There he attended public school and attempted a life of normalcy. While at Fairfax High School, she organized a vocal group called the Enchanters with four boys. This prompted public objections from George Spanky McFarland, who informed the media that Buckwheat had been dead for ten years. RELATED:Here's What 'Little Rascals' Star Bug Hall Looks Like Now. Buckwheat is a member of the club and mostly spends his days frolicking with his best friend Porky. William Robert Laughlin was born on July 5, 1932, in San Gabriel, California. Brittany Ashton Holmes as Darla After a few roles in the follow-up to The Little Rascals, including an advert for McDonalds, Holmes did not appear in another film until 2014, when she starred. His nickname is said to have come from his mother, who urged him not to misbehave in Hal Roachs office, the creator of the show. However, if it is indeed the former child star, she hasn't tweeted anything yet to the account. Speaking toDo You Remember, Saphire notes, After Spanky said, Okay, lets do it, he then added and these were his words I cant believe that college kids of today are going to be excited about coming to see a little fat man who hasnt made a movie in 30 years. And I said, Spanky, I guarantee youre going to get a standing ovation before you even open your mouth. As it turned out, I was right., I had a ball, he has said in regards to playing Spanky. It was an idealized version of youth. To date, he's been credited in the music department of 44 projects, as well as composer for 15 more. It was and probably will forever be unmatched. She went through a public split in 2020 from French banker Olivier Sarkozy. They still look so good together. Waldo Aloysius Johnston III is the rich snobbish Little Rascal rival to Alfalfa. She even snagged a few awards for her breakout performance, such as the Young Artist Award, alongside her co-stars. To learn much more about George Spanky McFarland as told by a close friend, please click here. Take The Little Rascals, for example, the movie every 90's kid had on VHS, that never got old, no matter how many times we watched it. After Lucenay (the dogs owner) was fired from Our Gang, he retired to Atlantic City. As of 2017, Bug Hall is a married man to a woman named Jill Marie DeGroff, and Holmes apparently has scooped up a husband herself. Britanny Ashton Holmes hasn't been pursuing that many films after playing Darla and apparently retired from showbiz way back in 1996. His image appeared in every form of Our Gang merchandise, but unfortunately, he never saw the happiness or money from using his likeness. On the set, Carl was often recalled as impatient and troublesome, leading the rest to mischief. To escape his previous gang affiliation, he changed his name to Gordon Lee after his favorite Little Rascals director, Gordon Douglas. See what the cast of The Little Rascals looks like now. It may sound like a strange life, but since it was my life for as long as I can remember, I loved it.. Mead's last credit on IMDb is "Mean Parents Suck" from 2014. [1] Other credits that year include a hit record, "I Just Wanna Be Free. For her third birthday they went to New York to seek fame and fortune in the arts. As a kid I had most everything I wanted and we had a good life. She went on to reprise her role as Raven Baxter in the Disney series Raven's Home while appearing in a plethora of other TV shows. In 2014, she appeared in a television movie titledWe Hate Paul Revere. She did singing and voice-over on TV commercials, which included Campbell's Soup and Chicken of the Sea tuna. Ewing also appeared in an episode of "Below Deck" as a charter guest. The boy who played the only Black Little Rascal was Matthew Beard. On Oct. 16, 2005, at the age of 71, he lost his battle with lung and brain cancer. When he got bored, he took the others to invade nearby sets, such as. When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. , leading a charge into a love scene that was being filmed. She works in costumes now, and she has worked in the wardrobe department of some of the biggest projects in Hollywood, like "The Mandalorian," "Mythic Quest," "Birds of Prey," "Santa Clarita Diet," and more. The film turned out to be a moderate success, but what about the actors? He got to see Will Smith in more roles as he also played his son in Independence Day. He was one of the breakout stars of the film. Margaret Norton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images, Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images, ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images, Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Family Equality Council, Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images, Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images, reunited in 2014 for a 20th anniversary photo shoot, he's been credited in the music department. She and Granson had three children. We had a lot of fun together. She had two children and later died of emphysema in 2010. After that, however, Brittany disappeared from the entertainment scene. The Little Rascals, originally known as Our Gang, first debuted in 1922. When she outgrew her role in Our Gang, Hood appeared in several other movies and attended school in Los Angeles. And while Bug's hair is decidedly well-behaved these days, and Brittany's chubby cheeks are gone, there is some resemblance to their former characters. Sadly, Billie died of a heart attack in his Los Angeles apartment in Oct. 1980 at age 49. What a gang! He battled heroin addiction and committed small crimes to indulge his habit. He also was famously seen on Dallas highway billboards and in print advertisements for Wonder Bread. Of course, Bagley is most famous for playing Nicky on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," which he was in for 48 episodes from 1994 to 1996. We went to school together, played together, laughed together. Their last film, "New York Minute," was released in 2004 to a disappointing box office, which led to them retiring as a team. Additionally, theres her mischievous nature and her ability to mimic other characters lines in a humorous way, which gave her the nickname Echo.. She had a bobbed haircut and acted quite tomboyish. As it turned out, he was suffering from a glandular ailment which resulted in his weight reaching 300 pounds while he stopped growing at 47. In 2017, he wrote and performed the jingle for this commercial. She worked at MGM for an additional couple of years. For much more on Norman, please check out our profile of him. His character was originally named Hercules until director Robert McGowan renamed him Stymie. Between 1959 and 1962 she recorded several singles for the small Ray Note and Acama labels.[3]. Twenty years ago, Alfalfa (Bug Hall) sang a really squeaky rendition of "You are So Beautiful" to the love of his life Darla ( Brittany Ashton Holmes) in The Little Rascals movie and won the. Billy was often bullied in his neighborhood so his mother enrolled him in a drama class, this is where an MGM talent scout spotted his popeye impersonation and led to his Froggy. The Little Rascals was a movie we could relate to as kids, and even though time, of course, passed for the cast just as it did for fans of the film, it's shocking to see them all grown up. Unfortunately, Daniels career never took off after the shorts. Unfortunately, afterwords he couldnt get out from under the Spanky stereotype and worked odd jobs at a soft drink plant, a hamburger stand, and a popsicle factory. He was out delivering newspapers when a speeding truck struck the boy and his friend who was driving the scooter. She appeared in her own nightclub act at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles, the Copacabana in New York, and the Sahara Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. A self-proclaimed president of a 'women haters club,' he grows increasingly concerned and annoyed when his best friend Alfalfa falls for a girl in their neighborhood. An autopsy disclosed that Hood had contracted acute hepatitis from a blood transfusion given during the operation which led to her death. Ill see how this turns out. If youve ever wondered what happened personally and professionally to the actors fromThe Little Rascals,the wait is over. The Lee family traveled from Texas to Culver City, California. And once she was reunited with her castmates, Holmes seemed to fall right back into place. My wife knew of my background, otherwise I was happy to conceal the Porky tag until the last few years.. It's, like, really embarrassing to watch and I don't want to act anymore," (via Screen Rant). He had an 11-year hiatus from acting from 2004 to 2015. There are three ways the life of a child . After that, he acted in "Minor Adjustments," "Men Behaving Badly," "The Fanatics," "Richie Rich's Christmas Wish," and "7th Heaven" before retiring from acting in 1999. His trademark was a bald head, crowned by an oversized derby hat. Blake, now 85, has maintained a low profile since his acquittal, filing for bankruptcy with debts of $3 million for unpaid legal fees and taxes. Matthew Beard Jr. was born on January 1, 1925, in Los Angeles. He appeared in bit parts and B movies as an adult, including the classic Its a Wonderful Life(1946). His offspring inherited the role of Petey, though his eye circle mysteriously moved to the left side of his face. The "He-Man, Woman Haters Club", the club house, the down-hill racers, and of course, the childhood love of Alfalfa & Darla, all are splendidly played out by these amazing children. Currently, he also serves as the contributing editor of the London-based religious publication The Catholic Herald. The kids from The Little Rascals each had their own distinct personality and image that earned them their nicknames. Mabry as Porky is the subject of one of the most adorable GIFs of all time. He was last seen in the 2010 horror The Final, following which he took a hiatus from acting. For four years, he served in different capacities at American Airlines. Producer/creator Hal Roach re-bundled 79 of the shorts to make The Little Rascals TV series, which is still broadcast today. And as I said, that doesnt sound too outlandish.. In many of his other roles as an adult, he was cast as a Native American or Latino character, despite being an Italian from New Jersey. Holmes stole the show with her sassy attitude and belief in standing up for herself, despite being so young. Following her cameo role in The Little Rascals, Daryl went on to star in several big productions, including Kill Bill: Vol. It was great.. When it was over, it was over. The story centered on Alfalfa (Bug Hall), Spanky (Travis Tedford), and the rest of the He-Man-Woman-Haters Club, but there was one little girl Alfalfa had a soft spot for; Darla, played by Brittany Ashton Holmes. The skits were filmed to be shorts so the kids would remember their lines easier. Porky reminds most viewers of a young Spanky, Hes best friends with Buckwheat and joined the same time as Darla in 1935. Hood was married twice, first to singer and insurance salesman Robert W. Decker (19491957), then to record-company executive Jose Granson (19571979). He had a habit of grabbing things and, in doing so, his mother warned, Spanky, mustnt touch! In later years, he was affectionately called Spank.. Britanny Ashton Holmes hasn't been pursuing that many films after playing Darla and apparently retired from showbiz way back in 1996. The latest movie news, trailers, reviews, and more. At the time, Symon had already completed her run on "The Cosby Show" as Olivia, the outspoken step-daughter of Denise Huxtable, and was starring on "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper" as Nicole, which she was on until 1997. Not to mention the incredible gags, and slapstick comedy. She also doesnt seem active on social media. The Little Rascals, which debuted on television in 1955, introduced a band of ragtag children to the world. You might also remember Brittany from Baby. The 25th anniversary of Little Rascals was in 2019, so that makes us wonder:what is the cast of The Little Rascals up to today up to today, specifically little Darla? The adaptation of the beloved Our Gang TV shorts was a major moment for its diminutive cast, too, most of whom were making their on-screen debut. According to his LinkedIn profile, he currently serves as a manager at Texas Trust Credit Union. It's a shock. According to his website, he was in the top 40 of "American Idol" season one before withdrawing from the competition. Although she was only 5 years old, Brittany Ashton Holmes delivered a brilliant performance as the adorable Darla, the object of Alfalfa's affection. Joe Rivkin, a casting director for Hal Roach Studios, cast her in the role of Darla in the Our Gang shorts. He played Eddie Munster in the 1996 TV film "The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas," and starred in "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids," "The Stupids," "The Big Green," "Get a Clue," "Safety Patrol," and "Hercules.". Having voiced a puppy among the many animal movie characters on Babe and his last acting role was in a 2000 film called Braniacs.com. Stymie was one of the minority cast members in the Gang, which for the time, was incredibly inclusive and encouraging. It all stems from the fact that they just wanted to see each other.. She was an awfully nice person, a fine woman. Lee retired and became analternative school educator at Broomfield High School inColorado. - Looper. 10 Movies To Watch If You Love The Little Rascals (1994), 10 Funniest Lines From The Honey, I Shrunk The Kids Movies, Ranked, 10 Brilliant Performances By Child Actors 18 Or Younger, 5 Times Raven's Vision Ruined Everything In That's So Raven (& 5 Times It Saved The Day), 10 Animated Films That 90s Kids Have Forgotten About, Harry Potter's Luna Lovegood Actor Doubles Down On JK Rowling Defense, Avatar: The Way of Water Breaks Major International Box Office Record, Luke Skywalker Used The Dark Side In The Sequel Era. Daryl Hannah was easily one of the most popular female movie stars of her time. In 1934, the Switzers traveled to California to visit family and, as fate would have it, went on a sightseeing tour to Hal Roach Studios, where the Our Gang shorts were filmed. On the big screen, she also appeared in the two "Dr. Doolittle" films in 1998 and 2001, and she starred in 2008's "College Road Trip.". He died on January 28, 1946. The cast even recreated the film's iconic poster. As the shorts moved from silent films into the sound era, cast member Joe Cobb had aged out and Hal Roach, with director Robert F. McGowan, were looking for a heavy-set replacement. He also appeared as a child actor in theRed Ryderfilm franchise. Matthew left the show at age 10. Simply the Worlds Most Interesting Travel Site, This Is What Darla From 'The Little Rascals' Looks Like Now, Here's What 'Little Rascals' Star Bug Hall Looks Like Now, where the cast of 'Little Rascals' is today, Child Star Kyla Pratt Shocks Fans With Her Ageless Good Looks. She played Darla in Our Gang except for her Our Gang debut in which her character's name was "Cookie". She had "gone off the grid" and was "guarded," but eventually acquiesced. So, it's pretty obvious that its leads have gone on to appear in other roles while some others even retired from acting. Buckwheat was originally a background member of the gang. In January 1959, Switzer met an untimely end as he was fatally shot during a fight over $50 and a hunting dog. Darla was played by actress Brittany Ashton Holmes. After he left the film shorts, Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Army when he was just 23 years old. RELATED: 10 Brilliant Performances By Child Actors 18 Or Younger. After leaving the show, McFarland enlisted in the US Air Force. Carl was dubbed Alfalfa and, over the course of the films, he became best friends with Spanky and, of course, was always pursuing Darla. Symon focused on making herself a brand in the 2010s, mainly appearing as herself in projects as well as co-hosting "The View" from 2015 to 2016. Since being introduced nearly 100 years ago, The Little Rascals have earned a special place in the hearts of people all over the world. Roachs films followed a group of neighborhood childrens adventures. As a result, he was replaced on the show by Robert Blake, aka Baretta. Of course, by 1994, the Olsens were already at the center of their own little empire the twins had founded production company Dualstar in 1993. The group of misfit kids and their misadventures was charming, funny, and featured a ton of cute kids (and a dog). The two reunited for the 20th anniversary of the iconic children's film in 2014. One of the saddest lives among all the members of Our Gang was undoubtedly Norman Chaney, who was better known as Chubsy-Ubsy. Thomas first appeared in the 1934 Our Gang shorts as a background player. ", Tedford is now a retired child star his Instagram bio says he's a "marketing pro." She reportedly retired formally at age 7 though that 2014 role suggests something lured her back, if only momentarily and completed high school like a normal kid. Darla was the adorable little girl who loved to sing, she performed Ill Never Say Never Again Again and the love relationship between her and Alfalfa was hinted at by her smiling gaze as Alfalfa nervously performed a number. His final television performance was in 1993, playing himself in the opening of the Cheers episode Woody Gets An Election. He died shortly thereafter, in June of that year, of a heart attack. Even the big stars had to chase around and audition; it seemed like a rat race to me, with no security. Of being part of The Little Rascals, he added, I enjoyed it. Apparently, one time when angry with a director, He urinated on the studio lights and the stink drove everyone out. Michael James Gubitosi, aka Robert Blake, was born on Sept. 18, 1933, in Nutley,New Jersey. She returned to the character of Raven Baxter for the 2017 spin-off "Raven's Home," which earned her a Daytime Emmy nomination. Thomas died a little over a year later. His image appeared in every form of, On the set, Carl was often recalled as impatient and troublesome, leading the rest to mischief. He even had a career as a film lab technician with the Technicolor Corporation. Then recently, fans were reminded of little Darlain an Instagram post from Britney Spears. Sadly he died in June 1993 at the age of 64, but well never forget Spanky. You'll Barely Recognize Darla From Little Rascals Now The 1990s were a great decade of movies that now pack so much nostalgia, it's sometimes too much . Froggy was a later addition to the show, joining in 1940 at age 8. Everything You Need to Know About Florence Pugh, Is Tulsa King a true story? Ahh, good, old, Spanky probably one of the most recognized members of the entire franchise. Brittany Ashton Holmes Darla Despite participating in a cast photo shoot with her old co-stars a few years ago, Brittany has actively avoided the spotlight, with no apparent social media presence. Did Holmes hit the mainstream, or was she content to let that one great performance speak for her? The MGM limousine stops coming to your house, he recounted, and you wonder why the world has ceased loving you so suddenly at age seven. In school he was teased by other students, causing him to note, Kids can be mean. He also hosts a podcast called 'BhindiWire', an Indian parody of IndieWire. Brittany Ashton Holmes Darla After making her acting debut as the adorable Darla in The Little Rascals, Brittany only turned in a few more performances, including a 1995 episode of Ellen,. Perhaps, then, Holmes simply had such a great time during her first acting job that it spoiled her for life. Spanky's best friend and Darla's boyfriend Alfalfa is an adorably bumbling youngster who tries his best to save the day but often fails in his efforts. At least not on the public's radar, that is. Much like his co-stars, after the film, he acted in many classic sitcoms and cartoons like "Babe," the TV adaptation of "The Shining," "ER," and more. RELATED: 10 Funniest Lines From The Honey, I Shrunk The Kids Movies, Ranked. The kids were so distinct in personality and features that they all earned their own nicknames, from Spanky to Alfalfa. He did this up until his passing in January 1981 at the age of 56. We, therefore, suspect that she enjoys a private life with her hubby in California. After landing the coveted role of Darla in The Little Rascals, Brittany decided to retire from acting. Ive never played a part over 19. Mary-Kate continued to act sporadically, most recently in 2011's "Beastly." He has also had a long-standing relationship with Disney shows proving his voice for Recess, Hercules, and Loyd in Space. Like most of his co-stars, Woods enjoyed some popularity as a child actor but then explored different pursuits in adulthood. "Like a lot of child actors, she was guarded, but after we spoke on the phone for a while, she trusted me," Brian Pocrass, founder of production company 22 Vision, who organized it, explained to HuffPost. Darla was introduced to the gang with the very popular short, . "The Little Rascals" was released in August 1994. Bug Hall, in particular, who played the lovable Alfalfa, has gone on to career success with consistent roles across the board. Published Dec 7, 2020 She was 'Darla' in 1994's 'The Little Rascal,' but Brittany Ashton Holmes is staying away from Hollywood today. Eugene retired from show business after Our Gang and became an alternative school educator at Broomfield High School in Colorado. Interestingly, he also made an appearance in the 2014 Little Rascals film called The Little Rascals Save The Day. Beard was cast as a baby in many films before signing a five-year contract to play Stymie. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. It was a perfect storm of comedy. As he related to film historian Leonard Maltin, it was tough adjusting to life once he was no longer a part of Our Gang. Roach just happened to be there and was so impressed that he signed them both on the spot. Zachary Mabry played Porky, a younger member of Spanky's club. Rivkin, who discovered her as a child, cast her in The Bat her last film role in 1959. Ewing's character was determined to win Darla from Alfalfa, but, of course, he was unsuccessful. We got along real good as kids." Although Thomas was somewhat in demand for film and stage roles, he opted for a behind-the-scenes job as a film lab technician with Technicolor. But he says he was looking out his office window one day and watched some kids fighting over a stick they were going to use for a game they were going to play. After Beard left the series at the tender age of 10, he went on to score some minor roles in such feature films as Captain Blood (1935) and The Return of Frank James (1940) with fellow child star and Our Gang alum Jackie Cooper. She loves a good story, even if she has to write it herself. So what did the rascals get into after this legendary show? He and his brother, Harold, became famous in their hometown for their musical talents. He was played by child actor Matthew Beard. In 2020 alone, she appeared in The Bold Type, Bunk'd, and The Disney Family Singalong. He once said in a 1980 interview, After the Army, I wasnt really interested in the hassle of performing. IMDb lists seven acting credits, including an appearance on 'Ellen' in 1995, a few TV movies, and an appearance on one episode of 'Red Shoe Diaries.'. He was known for wearing his thick glasses to correct his crossed eyes and had a distinctive Popeye-Esque voice. She was five when the movie was filmed, and later went on to finish school and earn a degree in political science, ditching her on-screen past. As to where Hal Roach came up with the concept for Our Gang,Do You Rememberturned to film historian Leonard Maltin, who also wrote the bookThe Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang. When Our Gang stopped production in 1944, Laughlin went straight into. Holmes might have been hesitant to do it at first, but she certainly got into the swing of things upon laying eyes on Alfalfa, Spanky, Waldo, Buckwheat, and the rest of the gang all grown up. It looks like E! Sadly and in theme with most of the rascals' fate, Darla contracted hepatitis from the surgery and died of heart failure in June 1979 at the age of 47. He tended to tell the same handful of anecdotes whenever he was interviewed, and there was one he always told and it could be true, it could be apocryphal, it could be a mild exaggeration of the truth, but it doesnt sound improbable. Before he joined Our Gang, McFarland modeled childrens clothing for a Dallas department store. More recently, he even made a cameo in the Fuller House, reprising his role asMichelle Tanner's friend Derek Boyd. He was 56. The Little Rascals: Carl Alfalfa Switzer Was the Target of a Shooting a Year Before His Murder, The Little Rascals: By 1959, Much of Our Gang Was Running into Tough Sometimes Deadly Times, The Little Rascals: Norman Chaney, Who Preferred Chubsy-Ubsy, Had a Short and Sad Life. Initially known as Our Gang, this group of adorable kids has taken on a life of their own. Maksymilian Faktorowicz, who foundedMax Factor & Company in Los Angeles, drew the circle. The actress who played the rascals' favorite teacher, Miss Crabtree has been a big name in the movie universe since the '80s. It was her first and last adult role in a movie, and she played a secretary alongside Vincent Price and Agnes Moorehead. A year before that, he also performed as a go-go dancer for some time. [5], The Our Gang community was stunned at Hood's unexpected death. Our Gang [ edit] She was born in Leedey, Oklahoma, the only child of music teacher Elizabeth Davner, and James Claude Hood, who worked in a bank. he continued acting for a bit, including a small role in Its a Wonderful Life as Donna Reeds date at the high school dance. He began acting in the Little Rascals shorts in 1930 and that was the only acting he ever did. They were born from the 1922-1938 'Our Gang' shorts from MGM. In the late '70s, Darlawas busy organizing a Little Rascalsreunion when she underwent an appendectomy. Hood was a guest on such TV shows of the early 1960s as You Bet Your Life and The Jack Benny Show, where she appeared on October 30, 1962 as "Darla" in a spoof of the Our Gang comedies with Jack Benny (who appeared as Alfalfa), and The Charlotte Peters Show in St. Louis. Rounding out the popular Our Gang favorites were Spanky, Buckwheat, Stymie, and of course Petey, the dog. hronicled a group of ragtag neighborhood kiddos and their adventures. Five-year-old Lee had a growth spurt in early 1939, outgrowing 10-year-old McFarland. Look at them! He admitted that he was struggling to find good roles being so recognizable as Alfalfa. He did undergo surgery, after which he dropped down to 140 pounds and then 110, but the end result was disastrous. Hood was busy organizing the 1980 Little Rascals reunion for the Los Angeles chapter of The Sons of the Desert when she underwent an appendectomy at Canoga Park Hospital, Canoga Park, California. Other notable roles from the 1990s include Cynthia Coates in Death Benefit, Amy Carver in Circuit Breaker, and "Girl on Boat" in Humanoids from the Deep. According to IMDB, Daniels was living pretty large during his time on the show, making $37 per week when he started and up to $175 per week when he left (or more than $2,500 in todays dollars). The friend only suffered minor injuries, but Billy Laughlin died at a nearby hospital on August 31, 1948. Shaurya Thapa is an Indian freelance journalist who mostly dabbles in writings on cinema, music, and human interest features. Once she was old enough, she pursued a degree in political science, and there's isn't much more known than that. His family moved into town after his father bought the oil refinery. Stymie enjoyed making the films and, more importantly, the sense of equality that Roach insisted on when it came to his productions.