Shirley Temple, Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Elizabeth Taylor, Toto, Lassie
OUR GANG UPDATE TRIVIA
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 my 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.
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.
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 1940's 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.
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. Later in life he finally cleaned up his act and made appearances on Sanford and Son. Both he and his father, Matthew Sr., a minister in Los Angeles, were born on New Year's Day. Stymie's trademark bowler hat was actually one of comedian Stan Laurel's which accounts for it being oversized. In 1981 Stymie suffered a stroke, contracted pneumonia and died. His last words were, "fun, fun, fun...had a lot of fun."
PETE THE PUP - The first Pete was poisoned by an unknown assailant. His last film was "A Tough Winter." One of his offspring carried on beginning with the next film, "Pups is Pups." Currently lives in Dog Heaven.
HAL ROACH (1/14/1892-11/2/92) - The genius who ran the studio and gave us Harold Lloyd, Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chase, Our Gang and many others. He lived to be over 100 years old!