Home / Arts and Entertainment / Family Affair Star: Ghostly Voice Saved His Life
Family Affair Star: Ghostly Voice Saved His Life
8 May
Summary
- Whitaker was saved from a fatal car crash by his late TV father.
- Anissa Jones, his co-star, died at 18 from an overdose.
- He returned to normal life after his co-star's tragic death.
Johnny Whitaker, renowned for his role as Jody in the 1960s sitcom Family Affair, recounted a miraculous escape from a near-fatal car accident. The incident took place on a Los Angeles freeway, where Whitaker was distracted and nearly collided with stopped traffic. He claims to have heard the voice of his deceased television father figure, Brian Keith, warning him to 'Duck, cover, roll.' Following this instruction, Whitaker avoided a direct impact that would have been fatal, attributing his survival to an angelic intervention by Keith.
Whitaker's journey as a child star began at age 3, and by age 6, he was cast in Family Affair. The show's demanding schedule saw him and co-star Anissa Jones working seven days a week, including promotional tours for their own clothing lines. This intense period fostered a unique bond between the young actors.
Tragically, Jones, who played his TV twin sister Buffy, passed away at the young age of 18 due to an overdose, a stark contrast to Whitaker's later experiences. Following Jones' death, Whitaker sought a more conventional life, returning to high school and engaging in normal teenage activities. He also maintained contact with Keith, reaching out to him shortly before the actor's death in 1997, who died by suicide at 75.
