Anissa Jones was an American child actress of Lebanese descent, primarily remembered for her role as Buffy Davis in the hit sitcom "Family Affair" from 1966 to 1971. The show lasted for five seasons and 138 episodes, making Jones a household name at a young age.
Born in 1958 in West Lafayette, Indiana, Jones was the daughter of engineer John Paul Jones and Lebanese-American zoology student Mary Paula Tweel. Her family moved to Charleston, West Virginia, and later to Playa Del Rey, California, where her father accepted a job in aerospace engineering.
Jones began her acting career at the age of six, appearing in television commercials. She pursued acting roles in 1965 and had her big break in 1966 when she was cast in the sitcom "Family Affair". She was only eight years old at the time but was cast as a six-year-old due to her small stature.
Jones quickly became a popular child actress, making guest appearances on other television shows and even serving as a guest host on "The Hollywood Palace". She was also interviewed on "The Mike Douglas Show" and "The Merv Griffin Show". Her film debut came in 1969 with a small part in the drama film "The Trouble with Girls", starring Elvis Presley.
However, after "Family Affair" ended in 1971, Jones struggled to find new roles and her acting career came to an abrupt halt at the age of 12. Despite auditioning for various parts, she was nearly always rejected.
Tragically, Jones died on August 27, 1976, at the age of 18, due to a combination of drugs, including cocaine, PCP, Quaalude, and Seconal. She was found dead at the home of a close friend in Oceanside, California. An autopsy revealed that she had consumed a combination of drugs, and a small vial of blue liquid was found next to her corpse, but the police were unable to determine what it was.
Following her death, Dr. Don Carlos Moshos was arrested for illegally prescribing Seconal to Jones. Moshos died in December 1976 while awaiting his trial, and in 1979, a court decision forced Moshos' estate to make compensation payments to Jones' surviving relatives.
Jones' mother, Mary Paula Tweel, was the last surviving relative and passed away in January 2012. Despite her untimely death, Jones is still fondly remembered for her iconic role as Buffy Davis in "Family Affair".
