American child actress
Attended Orville Wright Junior High School.
Attended Westchester High School from 1973-1976.
Had a brother who died from a drug overdose in 1984.
Tried out for the role of Regan in The Exorcist , but lost out to Linda Blair.
Briefly worked at a Winchells donut shop in Playa del Rey, where she grew up.
Attended Paseo Del Rey Grammar School.
Her fatal overdose was of a combination of cocaine, angel dust, Quaaludes and Seconal. The San Diego County coroner said it was one of the most severe cases of drug overdose he had ever seen in San Diego County.
Her name, Anissa, is Arabic for little friend.
Her death is the subject of the song, "Buffys Dead."
The Diodes , a Toronto band from the 1970s, had a song about her called "Child Star" (also released as a single, the flip side of "Im Tired of Waking Up Tired"). The chorus goes: "Uncle Bill/Uncle Bill/I took some pills/Mr. French/Mr. French/Im feeling tense".
Was considered for the role of Violet in Pretty Baby but she died before auditions began. Brooke Shields eventually was cast as Violet and became a controversial movie star.
Was offered the role of Iris in Taxi Driver . The part went to Jodie Foster.
After "Family Affair" ended, Brian Keith , who played Uncle Bill Davis, offered her a role on his new show, "The Brian Keith Show" . She declined, saying she didnt want to act anymore.
Came from Lebanese descent.
[On losing the part in The Exorcist ] Director William Friedkin felt that with "Family Affair" in reruns, audiences would feel that Buffy was the one being possessed. The part then went to Linda Blair. Anissa was reportedly ecstatic when she heard she didnt get the part.
Her name is pronounced "uh-NEE-suh", not "uh-NISS-uh" or "uh-NESS-uh".
While working at Winchells Donut Shop, she reportedly was embarrassed whenever customers recognized who she was.
Shooting is work. I like going to my own school better. I see my friends,there.
