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The Little Rascals, born from the Our Gang shorts, has introduced a group of ragtag kids to the world since it debuted in 1955. Each character in the series and the 1994 film of the same name had their distinct personality and image. Now decades have passed by, and what are the actors like today? Get ready to take a then-and-now look at the cast of The Little Rascals.
William Thomas Jr., born in 1931, first appeared as a background player in the 1934 Our Gang shorts. The character "Buckwheat" was originally played by a female, but it slowly morphed into a boy. Thomas initially portrayed Buckwheat as a stereotypical African-American "pickaninny," who wore bowed pigtails, a large hand-me-down sweater, and oversized boots. That portrayal was pretty controversial at that time.
After the show, Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 23. He was honorably discharged with a National Defense Service Medal and a Good Conduct Medal. Thomas was then engaged in a behind-the-scenes job as a film lab technician with Technicolor. Sadly, on Oct. 10, 1980, the actor died of a heart attack in his Los Angeles home.
Born in 1928, George Robert Phillips McFarland modeled children's clothing for a Dallas department store before joining Our Gang. He was once so famous that he was seen on Dallas highway billboards and in print ads for Wonder Bread. In the show, McFarland was cast as Spanky, who was known as the president of the "He-Man Woman Hater's Club."
When he was 24 years old, McFarland left showbiz and joined the United States Air Force. He then did odd jobs at a soft drink plant, a hamburger stand, and a popsicle factory. In 1993, McFarland made his final television performance, playing himself in the opening of the Cheers episode "Woody Gets An Election." In June of that year, he died of a heart attack at 64.
Born in 1925, Matthew Beard Jr. was cast as a baby in many movies before joining Our Gang as Stymie, whose trademark was bald head, crowned by an oversized derby hat. The hat was a gift from comedian Stan Laurel, who had also worked under Our Gang creator Hal Roach. At 10, Beard left the series and went on to score minor roles in some feature films. He retired from acting when he was in high school.
Unfortunately, Beard finally became addicted to heroin. After rehabilitating, he appeared as a guest star on Sanford and Son and The Jeffersons, had a recurring role as Monty on Good Times, and appeared in The Buddy Holly Story as a member of the backstage crew. Sadly, Beard succumbed to pneumonia in 1981, at 56. He was buried with the trademark bowler hat he wore all his life, back from his Stymie days.
Born in 1932, William Robert Laughlin rose to fame at the tender age of 8 for his role in Our Gang as Froggy, who was known for his strange, guttural voice that sounded like a frog's croak. Laughlin did the voice himself. After the show ended in 1944, Laughlin landed a role in Johnny Doesn't Live Here Any More (1944), then quit acting to enjoy his teenage years.
Unfortunately, Laughlin was fatally struck by a speeding truck while he was out delivering newspapers on the back of his friend's scooter near his home in La Puente, California. He died of the accident on Aug. 31, 1948, at only 16, becoming the youngest to die among the Our Gang actors.
Born in 1933 in Texas, Eugene Lee traveled with his family to Culver City, California when he was 18 months old. There, Hal Roach noted how much the toddler looked like Our Gang star Spanky McFarland. As a result, Lee was cast as Spanky's little brother, Porky. However, five-year-old Lee had a growth spurt in 1939 and was eventually replaced by Robert Blake.
Lee then retired from acting and became an alternative school educator at Broomfield High School in Colorado. To escape his acting career, he changed his name to Gordon Lee after Gordon Douglas, his favorite Our Gang director. Sadly, Lee lost his battle with lung and brain cancer in 2005, at the age of 71.
Michael James Gubitosi, aka Robert Blake, was born in 1933, in Nutley, New Jersey. His parents began a song-and-dance act in 1936 with his 3 siblings, billed as "The Three Little Hillbillies." The family moved to LA in 1938, where the children began working as movie extras. Blake got his break at 9 when he began playing Mickey in The Little Rascals, after replacing Porky. Blake also appeared as a child actor in the Red Ryder film franchise.
As an adult, Blake was cast as a Native American or Latino character, despite being an Italian from New Jersey. After a stint in the Army, Blake returned to acting and made a name for himself in the TV series Baretta. However, he became much more known in 2005, when he was tried and acquitted of the 2001 murder of his second wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley. Blake, now 85, has maintained a low profile and has filed for bankruptcy with $3 million debts for unpaid legal fees and taxes.
With more than 70 appearances spanning 1932 to 1935, Mickey Daniels was one of the most frequent Rascals to appear on Hal Roach's original Our Gang shorts. According to IMDB, Daniels was living pretty lavishly during his time on the show, earning $37 per week when he started and $175 per week when he left (or more than $2,500 in today's dollars).
Unfortunately, after the show ended, Daniels' acting career never took off. Reportedly, he married and divorced, and had a daughter, but died alone in a hotel room in 1970 while working as a taxi driver.
The older sister of Wheezer played by Mary Ann Jackson was one of the most popular female characters in Our Gang during the 30s. Jackson wore a bobbed haircut and acted quite tomboyish. She entered the series in 1928, just as the silent era was coming to an end, and left it in 1931 at the age of 8.
After the series, Jackson gave up acting and shifted to work in department stores. She often went out to parties with her sister. With fond memories of her days being a little rascal, Jackson died of a heart attack in 2003.
Born in 1931, Darla Hood was introduced by her mother to singing and dancing at an early age. For her third birthday, the family went to New York to seek fame and fortune in the arts. Joe Rivkin, a casting director for Hal Roach Studios, cast her as Darla in the Our Gang shorts. Darla is best remembered for her coquettishness, as she was often the object of affection for Alfalfa, Butch, and Waldo.
After outgrowing Our Gang, Darla continued her education in high school, where she set up a vocal group named the Enchanters. In 1959, Rivkin cast her in The Bat as a secretary, which was her last film role. The Little Rascals never forgot her after all those years. While she was busy organizing the 1980 Little Rascals reunion for the Los Angeles chapter of the Sons of the Desert, she underwent an appendectomy and died suddenly of heart failure in 1979 at 47.
Born in 1927, Carl Dean Switzer and his brother, Harold, became famous for their musical talents in their hometown. In 1934, the Switzers went to visit family in California, and as fate would have it, they went on a sightseeing tour to Hal Roach Studios, where The Little Rascals was shot. After the tour, 6-year-old Carl and 8-year-old Harold went for a meal at the Our Gang cafe. Roach just happened to be there, and was impressed by the brothers so much that he signed them both. Carl was nicknamed "Alphalfa," which later morphed into "Alfalfa."
After the show, Switzer was the victim of typecasting and struggled to find roles. He managed to appear in bit parts and B movies as an adult, but eventually decided to leave show business. He then became a dog breeder and hunting guide. In 1959, Switzer met an untimely end when he was fatally shot during a fight over $50 and a hunting dog.
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