Here's what the cast, including Raven-Symon, the Olsen twins, and Blake McIver Ewing, are up to now. 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. Death. Holmes stole the show with her sassy attitude and belief in standing up for herself, despite being so young. 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. So fans are understandably curious aboutwhere the cast of 'Little Rascals' is today. The cast consisted of 4 to 9-year-olds exploring funny storylines. The sisters founded fashion label The Row in 2006 and are still working on it today, with a children's line launching in September 2021. The Little Rascals, originally known as Our Gang, first debuted in 1922. TheLittle Rascals, which debuted on television in 1955, introduced a band of ragtag children to the world. After leaving the show, McFarland enlisted in the US Air Force. It was a pleasure to be able to see children playing together again without any guns or violence. At the time of this writing, she hasn't appeared in anything since. News, Brittany Ashton Holmes is married and lives with her hubby in Los Angeles. Perhaps most iconically, he voiced Gus in "Recess" and its subsequent film. After he left the film shorts, Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Army when he was just 23 years old. Alfalfa with his trademark cowlick and freckles is possibly the most iconic little rascal. The scooter was given to Laughlin by his parents only two weeks prior to the accident. He had a stroke on Jan. 3, 1981, sustained head injuries from falling down a flight of stairs, and succumbed to pneumonia five days later. [citation needed]. Many viewers might have forgotten that That's So Raven star Raven-Symon was also a part of The Little Rascals cast. Darla was played by actress Brittany Ashton Holmes. In January 1959, Switzer met an untimely end as he was fatally shot during a fight over $50 and a hunting dog. Mead had a considerable on-screen presence in the '90s, even playing Danny Torrance in a TV adaptation of the Stephen King novel The Shining. According to LinkedIn, Brewer works in California as an event coordinator. He once said in a 1980 interview, After the Army, I wasnt really interested in the hassle of performing. In January 1958, it was reported that while he was getting into his car in Studio City, someone fired a bullet at him, which crashed through the window and hit him in the right arm. After break-out roles like the one Holmes had in The Little Rascals, childhood stars usually go on to have very successful careers, with other notable roles on their resume. Matthew left the show at age 10. After completing 61 shorts, his final one was the one reel, Kiddie Kure completed when he was 12 years old. He was last seen in the 2010 horror The Final, following which he took a hiatus from acting. I didnt quit Hollywood. Known for their exciting adventures and comedic moments, The Little Rascals franchise includes books, short films, TV shows, and a feature film. 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. With his last acting credit being 2015's Gnome Alone, the Los Angeles native's whereabouts aren't known much as he doesn't reveal much about his life on social media. The family moved to New York to seek opportunities for fame for Darla, that was when Joe Rivkin, a casting director for Hal Roach Studios, cast her in the Gang shorts. In the 2010s, Hall appeared in a wide variety of TV shows including the likes of Castle, 90210, CSI: NY, and Masters of Sex. Producer/creator Hal Roach re-bundled 79 of the shorts to make The Little Rascals TV series, which is still broadcast today. 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 Little Rascals: Directed by Penelope Spheeris. 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. She seems to have no interest in fame, and her social media accounts aren't publicized the way many child stars' are. He left show business and became a dog breeder and hunting guide. After the procedure, she died suddenly of heart failure on June 13, 1979, at age 47. It looks like E! Mar 18, 2020 09:00 A.M. Former child actress Brittany Ashton Holmes won hearts all over the world with her portrayal of the adorable Darla in the '90s film "Little Rascals.". One of her most memorable moments was singing "I'm in the Mood for Love" in The Pinch Singer. Here's what the cast, including Raven-Symon, the Olsen twins, and Blake McIver Ewing, are up to now. After the tour, 8-year-old Harold and 6-year-old Carl went for a meal at the Our Gang cafe and began an impromptu performance. And as I said, that doesnt sound too outlandish.. Additionally, theres her mischievous nature and her ability to mimic other characters lines in a humorous way, which gave her the nickname Echo.. He was played by child actor Matthew Beard. She agreed to get back together with the rest of the gang even Butch (Sam Saletta) and Woim (Blake Jeremy Collins) were in tow to recreate some of the most iconic shots from the movie. It was her first and last adult role in a movie, and she played a secretary alongside Vincent Price and Agnes Moorehead. There isn't a lot known about her final role in a movie, and there's not a clear reason why she seemingly retired from acting, but we can guess that it just wasn't her passion to be in the spotlight. The Buckwheat character was originally a female, portrayed by Matthew Stymie Beards younger sister, Carlena. He did undergo surgery, after which he dropped down to 140 pounds and then 110, but the end result was disastrous. There's a Twitter account tied to her name, which makes specific reference in the Twitter bio to the fact that Holmes is most well known for 1994's The Little Rascals. Sadly, at age 16, just two weeks after his parents gifted him a scooter. The film turned out to be a moderate success, but what about the actors? The group of misfit kids and their misadventures was charming, funny, and featured a ton of cute kids (and a dog). It all stems from the fact that they just wanted to see each other.". Thomas first appeared in the 1934 Our Gang shorts as a background player. 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.. He was 16 as old as Billy Froggy Laughlin when he died. 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.". According to his LinkedIn profile, he currently serves as a manager at Texas Trust Credit Union. When he got bored, he took the others to invade nearby sets, such as Tarzan, leading a charge into a love scene that was being filmed. It's a shock. After the procedure, she died suddenly of heart failure on June 13, 1979, at age 47. Darla is the love interest of Alfalfa, a kind-hearted girl who eventually joins the 'Rascals' despite Spanky's initial hatred towards her. McFarland had a habit of grabbing things and his mother would warn him, Spanky, mustnt touch!. It was and probably will forever be unmatched. Joe Rivkin, a casting director for Hal Roach Studios, cast her in the role of Darla in the Our Gang shorts. That year, Holmes played the role of Townslady Britt in the TV movie, We Hate Paul Revere. Porky reminds most viewers of a young Spanky, Hes best friends with Buckwheat and joined the same time as Darla in 1935. He has also indulged in other pursuits such as being a DJ, an employee at a consulting firm, and a real estate agent. 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. He even had a career as a film lab technician with the Technicolor Corporation. It took some doing, notedHuffPost, as Brittany was reluctant to join her former cast-mates. Everything You Need to Know About Florence Pugh, Is Tulsa King a true story? So, tell us, who was your favorite rascal? He later became Spankys best friend and graduated to the leader of the group. She played Darla in Our Gang except for her Our Gang debut in which her character's name was "Cookie". Directed by Penelope Spheeris, the celebrity cameos led by the Olsen Twins,Whoopi Goldberg,Mel Brooks,Reba McEntire,Daryl Hannah,Raven-Symon, and Donald Trump really stole the show. What a gang! From putting on grand shows to inventing sweet rides, we watched and wished we could join in on the fun. This prompted public objections from George Spanky McFarland, who informed the media that Buckwheat had been dead for ten years. He's also a contributing editor at the Catholic Herald. Britanny Ashton Holmes hasn't been pursuing that many films after playing Darla and apparently retired from showbiz way back in 1996. And who could blame her? Following her cameo role in The Little Rascals, Daryl went on to star in several big productions, including Kill Bill: Vol. After outgrowing Our Gang, Hood continued her education in high school, where she organized a vocal group called the Enchanters. Since then, he has kept a low profile although Newsweek suggests that he currently works at Texas in the market research department. , and of course, he was wearing his signature derby hat. The Little Rascals: Letter to Darla HD CLIP Binge Society 6.99M subscribers Subscribe 17K Share 2.3M views 1 year ago #thelittlerascals #children #breakup What's happening in this The Little. Tommy "Butch" Bond mentioned that her marriage to Granson was difficult because he used a wheelchair following a stroke. It was an idealized version of youth. He died on January 28, 1946. Even though it was a job, we had a pretty good time making those comedies. Dorothy graduated high school and became a clerk. In the series, Spanky was known as the president of the He-Man Women Haters Club. At 24, McFarland left showbiz and joined the United States Air Force. Bug Hall, in particular, who played the lovable Alfalfa, has gone on to career success with consistent roles across the board. She was born in Leedey, Oklahoma, the only child of music teacher Elizabeth Davner, and James Claude Hood, who worked in a bank. The friend only suffered minor injuries, but Billy Laughlin died at a nearby hospital on August 31, 1948. She returned to the character of Raven Baxter for the 2017 spin-off "Raven's Home," which earned her a Daytime Emmy nomination. Roach's films followed a group of neighborhood children's adventures. When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. WhileE! And he realized after a while that hed been looking at them for a long, long time and that they had captured his attention. The friend only suffered minor injuries, but Billy Laughlin died at a nearby hospital on August 31, 1948. He went on to maintain his sobriety and often gave lectures on drug abuse awareness. In 1995, she played Julie on an episode ofEllen,and later that year, she appeared as Dana inRed Shoe Diaries. Mead's last credit on IMDb is "Mean Parents Suck" from 2014. And watching these kids be kids on-screen was revolutionary. Beard maintained his sobriety, giving lectures on drug-abuse awareness. When it was over, it was over. He went on to appear in episodes of "The Nanny," "Home Improvement," "Clueless," "Recess," and "Hey Arnold.". Brian Pocrass, the organizer ofThe Little Rascals 20th-anniversary photoshoot, had a tough time convincing Ashton to appear for the shoot. At least not on the public's radar, that is. So, it's pretty obvious that its leads have gone on to appear in other roles while some others even retired from acting. Darla Jean Hood (November 8, 1931 June 13, 1979) was an American child actress, best known as the leading lady in the Our Gang series from 1935 to 1941. RELATED: 10 Movies To Watch If You Love The Little Rascals (1994). She pointed toThe Little Rascalsas one of the reasons why she didnt want to return to acting. So what did the rascals get into after this legendary show? Roach is the mastermind behind Laurel & Hardy. 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 later years, she gave up acting and spent her time working in department stores and going out to parties with her sister. Blake got his break at 9 years old when he began playing Mickey in Our Gang, after replacing Porky. McFarland was a passionate golfer who, in his later years, could be seen on the pro-am circuit. Rivkin, who discovered her as a child, cast her in The Bat her last film role in 1959. Visit Instagram. Dorothy DeBorba joined the cast of Our Gang in 1930 in Pups is Pups. She is best remembered for her elaborate hairstyles and bows on the series. Once she was old enough, she pursued a degree in political science, and there's isn't much more known than that. 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, before retiring from the business in . She's reportedly living in Los Angeleswith her husband, pursuing a degree in political science. Brittany Ashton Holmes effectively steered clear of the Hollywood scene, but in 2014, she made an appearance for the 20th anniversary of The Little Rascals movie (screenshot above). Dressed up in a fashionably prim outfit of which Darla herself would be proud, and rocking some funky streaks in her hair, the then-25-year-old actress remained glassy-eyed about her experience on The Little Rascals. His image appeared in every form of, On the set, Carl was often recalled as impatient and troublesome, leading the rest to mischief. Since being introduced nearly 100 years ago, The Little Rascals have earned a special place in the hearts of people all over the world. Britney herself commented on the way 'Darla' always looked into the camera while filming (which is a total no-no), the same way Brit did on 'Mickey Mouse Club.'. He has a YouTube channel and a SoundCloud for his music. Then, Billie Buckwheat Thomas took over. Darla was born on November 8, 1931 in Leedey, Oklahoma, and was a part of The Little Rascals from 1935 to 1941, starting at the age of 4 in Our Gang Follies of 1936 and continuing until she was the ripe old age of 10 with 1941's Wedding Worries, for a total of 50 films. He guest-starred on 6 episodes of The Roy Rogers Show, and his final actin endeavor was in 1958, in the Tony Curtis-led film, The Defiant Ones. Distractifty reported Collins was working as an assistant cameraman on "Sons of Anarchy," but it's not on his IMDb. Heres What Happened to Spanky from The Little Rascals as Told by a Close Friend, Top 10 Forgotten 70s Teen Heartthrobs, Then And Now 2023, Oscar Mayer Wienermobile Is Now Hiring New Drivers. She's also working on her political science degree for the time being. 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. Which got fans wondering, whatever happened to all those child stars once the movie was done filming? Courtland Mead's character is quite an interesting one given how he only replies in "uh-huhs." In January 1959 Hood released a new record, "My Quiet Village" (Ray Note Records). The general feeling throughout the shoot is of old friends reconnecting after years apart, as though nothing has changed, because their first film experience was so wonderful. I dont think Ill ever forget him as General Spanky. Doesnt get any cuter than that! Darla - The little Rascals Courtneythe2 5.05K subscribers Subscribe 104 Share Save 40K views 11 years ago Cute reactions of darla :D she is big now! Shes expertly avoided the media since retirement as an actor. We had a lot of fun together. Darla is the love interest of Alfalfa, a kind-hearted girl who eventually joins the 'Rascals' despite Spanky's initial hatred towards her. Its safe to say that this group of children started something, as their appeal continues to this day. The films writers adapted the movie from a series of short films by Hal Roach that aired from the 1920s to the 1940s. 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,. Then recently, fans were reminded of little Darlain an Instagram post from Britney Spears. Her parents influence on her career, Where is Mary Roach from American Idol now? George McFarland joined the gang after Jackie Coopersdeparture, in late 1931. 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. The original Little Rascals dog was a pit bull, named Pal the Wonder Dog, who had a discolored circle around his eye. Sadly, at age 16, just two weeks after his parents gifted him a scooter. He appeared in bit parts and B movies as an adult, including the classic Its a Wonderful Life(1946). However, after filming the movie, Brittany retired from acting at the age of 7! See what the cast of The Little Rascals looks like now. When Our Gang stopped production in 1944, Laughlin went straight into Johnny Doesnt Live Here Anymore, but this would be the end of his acting career. Even the big stars had to chase around and audition; it seemed like a rat race to me, with no security. However, Billie still enjoyed movie magic as a whole. He was out delivering newspapers when a speeding truck struck the boy and his friend who was driving the scooter. Lots of times our sets would be next to Laurel and Hardys on the same stage. She recalled finding her off-camera time on set as lonely as the boys tended to group together and play such "boys" games as baseball and football. Mabry has had several different experiences in life since then after acting, as can be seen from his work experience on LinkedIn. 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. 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. Ahh, good, old, Spanky probably one of the most recognized members of the entire franchise. Whatever Happened To Alfalfa From The Little Rascals? So what did the rascals get into after this legendary show? Rounding out the popular Our Gang favorites were Spanky, Buckwheat, Stymie, and of course Petey, the dog. After Lucenay (the dogs owner) was fired from Our Gang, he retired to Atlantic City. He also has a younger sibling, whose name was never released . Sadly, outside the studio gates, his life couldnt be more different. He was out delivering newspapers when a speeding truck struck the boy and his friend who was driving the scooter. But tragedy struck again when in 1959, he was fatally shot during a tussle over owed dues of a hunting dog. RELATED: 10 Funniest Lines From The Honey, I Shrunk The Kids Movies, Ranked. Ive never played a part over 19. The latest movie news, trailers, reviews, and more. 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. Darla From The Little Rascals Grew Up To Be Seriously Stunning The List 1.76M subscribers Subscribe 768 72K views 1 year ago 1994's Little Rascals was a hit movie that centered on the. Saletta had a successful voice-acting career in the '90s and early 2000s, voicing characters in "Beavis and Butt-Head," "Recess," "As Told by Ginger," "Rocket Power," "Rugrats," "Lloyd in Space," "King of the Hill," "The Proud Family," and "American Dragon: Jake Long" in 2005, which is his last credit. Darla's Little Rascals is caring for children ages 0-5 But for the woman formerly known as Darla, it's probably a good thing; fans are still obsessed, so it might best if she stays out of the spotlight. Eugene retired from show business after Our Gang and became an alternative school educator at Broomfield High School in Colorado.