Stanley Fafara
| Stanley Fafara | |
|---|---|
 Fafara (right) as "Whitey" in Leave it to Beaver with Jerry Mathers (center) as "the Beaver" and Stephen Talbot (left) as Gilbert, c. 1962. | |
| Born |
Stanley Albert Fafara September 20, 1949 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Died |
September 20, 2003 (aged 54) Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Complications from hernia surgery |
| Resting place | Redland Pioneer Cemetery |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | North Hollywood High School |
| Occupation | Child actor |
| Years active | 1955–1963 |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives |
Tiger Fafara (brother) Dez Fafara (nephew) |
Stanley Albert Fafara (September 20, 1949 – September 20, 2003) was a former American child actor, best known for his role as Hubert "Whitey" Whitney in the original Leave It to Beaver television series. His older brother, Tiger, played "Tooey Brown" in the series.
Early life and career
Fafara was born in San Francisco, California. In 1957, at the age of 7, his mother took him to an open casting call for a new family television series titled Leave It To Beaver. He had been working in commercials and television westerns since the age of 4. He earned the part of "Whitey" Whitney, one of the Beaver Cleaver's best friends.
Fafara remained with Leave It To Beaver for six years.[1] After the show's cancellation in 1963, he attended North Hollywood High School. He became friendly with the pop-rock band Paul Revere and the Raiders and reportedly moved in with the band for a time. He developed an alcohol habit and began to use drugs.[2]
At his parents' instigation, Fafara went to live with his sister in Jamaica, where he tried his hand at painting; however, he continued to drink and use narcotics. He then returned to Los Angeles at the age of 22 where he was married briefly. He supported himself by dealing narcotics. In the 1980s he was arrested for breaking into pharmacies seven times. Fafara was sentenced to a year in jail after being arrested and convicted for an eighth burglary. After his release from jail, Fafara tried several jobs but eventually returned to dealing drugs.[2]
Fafara later developed an addiction to heroin and was in and out of rehabilitation centers for many years. He became sober in 1995.[2]
Later years and death
Fafara spent the final eight years of his life clean and sober, initially living in a house for recovering addicts and alcoholics, then in a subsidized apartment]]" in downtown Portland, Oregon. He lived on Social Security checks of $475 per month until his hospitalization in 2003. Due to his addiction to heroin, he contracted hepatitis C.[2]
Fafara died on September 20, 2003, his 54th birthday, in Portland, Oregon, of complications from hernia surgery he underwent the previous month.[3] He was survived by a daughter and a grandchild.[2] Fafara is buried at Redland Pioneer Cemetery in Redland, Oregon.[4]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Good Morning, Miss Dove | Fred Makepeace - Age 6 | Uncredited |
| 1957 | Casey Jones | Carl Svenson | Episode: "Iron Men" |
| 1957-1963 | Leave It to Beaver | Hubert "Whitey" Whitney | 57 episodes |
| 1958 | The Millionaire | Boy | Episode: "Millionaire Dan Howell" |
| 1958 | The Lost Missile | Boy on Evacuation School Bus | Uncredited |
| 1959 | Wanted: Dead or Alive | Young Boy | Episode: "Angels of Vengeance" Uncredited |
| 1959 | Man Without a Gun | Episode: "Eye Witness" | |
| 1962 | The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm | Hansel | Uncredited |
References
- ↑ Norman Chance (2011). Who Was Who on TV. Xlibris Corporation. p. 290. ISBN 978-1-4568-2164-7.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Dennis McLellan (September 27, 2003). "Stanley Fafara, 54; 'Whitey' on 'Beaver'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
- ↑ "Actor who played Beav's pal dead at 53". Toledo Blade. September 27, 2003. pp. D–5. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
- ↑ "Stanley Albert Fafara". findagrave.com. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
External links
- Stanley Fafara at the Internet Movie Database
- Whitey Interview at leaveittobeaver.org