones also turned down a role on her former co-star Brian Keiths new show, The Brian Keith Show, as well as a chance to audition for the role of Iris Easy Steensma in Taxi Driver (1976). In this, we were looking for a blonde. Buffy and her doll became household names, and their faces were on merchandise everywhere. At Playa Del Rey, her father started working in aerospace engineering and she started attending Paseo del Rey Elementary School. She graduated from Oberlin College, where she earned a double degree in American History and French. But on August 28th 1976, she died at a friend's house in Oceanside, California. Jones' family had her body cremated and spread the ashes over the Pacific Ocean. At legal age, Anissas US Savings Bonds from her Family Affair earnings would become available to her in the amount of $177,800. And anyone who knows anything about drugs, would have been watching her behavior and would have known. After being released, she was sent to live with her mother. On December 26, 1967, she featured as co-host of the hour-long American television variety show The Hollywood Palace in episode 15 of season 5. He gave me a hug and was just so understanding. Viewers especially liked the doll she carried, Mrs. Beasley, which soon became a real-life toy that fans could buy. Of course, when you're with somebody all day, it's nice to go home to your own family, so we didn't spend a lot of time outside of work. It was such a tragedy. Garver: No. Kathy Garver reveals new details about her time as Catherine 'Cissy' Patterson-Davis in Family Affair including what she thinks about a 'curse' associated with the show. It was a great combo. My agent says, "They are looking for a girl with blonde hair and about your age." She was known on the sitcom as Catherine, "Cissy" Patterson-Davis. In 1969, she did land a part in "The Trouble with Girls," an Elvis Presley film that starred various other child actors. In 1966, producer Don Fedderson, who had created the Fred MacMurray series My Three Sons, collaborated with producer-writer Edmund Hartmann to create Family Affair. He was charged with 11 offenses that included second-degree murder. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. "Autopsy: The Last Hours of" Anissa Jones (TV Episode 2017) - IMDb 'Family Affair': Anissa Jones Broken Leg Was Written Into the Show It was Anissa Joness last, as well as the moment when she inherited the money shed earned from Family Affair. As she started to audition for movies, however, Jones felt pigeonholed by her reputation as the precocious and adorable Buffy.. They were on set with him to make sure he was being treated well. He went through a 12-step program to rid himself of drug dependency. 'Family Affair' Star Anissa Jones' Awkward Interview | The Dick Cavett Show The Dick Cavett Show 284K subscribers Subscribe 7.1K 564K views 2 years ago #SammyDavisJr #DickCavett #FamilyAffair. She eventually stopped going to school in 1975, per Groovy History. It was at her house with her friends. Fox News: Anissa Jones passed away when she was just 18. Fox News: How did you get the role in Family Affair?Garver: Well, I had been working as a child for a long time, since I was 8years old. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. After Family Affair ended, Jones struggled to make the transition to serious actress. As soon as her friends found 18-year-old Anissa, they called the paramedics, but it was too late. Her mother and father had fought bitterly over custody of Anissa and her brother, Paul. I was a little older than they were looking, but they always like someone over 18. She died on 28 August 1976 in Oceanside, California, USA. They also collected a blue liquid near her but could not specify what it was. Market data provided by Factset. The name "Anissa Jones" may not ring any bells to Millennial and Gen Z TV viewers, but Boomers knew her best as Buffy from the CBS sitcom "Family Affair," which ran for five seasons. Following a private service, Anissa was cremated and her ashes scattered in the Pacific Ocean. I had dark hair at the time, and my mom comes over and she sprays my hair with this streaks and tips kinds of things that they had in the late 60s. She was only 18. Still, Garver remained a friend of Jones, even attending her 18th birthday party. Her mother finally took her in, but it didn't prevent her from getting into drugs and shoplifting. Her father, John Paul Jones, was, at the time of her birth,. She got back to her studies and stayed away from showbiz for good. But it was a really good professional, warm, working relationship. Anissa Jones' drug use intensified when she gained access to her wealth. She became a ward of the court. I was just so upset. There were no roles she was interested in pursuing, so Jones decided to live a normal life away from the spotlight (via AmoMama) and enrolled at Westchester High School in Los Angeles. It embodies the trials of child actors, the devastation of typecasting, and the pitfalls of having, and then losing, stardom. Six days later, her doctor, Don Carlos Moshos, was arrested and charged with manslaughter for illegally prescribing Seconal to her. Steve Hanford, Jones' friend, said, "The night Anissa died was weird. And her mother, at the suggestion of a neighbor, started bringing Jones to TV commercial auditions. 1967. She stepped into showbiz with a breakfast cereal ad marking her first television feature when she was just six years old. Jones was remembered by many who knew her as an intelligent girl. Reported The San Francisco Examiner, Acting proved to be the big break for the Jones family. Even that injury was written and included in the script of the series by the producers. Johnny Whitaker and Kathy Garver of the original "Family Affair." Life is also realizing that one is not the center of attention. So, I dont think its a curse.. Anissa Jones, who played precious Buffy, died of a drug overdose in 1976. Divorced in 1988. The Police arrested her after she was reported as a runaway by her mother.