Family Affair, Behind the Scenes, guest, Johnny Whitaker (Interview)
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- Опубліковано 10 вер 2024
- John chats with Johnny Whitaker about his time on "Family Affair" as well as the unfortunate passing of Anissa Jones "Buffy" and Brian Keith. He also talks about his experience working on "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters." Johnny talks about working with Jodie Foster, in "Bewitched", playing Tom Sawyer, and Keenan Wynne and Dean Jones on "Snowball Express." Johnny discusses his past drug addiction, his partying with Eric Douglas and his ultimate intervention. It's a wild ride! Enjoy!
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Hosted by John Cato, actor, voiceover artist, and moderator for over 20 years for the television and movie industry. John's background brings a unique insight and passion to the podcast.
Thank you for watching my channel! If you enjoyed this video, please LIKE & SUBSCRIBE to my channel. I have fun talking about television from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s television shows and often with the stars of the shows..
I can't bellieve the 70s and 80s was so long ago - Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Facts of Life, etc., were so long ago, yet seem like yesterday...still recognized and still relevant in peoples' lives. It's amazing.
@@farrellmcnulty909 I know, I don’t think people ever would have realized back then how much these shows would mean all these years later. They bring back such great memories😀
Johnny Whitaker is a true survivor. I grew up watching Family Affair and Sigmund and the Sea Monsters. A wonderful actor and a wonderful person. Thank you!
My pleasure Lamar, Johnny certainly is a survivor and I am so glad. Loved him when he was on Family Affair!
Have had the pleasures of meeting Johnnie several times over the years, at autograph shows & other events. Always such a kind, lovely, sweet & caring guy! Love him!
Always love hearing that, I thought Johnny was extremely nice as well!
I grew up watching Johnny Whitaker, particularly Family Affair and Sigmund and the Sea Monsters. I am glad he is still with us after all he has been through. I enjoyed hearing his stories of those he worked with and also very much enjoyed hearing that he is helping to make a positive difference in the lives of those who are dealing with what he has been through. Thanks for another great interview with one of my childhood heroes.
Neil as always, glad you enjoyed the podcast and appreciate your feedback. It was a definite trip down memory lane and fascinating to see where he has been and is still moving forward in his life.
I think Anissa Jones's life story & death is the saddest. I was 13 when she passed away. I remember it well. I still think about her often even though I never met her.
I hear you, Buffy was so iconic and you never forget when someone so young passes, so tragic.
Enjoyed this interview. I was a big fan of Sigmund back in the day.
Glad he is clean and sober .
Glad you enjoyed the interview Andy😀I was and am a big Johnny Whitaker fan. I am glad he is clean as well.
Grew up watching Family Affair. Enjoyed the entire cast.
It had such great characters😀
Great interview johnny has lived quite a life working with a whole range of people. I always found johnny one of the most naturalistic child actors he also worked with Steven Spielberg in the tv movie Something Evil.
Thanks Paul, I would agree Johnny was a natural in his acting ability. Cool info on the Spielberg movie too.
This is a great interview! Johnny is one of my favorite people on the planet! I have met him twice and he was super nice! I grew up watching him on Family Affair, Sigmund, and Tom Sawyer.
That is so cool you have met him in person! I wish I could have. Thank you and glad you enjoyed the interview. He was definitely one of my favorite child actors growing up. If you haven't already please subscribe more great interviews are in the works!
@@ThatsClassicTV I just subscribed and I see a lot of your videos that I'm going to watch! Keep up the great work!
@@marthamagruder3698 Thanks Martha, appreciate it😀
Fabulous interview . Thank you John . Please create dozens more interviews like you do .
Thanks Stephen, thats what I trying to do, enjoy!😀
Shawn here again, I'm enjoying your interview with John Whitaker. There's a late doctor that I knew who had home movies with John Whitaker in them. The doctor's practice was in Prosser Washington, and there really is more than 1 Mrs Beasley. I met 2 of them, one in Prosser Washington. Something to ask Jonny about. I also met Mrs Seaman. She retired to Florida, she gave me rides to and from church every week. She was a sweet lady and told me about her being a teacher for child actors for Disney. I need to get back to watching your interviews with Happy Days cast.
Very interesting, if I ever talk to Johnny again I will try to remember to ask them. Glad you are enjoying the interviews. A new episode is coming next Sunday😀
Great Interview. I grew up watching Family Affair. Lived a few blocks away from Johnny. Went to school with his sister. sometimes I see him on gun smoke with Jodie foster.
Thanks Sherry, so glad you enjoyed the interview. I was a big fan of Johnny’s and that is wild you lived so close to him and his sister. Thanks for supporting my channel😀
Love this show best family sitcom I discovered it in reruns in late seventies still watch it on Amazon now with my own child.
It is a classic show! Hope you enjoyed the interview. If you haven’t subscribed already please do so you are notified when I release a new episode😀
Johnny Whitaker is legend.
He is really is so iconic.
This interview with the great Johnny Whitaker had so many well told stories and the chemistry between John and Johnny was pitch perfect. It’s so funny thinking of the “world of a child,” and remembering when I was a kid of maybe 8 or 9 the film “Tom Sawyer” was such a big deal and highly anticipated by me and most kids of my age. Still holds up as one of the most beloved renditions of that classic. I’ll never forget that scene of Injun Joe standing up in the town meeting and throwing that knife at Tom, right into the wood of the high backed chair next to his head. It was so startling and realistic and still holds up. I think if I were asked who my favorite kid actor from my childhood was it would definitely have to be JW.
I enjoyed talking with Johnny as much as you enjoyed the interview. I agree he was and is one of the top child actors and so natural. Tom Sawyer was a great film and I love the memory of the knife with Injun Joe, thanks!
I remember when I was a little kid seeing some of the cast (Annika Jones was there)of FA at a local mall and being sort of awestruck. Johnny Whitaker was a very popular kid actor during those years, extremely well loved and recognizable. Hearing him share about drug and alcohol recovery was so poignant and triumphant at the same time. Child actors have always had a huge struggle awaiting them sadly yet some of them come through it “scarred but not broken.” Anyway, what a great guy and considerably well adjusted given the challenges. AND best of all, now helping others!
Thank you, I am happy you are enjoying them! Johnny has definitely been through all of it but he seems in a good place now. That is so cool that you saw them at the mall all those years ago, they would have been larger than life😀
Nice interview. I was at Krofft Kon. One of the highlights was meeting Johnny. One of the best child actors ever.
I am envious, I wish I could have been there. Sounds like it was amazing. I agree, he was just a natural as a child actor. Just gifted. Glad you enjoyed the interview. Please subscribe to my channel, more great interviews are coming😀
@@ThatsClassicTV I subscribed. Your guest list so far is pretty impressive. I definitely see your channel getting huge. I also met Wesley Eure and Kathleen Coleman (Will & Holly) at Krofft Kon. They would be great guest on your show. Both are genuinely sweet and kind people. You would have a great time interviewing them. Make sure to read Kathleen's book Run Holly Run before hand. Her life story is amazing.
Thank you for subscribing and for your supportive comments😀I will reach out to Wesley and Kathleen and let’s see what happens. Boy, I wish I had been at Kroft Kon.😀
Wow, just great listening to Johnny. I grew up watching Family Affair and in recent years bought some DVDs of the show. Thanks so much for another terrific interview! 🙂👏📺🎬
Always a pleasure Ricky. Yeah, Family Affair is definitely a classic and Johnny is such a defining part of the show. Appreciate your support:)
@@ThatsClassicTV 🙂
"We gotta run, we gotta hide, we got to keep you out of sight, we love you Sigmund!"
😀😀
I just loved Familý Afair back in the day. I was so heaŕ. When Buffy pàssed. You aŕe taĺking about speaking 5 diffŕènt Languàges. I remembeŕ the story wherè you both befŕiendèď a little who was Deaf. And hèĺpèd her to go into a special. school. Tàke of your sèlf.
Maxine, I loved Family Affair as well. Glad you enjoyed the interview with Johnny. I thought it was cool he spoke 5 different languages as well. Please subscribe if you haven't already so you are notified when my next episode is published. Some great ones are on the way.
Tom Sawyer is one of my all time favorite movies, I was 12, when I saw it in 73.
I would agree, that film was just a wonderful escape as a kid😀
A great interview. Johnny was loved by millions during his career. Thank you for doing this.
Most definitely, I was a huge fan myself growing up😀
What a great interview!!!
Thank you
Thank you! I always loved seeing Johnny as a child actor. Wishing him well as I know he was in the hospital for surgery a couple days ago❤️
He Looks Like MR. FRENCH Now. ❤ 😊
Interesting observation😀
Another awesome interview! Johnny Whitaker is a survivor for sure and obviously and kind and genuine person. I grew up in the area near Orinda where Kroftcon went on. I was so surprised to even hear the town mentioned! 😅
Thanks Joe! That was a pretty wild location to do it in😀
So wish I had my Mrs Beasley doll, she'd be worth a lot,loved Family Affair,was so said when Anesa overdosed
My sister has one and feels the same way😀
Dang he got old ! He's only 2 years older than me And looks like my dad ! Yikes 😮... But glad he's recovering from substance abuse and is ok now 👍. He's a nice man. I still see him as the little boy on family affair tho ! 😊
I am glad he is sober as well. I will always think of Johnny as Jodie from Family Affair😀
I like your channel. Keep up the great work!
Thank you so much for your kind feedback. I enjoy doing it so I will keep trying to bring in great guests😀Please subscribe if you haven’t already and hit the notification button so you will be notified when I have a new interview 👍
I really loved Family Affair! What a interview!! Thank you❤️
My pleasure Donna😀Check out my interview with Kathy Garver as well if you haven’t already, enjoy!
Wonderful hearing from Johnny! Thank you
My pleasure Tina, I love interviewing Johnny! Please subscribe to my channel if you haven't already, so many great interviews and more to come. You should check out my interview with Kathy Garver as well.
John , how the heck do you get these stars to spill their guts so easily????
I am just being me, glad you are enjoying the interviews😀
I remember him breaking my heart in the Littlest Angel.
Seriously, Johnny just had this vulnerability that just grab your heart, just a natural.
A very interesting interview. Thank you. I was kind of hoping Johnny would talk about Billy Barty a little but even so he gave out a lot of detail. :)
That would have been interesting to ask. There was so much I missed it. Glad you enjoyed the interview though! I believe you are already a subscriber but if not please subscribe, thanks.
Congratulations on your years of sobriety.
Cheers
Cheers!
Anissa was 13 when Family Affair ended and it was a difficult time for her bc she portrayed much younger, they had her hair in those pigtails and her chest binded bc she was starting puberty so this must have put her mentally in a bad way, Johnny was a 1 1/2 t I unger than Anissa and portrayed a little younger too
Pretty crazy when you think about and also very sad. Thanks for your insight.
Thank you for the awesome interview! It is wonderful to see you Johnny and to see that you’re doing good. Keep up the positive attitude because you are loved out here! Thanks again for your generosity with your time in this great interview
Thank you for the feedback! Johnny was definitely an interesting interview to say the least. I think you are a subscriber already but if I am wrong please do subscribe. There are some terrific interviews on my channel, thanks.
@@ThatsClassicTV I am already a subscriber and I promote your channel to all my friends that love classic TV podcast!
@@deetlesbug3008 I love hearing that, thanks a bunch❤️
Johnny's turned into Mr. French
So funny you are not the first to say that😀
Enjoyed your interview
Thank you very much Debra. Johnny is definitely someone I remember watching many times as a kid so it was a lot of fun to interview him. Glad you enjoyed it. Please subscribe if you haven't already so you are notified when I release a new episode:)
Dude is just over 60, looks 75+. Substance abuse really takes a toll.
That it can.
Yeah I've heard everyone in NA wants to be a drug counselor....
Interesting.
That stuff about Catholicism is very old school. It's much more understanding and evolved.
Everyone has their own experiences.
I wonder why Cathy Garver has or had issues with him
Watch the Johnny Whitaker interview I did and you might gain some more insight on this. I don't think you are a subscriber yet but please do subscribe so you can be notified when I release a new episode. Have fun!
@@ThatsClassicTV My comment (which you just responded to) is on the Johnny Whitaker interview. I did watch it. Maybe I was zoning out during that part and missed it. I didn’t hear any clarification on why she was mad at him.
@@EastSide-qc5oy I think he just alluded to possible reasons nothing specific. Did you listen to the interview I did with Kathy Garver?
@@ThatsClassicTV I’ll look for it. Does she reference the reasons she refused to take a photo with him?
@@EastSide-qc5oy Not really, I think it is very personal.
Sorry to hear that Kathy Garver is so unforgiving. It isn't very becoming.
Well I guess it is very personal for her.