The Tragic Story Of The Little Rascals Cast

"Our Gang" — or "The Little Rascals," as it came to be known — was a series of comedy shorts released between 1922 and 1944. It focused on a ragtag group of kids and their hilarious antics. Famed Hollywood producer Hal Roach was the man behind it, and he sought to make a series that featured children as the protagonists. To viewers, "Our Gang" presented a heartwarming depiction of childhood — not only were the characters entertaining, but they also possessed a lovable amount of charm, innocence, and mischief. All told, the popular franchise spawned 221 short films. In 1938, MGM Studios purchased the rights to "Our Gang," whereupon the title was changed to "The Little Rascals."

"Our Gang" featured an ever-changing cast — when the actors reached adolescence, they were replaced with a younger crop of child performers. The series also took a revolutionary stance on race. Despite having been released during an era of extreme segregation and racial violence, "Our Gang" made it a point to show Black and white children living and playing alongside each other.

The concept of "Our Gang" proved to have staying power. In 1994, "The Little Rascals" was adapted into a film featuring Blake Ewing as Waldo, Brittany Ashton Holmes as Darla, and Bug Hall as Alfalfa. However, despite its golden legacy, "The Little Rascals" is also connected to a surprising amount of tragedy. From substance misuse to untimely deaths, these are the harrowing stories of the original cast.

Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer burst into the spotlight when he joined the "Our Gang" cast in 1935. With his spitfire personality and famously unruly hair, Switzer became an instant fan favorite. He starred in dozens of "Our Gang" shorts during his five-year tenure on the series, but by 1940, he'd aged out of the role and was axed from the show. After leaving "Our Gang," Switzer struggled to keep his acting career afloat. He'd been a Hollywood darling during his youth — however, his "it" factor seemingly diminished as he got older. The actor nabbed a few minor television roles, but he never managed to duplicate the success of his time on "Our Gang." Eventually, Switzer embarked on a major career pivot and began working as a hunting guide.

In January 1959, Switzer got into an argument with a former client who purportedly owed him $50. Switzer — who was well-known for having a hot temper — threatened his adversary with a knife. In turn, the man pulled out a gun and fatally shot Switzer in the stomach. The actor was only 31 when he died, and he never lived to see "Our Gang" become a timeless classic. Switzer's former co-star, Tommy "Butch" Bond, paid tribute to the actor in a 1996 interview. "I would just love to have him back again to say, 'Look what people think of us today,'" he said. "'Aren't you happy? Doesn't that make you proud that we did something that people are going to remember forever?'"

George Robert Phillips McFarland made his "Our Gang" debut in 1932 at just 3 years old. He played the role of Spanky, a clever youngster with a penchant for mischief. His run on the show lasted for 10 years until his eventual departure in 1942. After saying farewell to "Our Gang," McFarland nabbed a few minor gigs but ultimately moved on and joined the U.S. Air Force. He eventually left the military and embraced a variety of job titles, including hamburger stand clerk, popsicle factory worker, and nightclub owner. Later, he worked as a commercial contractor until his retirement in the 1980s.

As an adult, McFarland landed a few more television roles — however, he acknowledged that "Our Gang" was the apex of his time in the acting industry. At one point, the former child actor referred to his Hollywood career as "dust," the Los Angeles Times reported. Nonetheless, McFarland remained grateful for his time on "Our Gang." "I have no regrets," he said in a 1977 interview for "The Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang." "Even though it was a job, we had a pretty good time making those comedies. As a kid I had most everything I wanted, and we had a good life. When it was over it was over." McFarland died in 1993 at age 64. 

Norman "Chubby" Chaney had an unforgettable role on "Our Gang." The child actor played Chubby, a mischievous and starry-eyed member of the group. Chaney's stint on the show lasted from 1929 until 1931. Unlike some of his contemporaries, he didn't have prior experience in show business — he landed on the series by winning a nationwide talent contest created by its producers. After being hand-selected by Hal Roach, Chaney was whisked away to Hollywood where he launched his acting career on "Our Gang." Turns out, he was a natural-born actor, and he thrived on the show.

Despite finding success on "Our Gang," Chaney's life wasn't easy. He had a heavier build and struggled with health issues as a result of his size. At age 21, the actor underwent surgery to help manage his weight. Tragically, Chaney died shortly after the procedure, closing the book on his heartbreakingly short life.

In another tragic twist, Chaney was laid to rest in an unmarked grave in Baltimore, Maryland. For more than seven decades, the actor seemingly faded into distant memory without so much as a headstone to commemorate his legacy. Then, in 2012, a local group raised the money to purchase a plaque for Chaney's grave.

Bill "Froggy" Laughlin became an instant fan favorite when he joined the cast of "Our Gang" in 1940. The child actor was best-known for his trademark raspy voice, which resembled the croak of an amphibian. His appearance was equally striking: At just 7 years old, the youngster rocked a pair of thick-rimmed glasses and an incredibly expressive face. For four years, Laughlin entertained audiences with his quirky personality and hilarious shenanigans. He left the show in 1944.

Despite finding fame on "Our Gang," Laughlin wasn't exactly won over by the Hollywood lifestyle. He retired from acting in 1944 shortly after filming the movie "Johnny Doesn't Live Here Anymore." Following his exodus from show business, Laughlin was ready to settle into a normal life. He returned to his hometown in La Puente, California and took up work as a paperboy.

Tragically, Laughlin didn't get much time to enjoy life outside the spotlight. On August 31, 1948, he was riding on the back of a motor scooter when it collided with a truck, seriously injuring the former child star. Laughlin died a few hours later at a local hospital. He was just 16.

For many young actors, child stardom is full of perks: wealth, celebrity status, and job security, just to name a few. But on the flip side, many have experienced the pitfalls of early celebrityhood. From dealing with identity issues to lacking control over their own lives, many child actors have struggled with the weight of their careers — and in some cases, tragically died young. Sadly, Scotty Beckett was one of those former child stars who experienced difficulty in adulthood. His story began in 1934 when he joined the  "Our Gang" cast. The bright-eyed tot immediately rose to fame, charming audiences with his adorable antics. He remained on the show for two years before making his exit in 1936.

Beckett continued rising through the Hollywood ranks after his "Our Gang" stint. As an adult, he appeared in numerous films, including "My Favorite Wife" and "Cynthia" (starring Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor). Beckett was embraced by the Los Angeles "it" crowd and quickly fell into the party scene. Unfortunately, his hard-partying lifestyle soon caught up with him. By the late 1950s, his acting career had ground to a halt. He acquired a lengthy rap sheet that included drug trafficking, drunk driving, and fraud. Beckett also experienced drug and alcohol addiction. In 1959, the actor got into a drunk driving accident that rendered him disabled. Beckett died in 1968 after reportedly taking a lethal dose of barbiturates. He was just 38 at the time.

Richard "Mickey" Daniels soared to fame on the "Our Gang" series. The pint-sized actor debuted on the inaugural short titled "One Terrible Day." With his quirky personality and infectious laugh, Daniels effortlessly won the hearts of viewers. He was involved with "Our Gang" from 1922 until his exit in 1926. After leaving the series, Daniels went on to star in another Hal Roach project called "The Boy Friends." However, by the 1940's, he'd grown tired of show business and decided to call it quits on his acting career. With his acting days behind him, Daniels took up work as a construction engineer.

Despite his apparent satisfaction with his new career path, Daniels dealt with numerous personal struggles during his adult life. The former actor became addicted to alcohol, which led to serious health issues. Tragically, his alcoholism would end up claiming his life. In August 1970, Daniels died alone in a hotel room, having succumbed to cirrhosis of the liver. The actor was cremated and placed in an unmarked grave, where he was left to fade into obscurity. However, in 2019, fans pooled together the money to adorn Daniels' grave with a tombstone. 

Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins always had a flair for acting. At just 2 years old, he caught the eye of "Our Gang" producer Hal Roach and scored a five-year contract on the show. Fans couldn't get enough of the tiny rabble-rouser and he quickly became a staple on the series. As the story goes, Hutchins earned the nickname "Wheezer" thanks to his tendency to run around the production set until he started to wheeze. Hutchins debuted on the show in 1927 and was a cast member for six years. Shortly after leaving "Our Gang," Hutchins retired from show business. The former actor returned to his hometown of Tacoma, Washington and proceeded to embrace a normal life. During his high school years, Hutchins made a modest living working at a local gas station.

In the early 1940s, Hutchins joined the U.S. Air Force and trained to become a pilot. The young man thrived as a service member, just as he had during his time as a child actor. However, things took a tragic turn in 1945 when Hutchins was involved in an aviation accident. Reportedly, Hutchins crashed into another aircraft while attempting to land his plane during a training exercise in Merced, California. The pilot of the other plane survived and was able to ground his plane safely — however, Hutchins was killed in the collision. The former child star was only 20 when his life ended.

Darla Hood was the scene-stealing starlet of "Our Gang." The itsy-bitsy actor starred on the series from 1935 to 1941. A natural-born performer, Hood launched her show business career at the tender age of three. "I was born in a small town in Oklahoma, and I was an only child," the actor said during an appearance on the "Tomorrow with Tom Snyder." "My mother taught me to sing and dance before I really could talk and walk. Hood was discovered by a casting agent during a visit to New York City and was quickly recruited for "Our Gang." After leaving the series, Hood went on to launch a successful music career. She released a couple of studio albums and eventually found her niche in performing commercial jingles.

Hood's life came to a sudden and tragic end in 1979. After falling ill with appendicitis, she underwent surgery to have the organ removed. Tragically, Hood experienced heart failure during her appendectomy and died on the operating table. She was just 47. Hood's former co-star Billy "Buckwheat" Thomas spoke out in the wake of her untimely demise. "I hate to hear it. It's a shock," Thomas told the New York Times. "She was an awful nice person, a fine woman. We got along real good as kids."

Matthew "Stymie" Beard rose to stardom when he joined the cast of "Our Gang" in 1930. The actor portrayed Stymie, a pocket-sized youngster with a gigantic personality. Beard charmed audiences with his wide smile and iconic bowler hat. Reflecting on his career, the actor revealed that he was hired on the spot during his "Our Gang" audition. "They was taking screen testers and I think they had about 350 as I'm told," Beard said in 1974 during an appearance on "Tomorrow with Tom Snyder." He added, "And I just walked on and looked at Bob McGowan, who was then the director, and he took one look at me and he said, 'Sign him up, that's who I want.' So that's how it got started."

In Beard's case, his troubles started early in life. The young actor hailed from a poor family and grew up in a rough Los Angeles neighborhood. Despite finding success on "Our Gang," tragedy continued to haunt Beard throughout his adult life. He became addicted to heroin in his early 20s and went on to serve numerous prison stints. Beard entered a rehab facility in 1966 and ultimately kicked his drug habit. In the 1970s, the former child star returned to acting and appeared in several popular sitcoms of the decade. Sadly, Beard died on January 8, 1981 shortly after suffering from a stroke.

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).