A former child star who was thrust into the spotlight thanks to hit series Family Affair has spoken out about his brutal descent into drug and alcohol addiction.
Johnny Whitaker, now 64, who began acting when he was just three years old and is best known for playing Jody Davis on the beloved CBS sitcom, opened up about how he turned towards the party after the end of the series during a recent conversation with Fox News.
The actor explained that he became a “drug addict” after being thrown into an “environment where drinking and doing drugs was acceptable” when he was 16.
“To have a successful childhood, you have to choose the right peers,” he told the newspaper. “Most of my peers were 20, 25, 30 years older than me.
Former child star Johnny Whitaker (seen in 2021) opened up about his brutal descent into drug and alcohol addiction
Johnny, now 64, began acting when he was just three years old and is best known for playing Jody Davis on the beloved CBS sitcom Family Affair (seen)
He explained how he turned to partying after the Fox series ended, and said he was placed in an “environment where drinking and doing drugs was acceptable” at the age of 16 years old.
“My peers were chosen for me…And when you’re in an environment where drinking and using drugs is acceptable, it becomes acceptable for you.
“You don’t think there’s anything wrong with using and drinking… And to some extent, I haven’t always been in my place.
“These are just some of the reasons why I became a drug addict, an alcoholic. I wanted to fit in.
Johnny began his career starring in commercials for Mattel – before landing the role of young Scotty Baldwin on the soap opera General Hospital.
His first feature film dates from 1966, in the film The Russians are coming, the Russians are coming.
But his breakout role came later that year, when he was cast in Family Affair. It was a huge success and lasted five seasons before ending in 1971.
It also starred Brian Keith and Sebastian Cabot, and followed a New York bachelor named Bill Davis whose life was turned upside down after the death of his brother – which left him suddenly raising three young children.
“It was always fun,” Johnny recalled to Fox about his time on the set of Family Affair as a child.
After Family Affair, Johnny starred in a few other films and series, including Disney’s Snowball Express and Napoleon and Samantha (seen)
He also starred in the musical film adaptation of Tom Sawyer, and in the series Sigmund and the Sea Monsters (seen)
But amid his sudden fame, the actor (seen in 2014) said he began attending numerous Hollywood parties from the age of 16 – where he was exposed to drugs and alcohol.
“We have always been pampered and taken care of by Brian, as well as the producers and directors. They took care of us. It was an adventure.
After Family Affair ended, Johnny starred in a few other films and shows, including Disney’s Snowball Express and Napoleon and Samantha, the musical film adaptation of Tom Sawyer and the Sigmund and the Sea Monsters series.
But amid his sudden fame, he said he began attending numerous Hollywood parties from the age of 16 – where he was exposed to drugs and alcohol.
His former Family Affair co-star Anissa Jones – who played his sister, Buffy Davis, on the show – also fell on hard times after the series ended. She died of a drug overdose in 1976, when she was just 18 years old.
Things only got worse for him when he divorced in 1988 and his girlfriend, who was pregnant with his child, tragically committed suicide later that year.
He married a woman named Symbria Wright in 1984, but they separated after four years together.
Soon after, he started dating someone new and was delighted when she found out she was expecting – but she committed suicide and took the life of her unborn child with her.
“When she became pregnant with my child, it was too much for her. She chose to kill herself and my child,” Johnny said.
“It was a traumatic experience for me, my divorce and then losing my girlfriend and my child. This made it easy for me to choose drugs and alcohol.
His former Family Affair co-star Anissa Jones – who played his sister, Buffy Davis, on the show – also fell on hard times after the series ended. She died of a drug overdose in 1976, when she was just 18 years old.
After more than two decades battling drug addiction, the star (seen in 2002) decided to seek help in 1997 and has since turned her life around.
He is now a certified substance abuse counselor and devotes his time to helping others dealing with similar issues. It was seen in 2016
“She was my sister. I understand that this life, our existence, is very short. But it was still hard to lose her so young,” Johnny reflected.
After more than two decades battling drug addiction, the star decided to seek help in 1997.
He said he realized it was time for change after having an “a-ha moment” following a “family intervention”.
He has since turned his life around and now dedicates his time to helping others with similar issues.
Johnny is now a certified substance abuse counselor and founded his own non-profit organization that focuses on helping Spanish-speaking drug addicts.
The former child star, who is Mormon, holds 12-step meetings at a local county jail “once a month.”
“I go there to share my experience and offer strength and hope,” he explained. “I do it through my ministry.
“I want to tell these guys that there is hope. They can become clean and sober. They can get out of the revolving door they are in.
After a hiatus of almost 30 years, he returned to the screen in 2002, when he made a brief appearance in the remake of Family Affair.
He also co-hosted a radio show in 2012 called The Dr. Zod and Johnny Show and starred in the 2013 film A Talking Cat!?!
Now, he’s told Fox that he’s working on a memoir that he “hopes to have out” by “the end of the year” and is preparing to star in another new film.
“This summer, in North Carolina, I’m working with Charlene Tilton, a friend of mine, on a new film. She’s the female lead, so we’ve been busy working on that,” he explained.
The actor also insisted he has no regrets for his past mistakes, adding: “(If this hadn’t happened), I wouldn’t have learned the things I learned. “