In a nostalgic journey through the golden era of Hollywood, we pay tribute to the iconic
"Our Gang" series, better known as "The Little Rascals."
These endearing and mischievous child actors captured the hearts of audiences worldwide
with their timeless humor and charm.
Sadly, time has taken its toll on the beloved cast, leaving just one surviving member to
carry the torch of their legacy.
Join us as we explore the life and career of the cast of Little Rascal, cherishing the
memories of a bygone era that continues to enchant generations.
Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas Born in Los Angeles on March 12, 1931, William
Thomas Jr. first graced the screen in the 1934 Our Gang shorts, starting as a background
character.
Originally portrayed by Carlena Beard, Matthew "Stymie" Beard's younger sister, the "Buckwheat"
character was a girl who gradually transitioned into a boy.
Thomas's portrayal of Buckwheat, complete with speech impediment, traditional African-American
"pickaninny" attire, bowed pigtails, oversized sweater, and large boots, would later be considered
highly controversial.
At 23, Thomas enlisted in the US Army, and after his service, he decided to leave acting
behind.
Nevertheless, Billie maintained his passion for film, working as a film lab technician
at Technicolor Corporation and later pursuing film editing and cutting.
Tragically, at the age of 49, Billie suffered a heart condition in his Los Angeles apartment
and passed away in October 1980.
George Robert Phillips McFarland Born on October 2, 1928, in Dallas, George
Robert Phillips McFarland began his career as a child model for a local department store,
appearing in Wonder Bread print ads and on Dallas highway billboards.
McFarland's Aunt Dottie answered a Hal Roach Studios ad for "cute kids," and he was subsequently
cast as Spanky.
The nickname originated from his mother, who cautioned him not to misbehave in Roach's
office by saying, "Spanky, mustn't touch."
As he grew older, he became affectionately known as "Spank."
In the series, Spanky was famous as the president of the "He-Man Women Hater's Club."
At 24, McFarland exited show business and joined the United States Air Force.
Struggling to break free from the Spanky stereotype, he worked various jobs at a soft drink plant,
hamburger stand, and popsicle factory.
He later became a popular speaker, reminiscing about his days as a Little Rascal.
His final television appearance was in 1993 on the Cheers episode "Woody Gets An Election,"
where he played himself.
He died of a heart attack in June that year, aged 64.
In January 1994, McFarland was posthumously honored with a star on Hollywood's Walk of
Fame.
Matthew "Stymie" Beard Born in Los Angeles on January 1, 1925, Matthew
Beard Jr. began his acting career as an infant, appearing in numerous films before landing
the role of "Stymie" in Our Gang.
Initially named "Hercules," director Robert McGowan rechristened the character "Stymie,"
inspired by young Beard's curious explorations around the studio.
Sporting a bald head and an oversized derby hat, Stymie became a memorable character.
The hat was a gift from comedian Stan Laurel, who had worked with Our Gang creator Hal Roach.
After leaving the series at age 10, Beard secured a few minor roles in films like The
Return of Frank James and Captain Blood, alongside fellow child star and Our Gang alumnus Jackie
Cooper.
He retired from acting during high school.
Tragically, Beard later developed a heroin addiction.
However, he managed to turn his life around and, after rehabilitation, made guest appearances
on Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons, and had a recurring role on Good Times as "Monty."
In 1978, he was featured in The Buddy Holly Story, wearing his iconic bowler hat.
Beard remained sober, giving lectures on drug abuse awareness.
Sadly, he suffered a stroke on January 3, 1981, and sustained head injuries after falling
down a flight of stairs.
He passed away from pneumonia five days later at the age of 56.
Beard was laid to rest with the derby hat that accompanied him throughout his life,
dating back to his Stymie days.
Billy "Froggy" Laughlin Born in San Gabriel, California on July 5,
1932, William Robert Laughlin found fame at just 8 years old when he joined Our Gang in
1940.
Laughlin's character, Froggy, was characterized by his peculiar, frog-like voice, which Laughlin
himself produced.
After Our Gang ended production in 1944, Laughlin appeared in Johnny Doesn't Live Here Any More
(1944) before leaving show business to enjoy his adolescence.
Tragically, while delivering newspapers on the back of a scooter gifted by his parents
just two weeks prior, Laughlin was struck by a speeding truck near his La Puente, California,
home.
He passed away on August 31, 1948, at the tender age of 16, making him the youngest
Our Gang actor to die.
Eugene "Porky" Lee Born on October 25, 1933, in Fort Worth, Texas,
Eugene Lee and his family made their way to Culver City, California.
Hal Roach noticed the striking resemblance between the 18-month-old toddler and Our Gang
star Spanky McFarland, who also hailed from Texas.
Consequently, Lee joined the cast as Spanky's younger brother, earning the nickname "Porky."
However, by early 1939, a growth spurt made five-year-old Lee taller than the 10-year-old
McFarland, leading to his replacement by Mickey Gubitosi, who later became known as Robert
Blake.
Lee quit the entertainment business and became a teacher at Broomfield High School in Colorado.
He changed his name to Gordon Lee, which was the name of his favorite Our Gang director,
Gordon Douglas, to get away from his acting past.
Lee died of lung and brain cancer on October 16, 2005.
He was 71 years old.
Mickey "Mickey" Gubitosi Born as Michael James Gubitosi on September
18, 1933, in Nutley, New Jersey, Robert Blake and his siblings joined their parents in a
song-and-dance act called "The Three Little Hillbillies" in 1936.
The family relocated to Los Angeles in 1938, where the children began working as movie
extras.
At nine years old, Blake replaced Porky in The Little Rascals as Mickey, eventually becoming
Spanky's best friend and the group's leader.
Despite his Italian heritage, adult roles often saw Robert Blake cast as a Native American
or Latino character.
After serving in the Army, Blake returned to acting and gained fame as an undercover
police officer in the TV series Baretta.
However, his life took a difficult turn following the loss of his wife and facing legal scrutiny
for nearly a decade.
Although he published a memoir titled "Tales of a Rascal: What I Did for Love," public
opinion on Blake remained unchanged.
The former child actor, who gained fame in movies and TV shows, had his legacy marred
by suspicion surrounding the unsolved murder of his second wife.
Tragically, he passed away on March 9, 2023.
Mildred Kornma
Kornman was among the few remaining people from the silent films, having participated
in over 20 "Our Gang" comedy shorts from 1926-1935, her career spanning both the Silent and Sound
Eras.
After leaving "Our Gang," Kornman appeared in a dozen uncredited feature films from 1937-1962.
As a rare surviving actor who worked with Laurel and Hardy, she transitioned into high-fashion
modeling in the 1940s under the pseudonym Ricki VanDusen.
She graced the covers of prestigious magazines like Bazaar and Vogue and posed for renowned
photographers like Irving Penn.
Over the years, Kornman attended numerous fan conventions, where she was a popular guest.
Reflecting on her enduring appeal in a 2015 interview with The Guardian, she noted, "Everything,
when it gets older, becomes more popular."
She passed away on August 19 at the age of 97, as reported by her longtime friend Robert
Satterfield
Jerry Tucker Born as Jerome Harold Schatz in Chicago, Illinois,
Tucker's German Jewish surname was changed for his acting career.
He first showed up in the Our Gang short "Shiver My Timbers" in 1931.
Subsequently, he was in many more episodes until he left the show after the 1938 short
"Three Men in a Tub."
Apart from Our Gang, Tucker played a spoiled rich kid in Marie Dressler's film Prosperity
and appeared as one of Mother Peep's children in Laurel & Hardy's 1934 feature film Babes
in Toyland.
He also starred alongside Shirley Temple in Captain January in 1936, portraying a know-it-all
boy who forgets his test answers.
Tucker served in the United States Navy during World War II and the Korean War, stationed
aboard the USS Sigsbee.
He sustained an injury that left him with a limp when his ship was hit by a Japanese
kamikaze during WWII.
After the war, he married Myra K. Heino and enjoyed a successful career as an electrical
engineer at RCA before retiring.
Tucker died of natural causes on November 23, 2016, at the Long Island State Veterans
Home in Stony Brook, New York, at the age of 91.
Darla Hood Born on November 8, 1931, in Leedey, Oklahoma,
Darla Hood was introduced to singing and dancing by her mother at a young age.
For her third birthday, they traveled to New York in pursuit of fame in the arts.
Hal Roach Studios casting director Joe Rivkin cast her as Darla in the Our Gang shorts.
She is best remembered for her flirtatious demeanor, as she was often the object of affection
for Alfalfa, Butch, and Waldo.
After leaving Our Gang, Hood continued her education and formed a vocal group called
the Enchanters while in high school.
Rivkin, who had discovered her years earlier, cast her in her last film role in 1959's The
Bat, where she played a secretary alongside Vincent Price and Agnes Moorehead.
Even after all those years, the Little Rascals remained a part of her life.
She had an appendectomy while planning a 1980 Little Rascals reunion.
However, on June 13, 1979, she died of heart failure at the age of 47.
Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer Born on August 7, 1927, in Paris, Illinois,
Carl Dean Switzer and his brother Harold gained local fame for their musical talents.
In 1934, the Switzers visited California to see family and ended up taking a tour of Hal
Roach Studios, where The Little Rascals was filmed.
After the tour, the young brothers dined at the Our Gang cafe and gave an impromptu performance.
Roach happened to be present and was so impressed that he signed them both immediately.
Carl was given the nickname "Alphalfa," which later evolved into "Alfalfa."
After exiting the series in 1940, Switzer struggled with typecasting and had difficulty
finding roles.
He appeared in small roles and B movies as an adult.
Eventually, he left the entertainment industry and became a dog breeder and hunting guide.
In January 1959, Switzer met a tragic end when he was fatally shot during a dispute
over $50 and a hunting dog.
Sidney Kibrick Sidney Kibrick, known for his role as "Woim"
in "Our Gang," left Hollywood at just 11 years old, but his fame has persisted for decades.
Now 94 years old, Kibrick is one of the last surviving cast members.
In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, he shared his discovery story, his experiences
on set, and his thoughts on the alleged "Our Gang" curse.
Kibrick was discovered during the Great Depression while on his way to the theater with his mother.
A man approached them and asked if he'd like to be in a movie, and his parents agreed.
Soon after, he was working alongside Shirley Temple in his first film.
After leaving show business, Kibrick became a successful builder, developing properties
in Palm Springs.
In 1981, he organized a reunion, which brought together many "Our Gang" cast members and
thousands of fans.
Leonard Maltin served as the master of ceremonies, and the event showcased the enduring popularity
of the show.
Reflecting on his time as an actor, Sidney is content with the experiences and friendships
he gained, but he ultimately desired a more ordinary life.
After convincing his parents that he no longer wanted to act, he left the industry for good.
There you have it.
It's now time to hear from you.
Which one of the cast members was your favorite?