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Known for:	General Hospital, Tom Sawyer, Napoleon and Samantha
Birth name:	John O. Whitaker Jr.
Birthday:	13 December 1959, Van Nuys, California, USA
Height:	6' (1.83 m)

Graduated from Sylmar High School in Southern California after "Family Affair" was cancelled. He then spent two years in Portugal as a full-time, volunter missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When he returned to the United States, he attended Brigham Young University and obtained a degree in communications in 1986. He was divorced in 1988. He went through a 12 step program to rid himself of drug dependency. He was the fifth of eight children born to Thelma and John O. Whitaker, Sr. He was born at 12:14 AM, Pacific Standard Time. He was the only 6 year-old who screen tested for the role of Jody Davis, which originally was supposed to be for a 10 year old boy, but when the producers saw the chemistry between Johnny and Anissa Jones (Buffy), they promptly rewrote the parts for 6 year old twins...and a television legend was born! He gave Jodie Foster her first on-screen kiss in Tom Sawyer (1973). Speaks several languages fluently, including Portuguese, Spanish, French and American Sign Language. Began his acting career at the tender age of three. He was discovered while singing in the church's children's program where he broke up the entire congregation after he'd forgotten the words to the song and started to improvise with his own. He went on to do his first on-air performance in a commercial for OK Used Cars. A recovered addict since 1997, he has served to help others. He is President and Founder of Paso Por Paso, a California 501 (c)3 corporation dedicated to helping Spanish-Speaking addicts/alcoholics find treatment and recovery. In 1999 he received the Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award at the Young Artist Awards. His first film The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming co-starred Brian Keith, his Uncle Bill from Family Affair. Keith took a liking to the boy during the film shoot and was instrumental in setting up Johnnie with the producers of the TV show. Finding it harder to transition into young adult roles and following the tragic death of his 18-year-old "Family Affair" co-star Anissa Jones, Johnny took what was supposed to be an extended sabbatical from acting and a return to "normalcy" by attending public schools again. He instead went into missionary work. For 13 years, Johnny worked closely with the joint SAG/AFTRA Young Performer's Committee helping current young performers receive the benefits and prepare them for the detriments that a career in show business is likely to produce. His sister, Dora Whitaker is a well-established talent agent in North Hollywood, California. At one point he and two of his sisters and a brother were in a variety act called "The Johnny Whitaker Show" where they performed at fairs and Mormon church get-togethers. In June of 1984 he married a theatrical agent. They divorced four years later. Changed the spelling of his first name "Johnnie" to the more adult "Johnny" around 1973. Co-starred with young Jodie Foster twice in films. First in Disney's Napoleon and Samantha, and then she played Becky Thatcher to his Tom Sawyer. He made national tours for the "Tom Sawyer" line of boys' clothing after being cast in the the musical film. Eventually the same firm put out a "Johnnie Whitaker" line as well. Originated the role of "Scotty Baldwin", a "General Hospital" character still seen on the show. Brother of Billy and Dora Whitaker.

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