While out delivering newspapers on the back of his friend’s scooter near his home in La Puente, California Laughlin was fatally struck by a speeding truck. Following the procedure, Hood contracted acute hepatitis and died suddenly of heart failure on June 13, 1979. THE LITTLE RASCALS/OUR GANG COMEDIES, Billie ‘Buckwheat’ Thomas, Robert Blake (aka: Mickey Gubitosi), Billy ‘Froggy’ Laughlin, George ‘Spanky’ McFarland, circa 1942. Darla was organizing the 1980 Little Rascals reunion for the Los Angeles Chapter when she underwent a minor operation at a North Hollywood hospital. She also appeared in the movie Calypso Heat Wave the same year singing a duet with Johnny Desmond. “Darla” Hood Granson, the leading lady in the series from 1935 to 1941,went on to appear in several other movies as well as making the hit record' I Just Wanna Be Free' in 1957. Beard also resumed his acting career landing bit parts in films like 'The Buddy Holly Story' and made cameo appearances on sitcoms like Good Times,” 'Maude” and 'Sanford and Son.” He passed away in 1981, at age 56 from pneumonia, following a stroke. From then on he made regular appearances at 'Our Gang' reunions and volunteered his time to lecture kids about the dangers of drug addiction. He battled heroin addiction for over 20 years during which time he was in and out of prison.

He never finished high school and was also involved with drugs. His trademark, anoutsized derby hat, was a gift from comedian Stan Laurel. “Stymie,” played by Matthew Beard, appeared in 36 of 'Our Gang' shorts from 1930 to 1935.

Names of the original little rascals