You might remember Alfalfa as the kid who sang off-key in “The Little Rascals” and “Our Gang” TV series. His name was Carl Switzer, born in 1927. His older brother, Harold Switzer, was also in the original show. Born in Paris, Illinois, both boys had musical talent. One day, in 1934, while the family was on vacation touring Hollywood and the Hal Roach Studios, the kids performed an impromptu musical number in the studio cafe. Hal saw the act, liked it, and signed them on. Harold was eight years old, and Alfalfa was six. Alfalfa became famous for singing off-key and sporting the cowlick hairstyle. Darla Hood became his co-star and romance interest on screen. His first Little Rascal show was in 1935, called “Beginner’s Luck,” and his last was in 1940, at the age of 12. He had some other roles in films — a short cameo in the Christmas film, “It’s a Wonderful Life” as the boyfriend/date of Mary Hatch:
He also got a short cameo as a Hebrew slave in “The Ten Commandments.” Here he is, on the left, in the “Roy Rogers Show” on Jan. 27, 1952, seven years before his death:
Carl Switzer (Alfalfa) was shot and killed at the age of 31. He’s buried in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Three stories have come forth about the shooting. In all likelihood, he was murdered, according to eyewitnesses, but the murderer said it was self-defense and got away with it. So sad.
Here are two photos of Alfalfa with Elizabeth Taylor in “There’s One Born Every Minute”:
Alfalfa sings “I’m in the Mood for Love” to Darla:
My dad was alfalfa’s brothers best friend (Harold) they would use alfalfa as a decoy to get girls in the car and when the car filled up they would kick alfalfa out of the car and take the girls to the 57hills (now Anaheim hills) and party.
True story!
Spanking was my most FAVORITE!
I think you mean Spanky.
We love The Little Rascals. And Alfalfa. That was our entertainment when we were children
It was sad how he died so soon so sad
How interesting. Came across this post about “Alfalfa”. Watched an old movie last night, “The High and the Mighty” and there was Carl Switzer. He was playing the co-pilot of a Coast Guard rescue plane.
Gosh, are there any movie star children that turned out right? This is sad as they all are..who in their right mind would want their child to have a life of fame?!
OH my goodness, we love Alfalfa at our house! We own most of the Little Rascal movies. They are some of our favorites. We also have It’s a Wonderful Life and I had no idea that was him. I didn’t know how he died either, how awful.
Sometime in the late forties, before my Dad left home he was hanging out at the Pool Hall in our hometown and was surprised to see and be able to shoot a game if pool with Alfalfa.