Little Rascals Biographies / Spanky's World

Biographies

"Our Gang Biographies"

Many people wonder what became of these wonderful child stars as their lives progressed. It's hard to believe that many of them are gone now, but they will long be loved and remembered as friends of ours. I'm only giving BRIEF information on some of the Our Gang starst.

Alfalfa (Carl Switzer) - (8/7/27 - 1/21/59) Always the clown on the set, Switzer continued to act up after he left the Gang. He had run-ins with the law and in 1959 was shot to death over money allegedly owed to him by his business partner. He was 31. He did have a few small roles in some memorable films. Among them: "It's a Wonderful Life" and John Wayne's "The High and Mighty." Switzer also had a recurring part in Roy Rogers' TV show.

Brisbane (Kendal McComas) - (10/29/16 - 10/15/81) - Known as Breezy Brisbane. He became an electrical engineer at the U.S. Naval Weapons Center in China Lake, California. Like many child actors he was small for his age and never grew taller that five feet. In 1981, two weeks before his 65th birthday and apparent forced retirement he committed suicide.

Bouncy (Harold Wertz) - (8/3/21 - 11/21/99) - Appeared as a secondary character in Hook & Ladder, Choo-Choo! and The Pooch.

Buckwheat (William Thomas) - (3/12/31 - 10/10/80) - Thomas had a long run in the series. He had a few roles in movies outside the Rascals but dropped out of acting in 1945 and went to public school. Afterward, he led a stable, successful life as a film lab technician in Hollywood. He died of a heart attack in 1980 at age 49.

Butch (Tommy Bond) - (9/16/26 - ) - Died: September 24, 2005.

Chubby (Norman Chaney) - (1/18/18 -5/30/36) As he grew into his teens, his weight expanded to over 300 pounds. In 1935, he had an operation for a glandular ailment, and his weight dropped to 136 pounds. Sadly, he never recovered and passed away at the age of 18.

Darla Hood - (11/8/31 - 6/13/79) - The Rascals' leading lady was a valuable behind-the-scenes entertainer after her screen success as a child. She sang background music for many 1940s films and was a regular on Merv Griffin's radio show. She even lent her vocal talents to such well-known ad campaigns as the Campbell Soup Kids and the Chicken-of-the-Sea mermaid jingle. Quote from an interview with Tommy Bond:

Bond: "Actually, in 1979 she convinced the Sons of the Desert to take in the Little Rascals. She was gonna be at our big convention in 1980. And poor thing, she got sick, had some kind of a minor operation they were gonna do on her in the hospital, and in the hospital she contracted hepatitis and died. So she never realized her dream, but we did. She set it all up for us to be hooked up with the Sons of the Desert." She was 47.

Dickie Moore - (9/12/25 - ) Died: September 7, 2015

Dorothy DeBorba - (3/28/25) - Died: June 2, 2010

Farina (Allen Hoskins) - (8/9/20 - 7/26/80) Director Bob McGowan's personal favorite, and said to be one of the nicest people to know. Died of cancer.

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Froggy (William Robert Laughlin) - (7/5/32 - 8/31/48) Died in a motor scooter accident at the age of 16 in California.

Harry Spear - (12/16/21 - ) - Died: September 22, 2006,.

Hal Roach - (1/14/1892 - 11/2/1992) - The genius who ran the studio and gave us Harold Lloyd, Laurel & Hardy, Charlie Chase, Our Gang and many others. He lived to be over 100 years old! Died of pneumonia.

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Jackie Condon - (3/25/18 - 10/13/77) Died of cancer.

Jackie Cooper (9/15/21 - ) - One of the major child stars of the 1930's, he acted in many films. His last roles were as Perry White in the Superman films of the late 1970's-1980's. Died: May 3, 2011

Jean Darling - (8/23/22 - ) After leaving Our Gang the beautiful blue eyed curly haired blonde of the silent era was very busy as she headlined a vaudeville act as a single performer. Jean traveled the U.S. doing as many as eight shows a day plus doing corresponding school work, signing autographs, and made many personal appearances visiting children's hospitals and orphanages, department stores, etc. Sick or healthy, nothing stopped Jean from performing. She had over 50 short stories published in magazines like Ellery Queen and Alfred Hitchcock. Jean also played Carrie Pipperidge in the original Broadway Company of Carousel for 850 consecutive performances. Jean currently lives in Ireland where she is well known for her portrayal as Aunt Poppy, a popular children's television and radio show. And for those of you who have read Jean's biography in the Our Gang/Little Rascals book by Leonard Maltin & Richard Bann, Jean was NOT a mermaid in The Bride of Frankenstein! Died: September 4, 2015

Jay R. Smith - (8/29/15 - 10/5/2002) - After serving in WWII, he bought a paint store. Retired to Hawaii, then moved to Las Vegas. He was stabbed to death and left in the desert by a homeless man he had befriended.

Jerry Tucker - (11/1/25 - ) - Currently lives in New Jersey. Died: November 23, 2016

Joe Cobb - (11/7/17 - 5/21/2002) Died of natural causes.

Johnny Downs - (10/10/13 - 6/6/94) Died of cancer.

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Leonard Kibrick - (9/6/24 - 1/4/93) Died of Cancer

Woim (Sid Kibrick) - (7/2/28 - ) - Currently lives Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Mary Ann Jackson - (1/14/23 - ) Mary Ann Jackson began her short but indelible career at the age of five in the short film, "Crazy House". Sporting a distinct Dutch-cut hairdo and freckles, she was cast in the "Our Gang" series in 1928 and made 32 comedy shorts with the group until 1931. Unimpressed with acting and the industry, she left the field and eventually married. She lives in San Fernando Valley, CA where she and her second husband settled and has no regrets for leaving the business. She does have fond regard for her days at the Hal Roach Studios and is impressed with her large fan following.

Mary Kornman - (12/27/15 - 6/1/73) Died of Cancer.

Mickey Daniels - (10/11/14 - 8/20/70) Died of cirrhosis of the liver. Records of his death did not surface until being researched 21 years after his body was found in a hotel. He died alone.

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Mickey (Mickey Gubitossi/Robert Blake) - (9/18/33 - ) - Became a powerful adult performer of leading and character roles. Starred in the series Baretta in the 1970's. Consumed with anger over his treatment by his family and the studio as a child, he denigrated his early work, suffered bouts of difficulty with drugs, and became known as a difficult, perfectionistic person to work with. He quit his successful TV series "Hell Town" (1985) when his personal demons became overwhelming. After a self-imposed exile of nearly eight years, during which he struggled to right his life, he successfully returned to films and television work, appearing renewed and more confident in himself and his work. Currently in prison in Los Angeles, under suspision for murdering his wife Bonnie Lee Bakley after having dinnner at Vitello's in Studio City. Currently Lives in Nutley, New Jersey, United States

Miss Crabtree - (Gisela Goetten/June Marlowe) (11/6/03 - 3/10/84) Actress in silent films, she wore a blonde wig for her her role as Miss Crabtree. Died of Parkinson's Disease.

Pete the Pup - The first Pete was poisoned by an unknown assailant. His last film was A Tough Winter. One of his offsprint carried on beginning with the next film, Pups Is Pups. Currently lives in Dog Heaven.

Porky (Gordon Lee) - (10/25/33) - died October 21, 2005

Scotty Beckett - (10/4/29 - 5/10/68) - Scotty went on to star in other films after leaving Our Gang. As an adult he checked into a Hollywood nursing home on May 8, 1968, needing medical attention after suffering a serious beating. He died two days later. Although pills and a note were found, no conclusion was made by the coroner as to the exact cause of his death. He was just 38 years old.

Shirley Jean Rickert - (3/25/26 - ) Became a beautiful stripper named Glenda and her Crowning Glory. Died: February 6, 2009

Spanky (George McFarland) - (10/2/28 - 6/30/93) Having tried unsuccessfully to land acting jobs in Hollywood after his starring role in the Rascals, McFarland moved back to Texas, joined the Air Force and eventually found a career as a TV salesman/executive. He made an appearance on Cheers shortly before he died at age 64 of a heart attack.

Stymie (Matthew Beard) - (1/1/25 - 1/8/81) - Stymie had a troubled adult life with crime and drugs. In later life he finally cleaned up his act, and made appearances on Sanford & Son. Both he and his father, Matthew Sr., a minister in Los Angeles, were born on New Year's Day. Stymie's trademark bowler was actually one of comedian Stan Laurel's hats which accounts for it's oversize. In 1981 he suffered a stroke, contracted pneumonia, and died at USC Medical Center. His last words were: "Fun, fun, fun...Had a lot of fun."

Waldo (Darwood Kaye) - (9/8/29 - 5/15/2002) - Became a pastor. Was killed by a hit and run driver, who came up on the sidewalk as Darwood was taking a walk.

Wally Albright (9/3/25 - 8/7/99) - Died: August 7, 1999,.

Wheezer (Robert Hutchins) - (3/29/25 - 3/17/45) - Died in a military airplane accident at the age of 19.

Much of this content was created by Patrick Picking

Modified By Keith Hawkins 2006 - 2020

Last Updated - July 10th 2023