Johnny Whitaker

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John O. Whitaker Jr. (born December 13, 1959 in Van Nuys , California , USA ) is an American actor and former child star .

Life

Whitaker was the fifth of eight children of Thelma and John O. Whitaker, Sr. He began his career at the age of three by appearing in several commercials . He became known beyond the borders of the USA in 1966 through the role of "Jonathan 'Jody' Patterson-Davis" in the American children's series Dear Uncle Bill ( Family Affair ) alongside Anissa Jones as "Buffy". Whitaker was just six years old when he auditioned for the role. Also in 1966 he appeared in his first feature film, the comedy The Russians Are Coming! The Russians are Coming! , next to his film uncle Brian Keith from Dear Uncle Bill .

Whitaker then played in numerous other productions, including beginning in 1972 with The Promenade Mix (1972) in several Disney films. He was in the same year, next to Jodie Foster in flight into the wilderness to see. In 1973 he had the title role in the musical Tom Sawyer's Adventure, written by the Sherman brothers , alongside Jodie Foster as "Becky Thatcher," who got her first film kiss from Whitaker in this film.

After graduating from Sylmar High School, he spent two years in Portugal . There he worked as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . After returning to the United States, he studied communications at Brigham Young University (graduated in 1986). Whitaker then worked in the computer industry and for the Los Angeles talent agency, Whitaker Entertainment , which is owned by his sister.

A marriage with the theater agent Symbria Wright only lasted from 1984 to 1988. He later also took part in a drug rehab program.

Since 2001, Johnny Whitaker has also appeared in the talk show parody Nighty Nite San Francisco . He speaks several languages ​​fluently, including sign language for the deaf.

Filmography (selection)

Awards

  • 1999 - Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award at the Young Artist Awards

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Kevin Modesti: Former 'Family Affair' child actor Johnny Whitaker now has the role of a lifetime. In: Los Angeles Daily News, February 1, 2011
personal data
SURNAME Whitaker, Johnny
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Whitaker, John O. Junior
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American actor and former child actor
DATE OF BIRTH December 13, 1959
PLACE OF BIRTH Van Nuys , California , USA