Holmes stole the show with her sassy attitude and belief in standing up for herself, despite being so young. Darla Hood was born on November 8, 1931, in Leedey, Oklahoma. The latest movie news, trailers, reviews, and more. A couple of the other boys had their eyes on her as well (Butch and Waldo). It's been a long time since those little rascals were actually little, though. Eugene died at age 71 in 2005 after a battle with cancer. Bug Hall, in particular, who played the lovable Alfalfa, has gone on to career success with consistent roles across the board. He was played by child actor Matthew Beard. But tragedy struck again when in 1959, he was fatally shot during a tussle over owed dues of a hunting dog. Published Dec 7, 2020 She was 'Darla' in 1994's 'The Little Rascal,' but Brittany Ashton Holmes is staying away from Hollywood today. As for employment, he worked various jobs, at one time an executive with Philco Ford. 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. And he realized after a while that hed been looking at them for a long, long time and that they had captured his attention. Roach just happened to be there and was so impressed that he signed them both on the spot. When he was recruited to appear in theOur Gangcomedies later that year,Hal Roachsimply left it on, creating one of the most recognized dogs in film history. He was only 16, the youngest to die of any of the Our Gang actors. Laughlin rose to fame at the age of 8, joining Our Gang in 1940. Learn more. According to E! The film's writers adapted the movie from a series of short films by Hal Roach that aired from the 1920s to the 1940s. Darlas mom introduced her to performing at an early age. Karasek only had one on-screen role in the '90s, which was "Rascals.". Just after her third birthday she was taken to New York City, where she was seen by Joe Rivkin, a casting director for Hal Roach Studios, who arranged a screen test. But it still should come as no surprise that the little girl who once brought laughs into our homes has now grown into a beautiful, young woman. He lived in East Los Angeles with his parents and 13 siblings, which his paycheck provided support for. Billie then continued his education to film editing and cutting. Mary-Kate continued to act sporadically, most recently in 2011's "Beastly." I didnt quit Hollywood. William Thomas Jr. was born on March 12, 1931, in Los Angeles. That year, Holmes played the role of Townslady Britt in the TV movie, We Hate Paul Revere. It was great.. Bagley reunited with the "Fresh Prince" cast for the HBO Max reunion in 2020. I dont think Ill ever forget him as General Spanky. Doesnt get any cuter than that! Jan 4, 2012 Darla Hood was one of the Little Rascals who played the childhood love interest of Alfalfa. There are plenty of reports floating around about her pursuing a political science degree but, considering how long they have been circulating, it seems likely Holmes has completed her studies and is maybe even working in her chosen field by now. He released a self-titled EP in 2015. Like most of his co-stars, Woods enjoyed some popularity as a child actor but then explored different pursuits in adulthood. And after seeing how adorable the child who played Darla was back then, fans of the '90s film were curious to see whether she's still recognizable today. Eugene retired from show business after Our Gang and became an alternative school educator at Broomfield High School in Colorado. Ironically, this would end up being a preview of what would ultimately be in store for him. 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. 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 admitted that he was struggling to find good roles being so recognizable as Alfalfa. He and his brother, Harold, became famous in their hometown for their musical talents. 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. Darla was introduced to the gang with the very popular short, Our Gang Follies Of 1936. 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. It's, like, really embarrassing to watch and I don't want to act anymore," (via Screen Rant). Hood was married twice, first to singer and insurance salesman Robert W. Decker (19491957), then to record-company executive Jose Granson (19571979). By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. Apparently, one time when angry with a director, He urinated on the studio lights and the stink drove everyone out. However, in 2005 Blake became much more famous for his personal life when he was tried and acquitted of the 2001 murder of his second wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley. After landing the coveted role of Darla in The Little Rascals, Brittany decided to retire from acting. Zachary Mabry played Porky, a younger member of Spanky's club. You'll Barely Recognize Darla From Little Rascals Now. More than two decades have passed since the film's release. The kids in the original Little Rascals were between 4 and 9 years old. The whole movie was a dream,Brittany added. Later on, Rivkin again cast her in her final adult role in a Vincent Price-led Horror flick called The Bat in 1959. 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. He was in all your favorites: "Coach," "Sliders," "Baywatch," "7th Heaven," and most frequently, "Hey Arnold" and "Rocket Power.". Sadly, outside the studio gates, his life couldnt be more different. 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. Ill see how this turns out. Cookies help us deliver our Services. He also was famously seen on Dallas highway billboards and in print advertisements for Wonder Bread. 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. With Travis Tedford, Kevin Jamal Woods, Jordan Warkol, Zachary Mabry. So, it's pretty obvious that its leads have gone on to appear in other roles while some others even retired from acting. Joe Rivkin, a casting director for Hal Roach Studios, cast her in the role of Darla in the Our Gang shorts. So I learned to disown Porky. Lee retired and became analternative school educator at Broomfield High School inColorado. If this doesnt do it for me, nothing will., In the end, he left show business and became a dog breeder and hunting guide. Darla Little Rascals (1 - 40 of 122 results) Price ($) Shipping Home Decor Dear Darla bell bottoms set- Little Rascals Toddler girl flare pants DesignedByZShop (413) $2.25 $2.50 (10% off) More colors Vintage Little Rascals Shirt - Alfalfa Spanky and Darla Our Gang Tshirt - Retro Women's short sleeve t-shirt ClassicRetroTV (25) $20.97 When one mentions. As mentioned before, Holmes had a small part in a movie in the same year as the reunion, but since then, we'd like to assume she's living her best life, and in incredibly private one at that. 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. And once she was reunited with her castmates, Holmes seemed to fall right back into place. Even though it was a job, we had a pretty good time making those comedies. Shes expertly avoided the media since retirement as an actor. 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. This prompted public objections from George Spanky McFarland, who informed the media that Buckwheat had been dead for ten years. I was a curious kid, and I got a charge out of Stan Lauren, and he knew it. RELATED:Here's What 'Little Rascals' Star Bug Hall Looks Like Now. He was very proud of that series, says Maltin in that exclusive interview. Roach's films followed a group of neighborhood children's adventures. In the 1994 feature-film remake of The Little Rascals, Petey is an American Bulldog. Unfortunately, Daniels career never took off after the shorts. On Nov. 18, 2005, he was found liable in a California civil court for her wrongful death. They still look so good together. 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. The skits were filmed to be shorts so the kids would remember their lines easier. 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. He began acting in the Little Rascals shorts in 1930 and that was the only acting he ever did. Joe Rivkin, who discovered her as a child, saw the cover and cast her in her final film role her first adult role in a movie playing a secretary in the suspense drama The Bat with Vincent Price and Agnes Moorehead. You might also remember Brittany from Baby. It's a shock. 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. He battled heroin addiction and committed small crimes to indulge his habit. McFarland had a habit of grabbing things and his mother would warn him, Spanky, mustnt touch!. 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? His younger brother Mickey Laughlin joined the gang briefly as well, to try and fill Spankys shoes with McFarlands -aged-out departure. In 1990, ABCs 20/20 aired a segment featuring a man named Bill English, a grocery bagger in Arizona, who claimed to be the adult Buckwheat. Holmes, 32, has not acted since 2014 and has no social media to speak of according to E!