Hollywood Studio Magazine (November 1968)

at least one night a week in the pursuit of family activity and study of religious scriptures. This is Johnnies favorite time of the week. It is something the rest of the Whitaker’s look forward too as well. Because of the demands of his career, Johnnie and his brothers and sisters are often separated and Mrs. Whitaker acts as companions for her son on these trips. A family evening is always held however, as often as their busy schedules permit. Johnnie is a trouper who can look back on a career of four years. He was given a key role in “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming,” and has done a number of television commer¬ cials and specials for various programs. His carrot colored hair and freckles have been seen the most on “Family Affair” however. His fans are mostly youngsters like himself and dozens, sometimes hundreds of letters arrive that his mother answers by hand in between her chore as a housewife and mother. While no one has proposed marriage yet, some of his fans have sent medical advice and prescribed medicine that they claim will improve his health. Because of his fame, Johnnie is invited to many fund raising programs for all religions. Johnnie accepts these and does his best to raise money for needy children, new chapels and charities of all types. His brother and sisters often get caught in the act too. Talent runs deep in the Whitaker family and all of the children have a musical instrument or can sing — or both. In Johnnie’s case, his voice sounds like that of an earthbound angel, or so the critics have described it. His big brother, Stephen plays the drums. Sherrie, Laurie, and Linda, the three oldest Whitaker girls sing in three part harmony. Little Mary, just six, is learning to play the piano, and the baby brother of the household, William and baby Dora Lee, play on the floor. Johnnie career as an actor has relieved his parents of a big burden thanks to his completely generous nature and a family council held one “home family” evening. The council was called to decide how to makeup to the other children the many absences of their mother, when she ac¬ companies Johnnie on a tour. “Why not put my money in the bank?” Johnnie suggested, “then we can use it to put everybody through college!” A vote was taken and this is exactly what everyone wanted to do. The problem of education is solved and no one is jealous of Johnnie or his career. A Family Affair- TV series Everywhere Johnnie goes, middle-aged fans want to sweep him into then arms and mother him. Even veteran actors who are normally jealous of their own careers and popularity love Johnnie’s warm grin and lack of pretention. He is the modern equivalent of “Huck Finn,” the hero of Mark Twain’s immortal literature. In fact, Johnnie wears a straw hat for good luck when he goes on interviews for various shows and commercials. His school mates hold him in awe. But, Johnnie would rather have them forget he is movie star and treat him like everyone else. “I’m just a little boy,” he is fond (ff saying, and he means it. The Whitaker clan must be the largest in show business next to the famous King Family, another Mormon household. When the television set lights up each week for the next episode of “Family Affair,” you can bet freckle-faced Johnnie Whitaker has been practicing at home among his own brothers and sisters for the make-believe world of the movies. It is after all, a “Family Affair,”