- Johnny and his brother Billy Sheffield were both in Knute Rockne All American (1940), playing Knute Rockne at different ages.
- He is best remembered for playing Boy, the adopted son of Johnny Weissmuller's Tarzan in eight Tarzan movies, and for his role as Bomba the Jungle Boy in a dozen low-budget Monogram features.
- Suffered his fatal heart attack on October 15, 2010 at his home four hours after he fell off a ladder while pruning a palm tree. His brother Billy Sheffield died two months later.
- By 1947, his role as "Boy", Tarzan's adopted son, in the Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan films at both M-G-M and RKO came to an end, as he had literally outgrown the role. Several years later, when he began a series of low budget films as "Bomba" for Monogram, he was almost six feet tall.
- The only actor to play Tarzan's adopted son in more than one theatrical motion picture.
- Not to be confused with older character actor John Sheffield, whose career was comprised with uncredited bit parts over almost the same span of years.
- Attended UCLA, from where he received a Business degree, and worked in the real estate industry, as well as a contractor.
- Body cremated and ashes given to family or friend.
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