(Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons) Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer was perhaps the most famous little rascal of the entire gang. Harold possessed limited acting abilities, and this made him not become as popular as his brother. In 1956, he had an uncredited role in the flick 'Dig That Uranium'. [6] The gunman was never caught. Is the picture at R23 a young Cosmo Kramer ? He died on January 21, 1959, the victim of a killer's bullet as he and another man argued over a lost hunting dog. Portrait of Carl Switzer as Alfalfa for "The Little Rascals" series, originally know as "Our Gang" dated January 1, 1936 | Photo: Getty Images. Switzer began his career as a child actor in the mid-1930s appearing in the Our Gang short subjects series as Alfalfa, one of the series' most popular and best-remembered characters. A son was born early that year, and the couple was divorced later in 1956. . Username and password are case sensitive. Other international suicide helplines can be found at befrienders.org. He signed both brothers to appear in Our Gang. The fight ended with Carl suffering a gunshot wound and dying from it. Both Switzer brothers appeared together for the first time in the 1935 short, Beginners Luck. Carl and Diantha Switzer divorced in 1957.George McFarland recalled in a 1987 interview how 1957 was the last time he saw Switzer. Switzer and Stiltz struggled for the gun and it went off. A son was born early that year, and the couple was divorced later in 1956. 1956. He and his brother Harold became famous in their hometown for their musical talent and performances. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. They had one child together, whose name they always kept secret. In 2002, it was revealed that Switzer's son's name is Lance, per his cousin's statement on ancestry.com. He was buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery next to his father and his brother. In January 1958, Switzer . Carl borrowed the dogs to take some tourists on a bear-hunting trip. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Year should not be greater than current year. After committing the heinous act, it is reported that he drove to a remote area near Glendale, California, and killed himself. Switzer was born in Paris, Illinois, the third son and last of the four children of Gladys C. Shanks and George Frederick Switzer.The oldest brother died in 1922. He could cry great big tears in just a few seconds. Please reset your password. Tom Corrigan, came forward to testify. "Alfalfa made most of his money between the ages of seven and twelve. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Producer Hal Roach saw the duos performance. What a hilarious asshole. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch', 'Henry and Dizzy', 'There's One Born Every Minute' and 'The War against Mrs. Hadley'. [2] Alfalfa also sported a cowlick. Actor: Second Childhood. He was Movies (Actor) by profession. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Although the self-defense verdict tied up Switzers death with a nice, neat bow, there were problems with it. Now that you mention it, Alfalfa did have crazy eyes. After this, he appeared in an episode each of 'The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show', 'Lux Video Theatre' and 'Science Fiction Theatre.' Pedos who find a way to work with children usually do. Stiltz shot Switzer in self-defense, claiming the former child star pulled a knife on him. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Switzer suffered severe internal bleeding and was pronounced dead on arrival when taken to the hospital. [2], In early 1954, Switzer went on a blind date with Diantha Collingwood (19302004), also known as Dian or Diana. Um, yeah, nice try. [quote] Switzer played the role of Freddie Othello in the Christmas film It's a Wonderful Life in 1946. When George Frederick Switzer was born on 16 April 1905, in Edgar, Illinois, United States, his father, David Andrew Switzer, was 54 and his mother, Jemima W Price, was 32. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. If only he'd had an IG account to share the travails of faded child stardom, as I do, he might have survived.. His name was Freddie. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? cemeteries found in Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Otherwise, you'll just have to find some other site He also had a run-in with the law. Your email address will not be published. By the late fifties, Carl Switzer had few acting jobs. Switzer was ordered to pay a $225 fine (more than $2,100 today). Of Scottish and German ancestry he was named Carl after a member of the Switzer family and Dean after many relatives on his grandmother's side. In 1959, he died at age 31 from a gunshot wound by an acquaintance during an argument over $50 owed to him. Learn more about merges. WIKITREE PROTECTS MOST SENSITIVE INFORMATION BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT STATED IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Some of these jobs included stints as a bartender and hunting guide. Tragically, Carl Switzer was shot in killed in the midst of a drug-fueled argument on January 21, 1959. However, none of these other accounts have stood the test of time. Corrigan said he agreed to, but he was never called before the court. He added the $15 he spent on the drinks to the $35 reward he paid to the man and felt Stiltz should give him $50 for the dog. "Heiress of the grain elevator empire Collingwood Grain, Inc. and first wife of murdered Our Gang actor Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer who met and married the troubled child star on a blind date in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1954 and became the mother of his only known son Justin Lance Collingwood-Switzer, but the marriage lasted less than two years, ending in divorce in 1956.". First Name Carl #8. Yet, despite the confusion surrounding his demise, its tragic nature remains obvious.. Carl had an older brother named Harold Switzer. It is not widely known but Alfalfa (Carl Switzer) from the Our Gang comedies had an older. He later retreated to his room to retrieve a .38-caliber revolver, which Switzer wrestled him for. Years later, Corrigan stood by what he told officers had happened that night, and said his stepfather did not have to kill Switzer.[9]. He was very bright but he needed help reading the scripts, Dian Collingwood recalled many years later.". As an adult, he appeared mainly in bit parts and B-movies. I had no idea. Because he died the same day as Cecil B. DeMille, his death received only minor notice in most newspapers, as DeMille's obituary dominated the columns. Search above to list available cemeteries. He was the older brother of gang member Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer , one of the series' most popular and best-remembered characters. Harold Switzer's life also ended tragically April 14, 1967, when he took his own life a few hours after killing a girlfriend.Always Close to Home812-238-6000EQUAL HOUSING LENDER MEMBER FDICFREEw w w. f i r s t - o n l i n e . It was a tough time for meand him. But eventually he was shot in the nuts and died at 31 while threatening someone with a knife. Both sang and could play a number of instruments. Harold had two nicknames, Slim and Deadpan, while Carl became Alfalfa.. The gun didnt go off in the heat of battle, or in self-defense. It was then, Cason wrote, Corrigan spotted a closed penknife at Alfies side, He figured it either fell out of his fist or his pocket.. Garden of Memory (formerly Section 6), Grave 6, Lot 26, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1011/carl-switzer. Garden City. ", Carl Switzer as Alfalfa, George McFarland as Spanky, Billie Thomas as Buckwheat and Eugene Lee as Porky in "Framing Youth," circa September 11, 1937. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Wife of Richard Roswell Eldridge. As he grew into and out of his teens, he worked steadily in character roles with diminishing returns, always immediately and distractingly recognizable as Alfalfa. I need a long, hot purifying shower after reading all of the above. He may have come from Paris, Illinois, but he wasn't a farmer! Though differing accounts of the event exist, all agree that Stiltz was struck over the left side of his head with a glass clock. It impressed him enough that he signed them both to appear in the Our Gang series of short films. 0 cemeteries found in Pretty Prairie, Reno County, Kansas, USA. Carl Switzer as Alfalfa, George McFarland as Spanky and Tommy Bond as Butch in "Glove Taps," an episode of "Our Gang" comedy later known as "The Little Rascals" which aired on February 20, 1937 | Photo: Getty Images. His character was one of the most memorable characters ever portrayed in the series. "42 Years Ago: A friend recalls the death of Our Gang's Alfalfa". Carl Switzer was an American child actor, singer, dog breeder, and hunting guide from Paris, Illinois. Switzer said he was going to beat up Stiltz, and Stiltz confronted Switzer with a .38-caliber revolver in his hand. Scroll below and check our most recent updates about Carl Switzer Net Worth, Salary, Biography, Age, Career, Wiki. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Diantha Musette Diana Collingwood Switzer Eldridge I found on Findagrave.com. "It was more like murder," Corrigan told reporters. George "Spanky" McFarland was the nominal star of the Our Gang series. Close your eyes and think of Dickie Moore. Corrigan said he had just stepped out the front door when he heard, but did not witness, a second shot behind him. [citation needed]. "Heiress of the grain elevator empire Collingwood Grain, Inc. and first wife of murdered Our Gang actor Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer who met and married the troubled child star on a blind date in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1954 and became the mother of his only known son Justin Lance Collingwood-Switzer, but the marriage lasted less than two years, ending . Take a look at He also did behind the scenes work on Laugh In. Heiress of the grain elevator empire Collingwood Grain, Inc. and first wife of murdered Our Gang actor Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer who met and married the troubled child star on a blind date in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1954 and became the mother of his only known son Justin Lance Collingwood-Switzer, but the marriage lasted less than two years, ending in divorce in 1956. There is a problem with your email/password. However, the dog ran off at some point, and either Stiltz or Switzer offered a reward for the return of the lost animal. Matthew Beard had cleaned up by the time he died, but it was too late apparently. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Please click here to register for free. He also had multiple run-ins with law enforcement officers. our privacy/terms or if you just want to see the damn He looked pretty much the same. That's why they end up completely fucked up. . Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. The former child actor bled out and was dead when he reached the hospital. Seems some of these "little rascals" grew up to become legit rascals: Alfalfa, Beckett, Robert Blake Alfalfa has BDF for days in that pic R23. . Try again. Add to your scrapbook. Family members linked to this person will appear here. By the end of the year, Alfalfa was one of the main characters, while Harold had been relegated to the background. The dog was then found by a man who returned it to Switzer who paid him the reward and also bought him $15 worth of drinks. He told investigators that Stiltz shot Switzer as he and Piott were leaving. Somebody shot him once but no details available. "Well, we shot Tommy, enough of this," he said he recalled Switzer saying, just before Switzer and Piott started to leave the house. Stiltz confronted them with the revolver, which Switzer grabbed while Piott crowned Stiltz with the clock. Thanks for your help! For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Failed to delete memorial. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Carl had married this girl whose father owned a pretty good size farm near Wichita. He was handsome as an adult. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. People were beginning to forget about the former child star. He tortured his younger brother, Brussel. Meanwhile, Stiltz had Jack Piott backed up against the kitchen counter at gunpoint, shouting that he was next. The Old Crime is New Again newsletter is a monthly email covering a topic that has not appeared in the blog. Carlton Dean Switzer, noto anche con lo pseudonimo di Alfalfa (Paris, 7 agosto 1927 - Mission Hills, 21 gennaio 1959), stato un attore statunitense.. conosciuto per le sue apparizioni come attore bambino e personaggio principale, nel ruolo di "Alfalfa" (o "Alfa Alfa"), nel noto serial cinematografico degli anni trenta . In 1934, Carl Switzer, along his brother Harold, visited the Our Gang Caf operated by the Hal Roach Studio and started an impromptu performance. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. Following a public tour, 8-year-old Harold and 6-year-old Carl entered the Hal Roach Studio's open-to-the-public cafeteria, the Our Gang Caf, and began an impromptu performance. [italic] What's It All About, Alfalfie ? What things? The Life Summary of George Frederick. Verify and try again. March 11, 2022. 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