Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Gordon Lee, the chubby child actor who played Spanky McFarland's little brother Porky in the "Little Rascals" comedies, has died. When he realized where things were headed with his career, the actor cut bait and moved on to the rest of his life. / AP. "As a kid I had most everything I wanted, and we had a good life. Spanky & Our Gang display: block; He was previously married to Paula Jeanne Wilkinson and Doris. 'Spanky' McFarland; Star of 'Our Gang' Films - Los Angeles Times Former Little Rascals-Our Gang star Spanky McFarland dies Among the group's other songs were "I Saw Her Again Last Night," "Go Where You Wanna Go," "Dancing Bear," and versions of "I Call Your Name" and "Dedicated to the One I Love. Among the films Lee appeared in were "Bored of Education," which won the Oscar for best one-reel short subject in 1937; "Our Gang Follies of 1936"; "The Awful Tooth"; and "Roamin' Holiday.". George Spanky McFarland Was Never the Same After Our Gang Ended Spanky McFarland - Wikipedia Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. June 27 (UPI) -- A Maryland lottery player said she copied a past winner's technique to score a $50,000 Pick 5 prize. Spanky Mcfarland - Turner Classic Movies Spanky and his friends all decide to play army as the country is embroiled in war. #inline-recirc-item--id-9e35d2c4-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Try again later. Born: 2-Oct-1928 Birthplace: Dallas, TX Died: 30-Jun-1993 Location of death: Grapevine, TX Cause of death: Heart Failure Remains: Cremated Gender: Male Race or Ethnicity: White Sexual orientation: Straight Occupation: Actor Nationality: United States Executive summary: The Little Rascals Father: Robert McFarland Mother: (d. 1993) You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Early scenes of this film were part of Spanky's screen test taken back in . Successful post-Rascals career as a sales manager with Philco-Ford and a lecturer. Learn more about managing a memorial . A telephone interview with Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane, of Spanky and Our Gang ("Sunday Will Never Be The Same"). Family tree of Spanky McFarland - Geneastar You may request to transfer up to 250,000 memorials managed by Find a Grave. Ever wanted to stay in the Barbie DreamHouse? Doris McFarland in Her Capacity as Personal - CourtListener GREAT NEWS! I had a ball, McFarland said of his life as a child star, long after he had abandoned show business to become a commercial contract manager at Philco-Ford television. Trending News Mackenzie, and Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane. The Our Gang shorts were later syndicated to television as The Little Rascals.Early lifeMcFarland was born in Dallas, Texas, on October 2, 1928, to Virginia Winifred (ne Phillips) and . .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { In 1931, there were no integrated neighborhoods in America, he said. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Thanks for your help! Legal Troubles Switzer had several run-ins with the law during the 1950s. The members re-formed in 1971 for the album "People Like Us," but all hope for a reunion ended in 1974 when the 32-year-old Elliot suffered a fatal heart attack in London. A small boy is instrumental in a famous Civil War victory. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Both of his wives predeceased him. Spanky McFarland, 64, Actor In the 'Our Gang' Comedies How about the Little Rascals? This is a carousel with slides. McFarland later said that the name was conceived by his first director. Well-groomed and prosperous-looking as an adult, McFarland at 5-feet-5 remained stocky but was seldom recognized. "Fat kid got lucky.". General Spanky (1936) - IMDb Denny Doherty, one-quarter of the 1960s folk-rock group the Mamas and the Papas, known for their soaring harmony on hits like "California Dreamin"' and "Monday, Monday," died Friday at 66. Try again. Lee was a schoolteacher, living in Colorado for a time. He and Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas teamed up against older boys Spanky and Alfalfa in many of the comedies. The group burst on the national scene in 1966 with the top 10 smash "California Dreamin'." 'The Little Rascals': The Life and Sad Death of Pete the Pup Well-groomed and prosperous-looking as an adult, McFarland was seldom recognized. Oops, we were unable to send the email. The comedies, produced by Hal Roach, became known as "The Little Rascals" when shown on TV in the 1950s. The screen test went well, and soon Sonny McFarland was given another nickname: Spanky (because the boy "looked 'spankable'"). He alsocontributed much of his time to charity events, where the rotund actor's autograph was in demand by children as well as those who recall the Little Rascals. Even though it was a job, we had a pretty good time making those comedies, he said in a 1977 book about the grown-up Gang. As a kid I had most everything I wanted, and we had a good life. Tina Turner sings "I'll Never Need More Than This." Actor. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. / AP. Lee died Sunday in a Minneapolis nursing home after . For fans of the Little Rascals and of Spanky, this video is a chance to learn a lot more about this beloved character, and the man behind him. General Spanky: Directed by Gordon Douglas, Fred C. Newmeyer. Fondly remembered for playing 'Spanky' in the "Our Gang/Little Rascals" serial comedies. The Our Gang shorts were later syndicated to television as The Little Rascals. This browser does not support getting your location. Appellant Doris McFarland, personal representative of George "Spanky" McFarland ("McFarland"), now deceased, 1 appeals orders of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey on cross-motions for summary judgment. Actor. He was 64. He was 64.. Hospital Spokesman Steve Tatum said McFarland was pronounced dead at 2:03 p.m. CDT. Ryan Seacrest named new "Wheel of Fortune" host Maryland woman wins big lottery prize using past winner's strategy. Actor. Failed to report flower. McFarland also appeared in feature films, including "Day of Reckoning" in 1933, "Kentucky Kernels" in 1935, and "Trail of the Lonesome Pine" with Henry Fonda and Fred MacMurray in 1936. Actor: Bedtime Worries. 2But the group's heyday was brief and it disbanded in 1968 following John and Michelle Phillips' divorce. He was once arrested for cutting down trees in Sequoia National Forest and, in 1958, he was shot and injured by an unknown assailant in front of a bar in the San Fernando Valley. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Angela Bassett, Mel Brooks to receive honorary Oscars Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. June 27 (UPI) -- Police in New York said it took about a dozen officers and animal handlers to capture a pair of horses that escaped from their barn and went for a walkabout that ended at a golf course. A small boy is instrumental in a famous Civil War victory. Ring lost on New Jersey beach found 51 years later. Folk/Rock Musician. } Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. 'Our Gang' Curse | Snopes.com Roach also loaned him out to several other studios for appearances in such movies as 'Trail of the Lonesome Pine.'. A small boy is instrumental in a famous Civil War victory.A small boy is instrumental in a famous Civil War victory.A small boy is instrumental in a famous Civil War victory. The Little Rascals and Our Gang series, produced by the Hal Roach Studios in Hollywood, was immensely popular with moviegoers of the 1930s and '40s and was given wide play on television. McFarland lived in a Fort Worth suburb in northeast Tarrant County. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The cause of death was not immediately determined. Spanky McFarland. He was played by the cherubic and charming young actor named George McFarland. Lee told friends his career ended when a growth spurt made him thinner. All Rights Reserved. "Everybody knows about death and dying and sadness, so it's an exercise in staying in the moment and not getting maudlin about your friends dying.". Phillips briefly re-formed the group in 1982 with Doherty, Phillips' actress daughter, Mackenzie, and Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane. Spanky McFarland When it was over it was over. Spanky McFarland, 1952. He was 64. Failed to delete flower. He was featured in many of the one-reelers from the 1930s and 40s. "I have no regrets. McFarland remained a cheerful public presence up until his death in . Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Were you a fan of the Our Gang series of shorts? I would have finished school and gone to college, and by now Id be the president of some corporation.. The cause of. based on information from your browser. DYR Book Shop DYR Stories 'The Little Rascals': A Close Friend Reveals the Life and Struggles of Spanky (Exclusive) UPDATED 5/23/2023 There's something odd about referring to a man in his sixties as "Spanky," and yet if George McFarland was still with us, that's exactly what he would have wanted to be called. The Ventures perform "Vibrations." The most lucrative majors? Despite living a happy life and enjoying a successful career, Darla Hood died in tragic circumstances due to a heart failure caused by a doctor's mistake, leaving her co-star Billy "Buckwheat" Thomas so sad that he died the next year. . GRAPEVINE, Texas -- George Emmett 'Spanky' McFarland, who entertained millions as the fat kid in the Little Rascals series, died Wednesday at Baylor Medical Center at Grapevine. His sister Frances Arnold said the singer-songwriter died at his home in Mississauga, a city just west of Toronto, after a short illness. He was 71. view all George "Spanky" McFarland's Timeline And unlike many child stars, he was able to find success in other fields, and avoid the dreaded plague of substance abuse. The film was based on Our Gang co-star George "Spanky" McFarland. Cause of death Cardiac arrest Role Actor Occupation Child actor Spouse . Doherty made a solo album in 1974 and achieved a bit of immortality by both playing the Harbormaster and voicing all the characters for the children's TV series "Theodore Tugboat. A telephone interview with Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane, of Spanky and Our Gang ("Sunday Will Never Be The Tina Turner sings "I'll Never Need More Than This." | Photo: Getty Images Advertisement At that time, Spanky was also getting chubbier and did not seem to fit in the movies anymore. There was an error deleting this problem. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. The cause of death was not known, but Tatum said McFarland arrived at 1:19 p.m. 'in full cardiac arrest.'. An invitation for a screen test arrived that spring, leading to his acting career. The Halifax-born Doherty started his music career in Montreal in 1960 as the co-founder of the Colonials, which later became the Halifax Three. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? In a 1998 interview with the Star Tribune of Minneapolis, the Texas-born Lee said he was 2 years old when his mother sent his picture to studio executives who were seeking an actor to play McFarland's brother. Barbie's extremely pink 'DreamHouse' listed for overnight stays. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. How about the Little Rascals? July 1, 1993 GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) _ George Spanky McFarland's acting career ended when he was a teen-ager. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. } Learn more about merges. All Rights Reserved. Spanky Leonard: Oh, yes sir, I saw you drop it. In 1966 he joined Philco-Ford and began a successful career in sales, punctuated with occasional appearances at Rascals reunion shows. McFarland, who lived in Grapevine, Tex., died an hour after being rushed to the emergency department of Baylor Grapevine Hospital, according to spokesman Steve Tatum. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Fondly remembered for playing 'Spanky' in the "Our Gang/Little Rascals" serial comedies. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Submit a correction or make a comment about this profile, The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (19-Feb-1936), Submit a correction or make a comment about this profile. The group had a successful run until they. He was an actor, known for Bedtime Worries (1933), Second Childhood (1936) and General Spanky (1936). Spanky McFarland | Our Gang Wikia Wiki | Fandom Died of a heart attack at age 64. 2007 The Associated Press. But his only television job was to be with Philco-Ford in commercials, which he began in 1966. Tina Turner sings "I'll Never Need More Than This." In addition, they help a nice Southern officer escape a hanging--a hanging orchestrated by a total jerk. Spanky Leonard: [Shortly after Spanky & Marshall Valiant go to a card playing room, for Spanky to complete his shoe shining mission, that he just started. AKA George Robert Phillips McFarland. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Ryan Seacrest named new "Wheel of Fortune" host June 27 (UPI) -- A man who became the only passenger to stick out a nearly 18-hour delay for a scheduled flight from Oklahoma to North Carolina ended up getting the VIP treatment as the plane's sole passenger. Verify and try again. . Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. In 1998, the Mamas and the Papas were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code.