Anissa Jones from 'Family Affair': Story of Her Life and Tragic Death

Anissa Jones rose to fame as a child actor in the sitcom, "Family Affair." But after the sitcom ended, Anissa's career came crumbling down as she faced a lot of rejections despite auditioning for several roles.

Anissa discovered her passion for acting at a young age. She received her breakthrough in the 1960s, landing a role in the sitcom "Family Affair," which ran for five seasons.

Anissa Jones' outstanding performance in the show opened many opportunities for her, and she began making other appearances in other shows. However, her career took a different turn when the sitcom ended.

Anissa Jones' Career as a Child Actor

Anissa Jones was born on March 11, 1958, in West Lafayette, a well-known college town recognized as the home of Purdue University. Her father, John Paul Jones, served as an engineer and was a faculty board member at Purdue University during that period. Her mother, Mary Paul Tweel, who came from a mixed Lebanese and American background, was studying zoology at the time.

Anissa Jones spent the initial years of her life in Charleston, West Virginia, where her family had established their home. In 1963, her family relocated to Playa Del Rey, California, where her father, John, had gotten a job offer in aerospace engineering.

But soon after, Anissa's parents began having problems in the marriage; the two eventually called it quits in 1965, a year after Anissa had made her debut in TV commercials, six years old at the time.

Anissa would be found dead the following day at the home of Helen Hennessy, who was a close friend.

Anissa Jones embarked on her acting journey in 1965, and her breakthrough came in 1966 when she secured the role of Buffy Davis, the orphan girl, in the sitcom "Family Affair." Anissa's impressive acting skills in the show made her a famous child actress, and soon after, she began making several guest appearances.

She took on the role of a guest host on the variety show "The Hollywood Palace." Additionally, she appeared on talk shows such as "The Mike Douglas Show" and "The Merv Griffin Show."

Anissa's film debut was in 1969 when she had a minor role in the drama movie "The Trouble with Girls," which starred the legendary Elvis Presley, who was also known as the King of Rock and Roll. When "Family Affair" ended in 1971 Anissa found herself without any recurring roles in the industry. Despite auditioning for various parts, she faced a series of rejections. Sadly, her acting career came to an end when she was just 12 years old.

What Year Did Anissa Jones Pass Away?

With TV stardom, it was difficult for Anissa to adapt to life as a normal teenager. She attended a public school and would often be mocked by her classmates. One fateful day, on August 27, 1976, Anissa went partying with her friends in the beach town of Oceanside, California.

Anissa would be found dead the following day at the home of Helen Hennessy, who was a close friend. An autopsy report revealed the cause of Anissa's death, with the statement indicating the late actress succumbed to a drug overdose.

After Anissa Jones' death, Dr. Don Carlos Moshos was arrested for the unlawful prescription of powerful drugs. Tragically, Don passed away in December of that same year while still awaiting his trial.