Attended Orville Wright Junior High School.
Attended Paseo Del Rey Grammar School.
Attended Westchester High School from 1973-1976.
Briefly worked at a Winchell's donut shop in Playa del Rey, where she grew up.
Had a brother who died from a drug overdose in 1984.
Her death is the subject of the song, "Buffy's Dead."
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 ever seen in San Diego County.
Her name, Anissa, was Lebanese for 'little friend'.
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 "I'm Tired of Waking Up Tired"). The chorus goes: "Uncle Bill/Uncle Bill/I took some pills/Mr. French/Mr. French/I'm feeling tense".
Tried out for the role of Regan in The Exorcist (1973), but lost out to Linda Blair.
Was considered for the role of Violet in Pretty Baby (1978) 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 (1976). The part went to Jodie Foster.