Stanley Fafara
Encyclopedia
Stanley Albert Fafara was an American
actor
, best known for his role as "Whitey" Whitney in the original Leave It to Beaver
television series. He appeared in forty-two of the show's 234 episodes. His older brother, Tiger
, played "Tooey Brown" in the series.
Fafara was born September 20, 1949 in San Francisco, California
. By 1957, seven year old Stanley Fafara's mother took him to an open casting call for a new television series about a suburban family entitled "Leave It To Beaver." He had been working in commercials and television westerns since the age of four. He earned the part as "Whitey" Whitney, one of the lead character's best friends.
For a while, at his parent's insistence, he attempted living with his sister in Jamica, where he tried his hand at painting. But he couldn't abstain from his drug use. He then returned to Los Angeles at age 22, where he married briefly. Fafara began supporting himself by dealing illegal drugs. Made worse, later he was convicted of breaking into pharmacies and sentenced to a year in jail. After being incarcerated, Stanley tried his hand at being a roofer, waiter and janitor before descending back into drug use, particularly heroin. He was in-and-out of rehab centers for many years, eventually getting sober in 1995.
Fafara reportedly 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 near Portland's "skid row
", where he lived on Social Security checks of $475.00 per month until his hospitalization in 2003. He managed to turn his life around and he finally conquered his addictions, without any relapses. But unfortunately he had already contracted hepatitis C.
Eventually Stanley re-established a relationship with a daughter who he hadn't seen in twenty years, and became close to his nephew, former Coal Chamber
and current DevilDriver
vocalist Dez Fafara
, son of Tiger Fafara. He also kept in contact with other child actors who were in recovery, and helped fellow addicts to stay clean and sober. He started a business designing web sites, and was beginning to have some success. At the time of his death he had a flat in Portland's Mark Harfield Building, an apartment complex created for people in recovery from addiction.
, of complications from hernia surgery. Stanley Fafara was given two well-attended funerals, and was buried at Redland Pioneer Cemetery, in Redland
, Oregon
. Sadly, his grave is unmarked.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, best known for his role as "Whitey" Whitney in the original Leave It to Beaver
Leave It to Beaver
Leave It to Beaver is an American television situation comedy about an inquisitive but often naïve boy named Theodore "The Beaver" Cleaver and his adventures at home, in school, and around his suburban neighborhood...
television series. He appeared in forty-two of the show's 234 episodes. His older brother, Tiger
Tiger Fafara
Lucas "Tiger" Fafara II cheese is a former child actor on the Leave It to Beaver sitcom, amongst others, appearing in eighteen episodes between 1957 and 1960. He was born in San Francisco, California....
, played "Tooey Brown" in the series.
Fafara was born September 20, 1949 in San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. By 1957, seven year old Stanley Fafara's mother took him to an open casting call for a new television series about a suburban family entitled "Leave It To Beaver." He had been working in commercials and television westerns since the age of four. He earned the part as "Whitey" Whitney, one of the lead character's best friends.
Career
Stanley enjoyed six years on the sitcom, and after the cancellation of "Leave It To Beaver" in 1963, Stanley attended North Hollywood High School. While there, he developed a liking for alcohol and soon learned how to use his fame to best advantage. He became friendly with the pop-rock band Paul Revere and the Raiders and reportedly moved in with the band for a time. He discovered hard drugs in the mid 1960's, an unfortunate obsession that would dog him for many years to come.For a while, at his parent's insistence, he attempted living with his sister in Jamica, where he tried his hand at painting. But he couldn't abstain from his drug use. He then returned to Los Angeles at age 22, where he married briefly. Fafara began supporting himself by dealing illegal drugs. Made worse, later he was convicted of breaking into pharmacies and sentenced to a year in jail. After being incarcerated, Stanley tried his hand at being a roofer, waiter and janitor before descending back into drug use, particularly heroin. He was in-and-out of rehab centers for many years, eventually getting sober in 1995.
Fafara reportedly 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 near Portland's "skid row
Skid row
A skid row or skid road is a run-down or dilapidated urban area with a large, impoverished population. The term originally referred literally to a path along which working men skidded logs. Its current sense appears to have originated in the Pacific Northwest...
", where he lived on Social Security checks of $475.00 per month until his hospitalization in 2003. He managed to turn his life around and he finally conquered his addictions, without any relapses. But unfortunately he had already contracted hepatitis C.
Eventually Stanley re-established a relationship with a daughter who he hadn't seen in twenty years, and became close to his nephew, former Coal Chamber
Coal Chamber
Coal Chamber is an American alternative metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1993. Prior to Coal Chamber, Dez Fafara and Meegs Rascón formed the band She's In Pain in 1992. The two decided to create Coal Chamber. They disbanded in 2003 after ten years together, but announced a reunion in...
and current DevilDriver
DevilDriver
DevilDriver is an American heavy metal band from Santa Barbara, California, formed in 2002. The band was originally named Deathride, however, due to copyright issues and the name being taken by several bands, Deathride changed its name to DevilDriver, which refers to bells Italian witches used to...
vocalist Dez Fafara
Dez Fafara
Bradley James 'Dez' Fafara is the current vocalist for DevilDriver and the recently reformed Coal Chamber.-Personal life:Dez is of Portuguese and Italian, specifically Sicilian descent...
, son of Tiger Fafara. He also kept in contact with other child actors who were in recovery, and helped fellow addicts to stay clean and sober. He started a business designing web sites, and was beginning to have some success. At the time of his death he had a flat in Portland's Mark Harfield Building, an apartment complex created for people in recovery from addiction.
Death
He died September 20, 2003, on his 54th birthday, in Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, of complications from hernia surgery. Stanley Fafara was given two well-attended funerals, and was buried at Redland Pioneer Cemetery, in Redland
Redland, Oregon
Redland is an unincorporated community located in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. It is located six miles east of Oregon City and four miles south of Carver.The community was named for the color of the soil there....
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. Sadly, his grave is unmarked.