Alfalfa didnt have the money, so he asked Stiltz to pay. In a bizarre series of events, Carl Switzer was shot to death in the groin on January 21, 1959, over an argument involving $50 that Carl Switzer felt he was owed for training a hunting dog. Switzer and a friend, photographer Jack Piott, went to the Alfalfa (Carl Switzer) had an older brother, Harold! Every once in a while, someone draws a ring around the dogs eye so he looks like Pete from the Our Gang comedies. WATCH LIVE: Governor Ron DeSantis to hold press conference in Titusville, Energy Departments costly bid to regulate gas stoves out of existence inflames consumers, The Lefts plan for a hostile takeover of the Supreme Court, The 6 mistakes of Bidens emergency immigration plan, Crenshaw dubs TikTok 'ultimate psychological warfare weapon,' signals support for absolute ban, Trump lawyers ask for mistrial in E Jean Carroll defamation and battery case, Only two sitting senators voted against work requirements in historic welfare overhaul, Reporters Notebook: Democrats Joe Manchin problem. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. Carl died at the age of 31, and the cause of death was a Some features on this site require a subscription. Which suggests that Carl Switzer was the only one of the many child stars in the series of shorts who ended up letting his ego take over. Failed to report flower. 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.. March 28, 2021, 6:21 am, by According to Sidney, the concept of a bunch of rambunctious little kids doing silly things is a timeless concept that will never go out of style. To make ends meet, he worked odd jobs. And he made life a living hell for his fellow child stars. This account has been disabled. He died on January 21, 1959 in Mission Hills, California, USA. Everyone called him Alfalfa. The bullet went into the ceiling. He had an older sister named Janice Genevieve and his younger brother Carl. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. The same year, he acted in the movies Gas House Kids and Courage of Lassie. Aw Miss Crabtree, you can call me Chubsy Ubsy. With the other beings Robert Blake, Jerry Tucker, Mildred Kornman and Leonard Landy. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. The news media portrays Mr. Switzer as having been outside of his car when he was shot: Wounded in the arm by a bullet fired as he climbed into his parked car on busy Ventura Boulevard.. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Celebrities Who Freakishly Died On While Carl Switzer certainly had his own share of bad luck, one must wonder whether a curse plagued the cast of Our Gang. At that time, Roach was putting up the cast for a new show titled "Our Gang.". Bud Stiltz testified weepily to the coroners jury. Some say he was into drugs like methedrine. It seems that the popularity of the shorts has endured in a way greater than most other works from that time. They argued and Switzer was shot, according to the LA Times, and died en route to the hospital. In r23 he looks just like a guy I knew in high school who was a scary, aggressive asshole. Maybe he does , to others. The circumstances of his death are disputed, due to contradictory accounts by the shooter and by an eyewitness. April 23, 2023, 1:22 pm, by WebCarl Dean Switzer, the actor who as a child played Alfalfa in the Our Gang comedy film series, dies at age 31 in a fight, allegedly about money, in a Mission Hills, California, home. In reality, Bud Stiltz was too good with his hands. If he was shot facing the car from the opposite side there should be a bullet hole in each window. Harold and Carl were gifted singers, and this talent proved to be an outlet for their parents to make money. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Join Facts Verse as Little Rascals Sidney Kibrick confirms the rumors about Carl Switzer. Some reports say he died due to a failed drug deal, while other accounts say Stiltz intentionally killed him. He was in a room with a group of men when a man with a trained bear showed up. IN 1954, ALFALFA WAS 26 YEARS OLD and had his best chance at moving on from the juvenile roles hed been saddled with since the days of Our Gang. Sidney says that the kid who played Spanky and Darla were just as pleasant off the screen as they were when they were on it. There have always been rumors that the adorable Alfalfa was a pain to work with when the cameras werent rolling. Verify and try again. Tom Corrigan, who hated his stepfather, would join the Marines, and in 1982, open his steakhouse. He says that the actors who played the other popular characters on the Little Rascals were as charming as could be when the cameras werent rolling. He would end up having to fight an even tougher battle [] More, Lynda Carter is an actress who makes a name for herself, playing on the hit 1970s television series Wonder Woman. The truth is somewhat different, about Carl Alfalfa Switzers life and career after Our Gang, and the circumstances of his death. The police never bothered to reopen the case file after new accounts since most of the people involved had died. R14-I'm pretty sure it was Othello. . Facts Verse The show, featuring Tommy said he told his story back then to a detective named Pat Poe. Kendall McComas "Breezy Brisbane" - (10/29/16 - 10/15/81) - Two weeks before his 65th birthday and apparent forced retirement from the U.S. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. The series not only beat out all the other kid shows on the network, but surveys revealed that the old Our Gang shorts soon to be marketed as The Little Rascals, had as many adult as child viewers. As a fan of Switzers, I have always wondered if Switzers death was justified or if he was murdered. Allen Hoskins's derogartory character, Farina, the archetypal pickanniny, belied his upper middle class, Boston bred upbringing. Being inside coming out, you are able to hit the floorboards for cover. They were on a family trip to Hollywood in 1934 when they visited Hal Roach Studios, were discovered by the producer and immediately shoved into the Our Gang comedy Beginners Luck. Try again later. Only he was holding the gun, having gone home to blow his brains out after using the gun to kill his partner in a laundromat business. Alfalfa grabbed a glass-domed clock from a dresser and smashed Stiltz over the head with it. In 1967, after killing a customer over a dispute, Switzer drove himself to a remote area near Glendale, California and committed suicide. Their exploits made their parents exceedingly proud. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. Find out more about Harold and his younger brother. As always, like this video to show your support, and subscribe and hit the notification bell if youd like to be among the first to know when more Facts Verse videos are on their way! WebCarl Switzer Shot to Death Carl Switzer was unhappy with being out $50 since the dog was not his but belonged to Stiltz. ^ Funny. No doubt he did. I did quite well. It constructs by the comic book character of the same name. Then he stepped inside, demanded the money again, and a ferocious brawl ensued. Oops, we were unable to send the email. He became famous for portraying Alfalfa in the film series "Our Gang" during the 1930s. Below are some of the more notable examples: Pete the Pup (? Facts Verse I read he liked to piss on the lighting equipment on the set of The Little Rascals so that when lights were turned on it filled the set with his stench. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Facts Verse The Tragic Death of Carl Switzer, Alfalfa from Our Gang Join Facts Verse as Little Rascals Sidney Kibrick confirms the rumors about Carl Switzer. Please click here to get full access and no ads for $1.99 or less per month. The following day, Alfalfa was buried at Hollywood Memorial Park. Carl Switzer Age, Bio, Personal Life, Family and Stats - CelebsAges After committing the heinous act, it is reported that he drove to a remote area near Glendale, California, and killed himself. Tom Corrigan was Crash Corrigans son, and later, stepson to Bud Stiltz. His parents spent it all. The gun didnt go off in the heat of battle, or in self-defense. based on information from your browser. Alfalfa began breeding and training hunting dogs, and began a business as a hunting guide, specializing in bears. Death Arguably, this ranks among Datalounge's most depressing threads. And Sidneys parents were hesitant to let him leave Hollywood behind. because Freddie was so pissed that George stole his date. R23 Cute kid however he became an ugly adult. On this day, Jan. 21, in 1959, Carl Dean Switzer, the actor who played Alfalfa in the "Our Gang" series, was killed during a fight over $50 and a hunting dog. Alcohol and "trouble with the law" followed after he became an adult. News of Harold and Carl's Hollywood success reached their hometown of Illinois, and they were greatly celebrated there. Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer - IMDb Since Carl's demise, there have been different accounts of his death. BURT KEARNS produces nonfiction television and documentary films. Did he have BDF, too? In the late 1980s, a young actress named Rebecca Lucile Schaeffer was struggling to find her big break in show business. Stiltz was a mechanic and welder who was good with his hands, which made him valuable when his boss opened Corriganville, a movie ranch and tourist attraction in Simi Valley. They figured the spent slug was somewhere in the station wagon, so they impounded the vehicle. But its surprisingly not all that accurate in regards to the majority of child stars who took part in the Little Rascals. WebSexuality: Straight. However, records show he operated a Speed Queen Company franchise, installing and servicing dryers and washers. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Harold Switzer Well, we shot Tommy, Alfalfa said, backing off. The Surprising Last Words of 11 Entertainers He was 56, a San Fernando Valley character who dressed like a movie cowboy with a ten-gallon Stetson, and was owner and face of the western-themed Corrigans Steakhouse, the most popular eatery in the Valley. The fight spilled into a bedroom. August 23, 2022, 9:13 am The following year, he starred as Alfalfa in the comedy films Gas House Kids Go West and Gas House Kids in Hollywood respectively. Co-edited by Gillian McCain and Legs McNeil, the authors of, The Knack had an amazing sound. Other international suicide helplines can be found at befrienders.org. He wrote the books TABLOID BABY and, with Jeff Abraham, THE SHOW WONT GO ON: THE MOST SHOCKING, BIZARRE, AND HISTORIC DEATHS OF PERFORMERS ONSTAGE. Hello and thank you for registering. And one of the many writers that offered their talents to the series of shorts was Frank Capra. WERE WE ALL BRAINWASHED BY THE CIA WITH SEX, DRUGS AND ROCK & ROLL? The $750 that Sidney brought home every week during his Little Rascals years helped a great deal. However, many audience members didnt realize that. Carl Switzer Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images The deceased was born Aug. 25, 1898 at Odessa, South Russia to Simon and Rezian [sic] Hello. WebHis death initially attracted little attention from the press, but the controversial circumstances of his death have become the subject of true-crime articles and They farmed in that community until 1939 when they moved to a farm in Howard Co; in 1965 they retired and thereafter lived in St. Paul. What's the big deal? There is a certain fascination with hearing about the stars lives on the screen, in newspapers, and in magazines. Money Maker Software is compatible with AmiBroker, MetaStock, Ninja Trader & MetaTrader 4. I think he was a fug kid who became handsome as an adult. THE SHOCKING LIVE TELEVISION SUICIDE OF A NEWS ANCHOR! Documentary about Alfalfa's life, with new details suggesting his death by gunshot was most likely not accidental. He was just 38 years old. Switzer Having starred in such television programs as VEGA$ and Spenser: For Hire. He said he even agreed to testify, but he was never called. R44, it's too bad the teachers couldn't just beat the shit out of those assholes; it's really the only thing they understand. May 6, 2021, 4:05 pm, by We were talking about Hollywood and performers who died onstage when Gilbert Gottfried asked us, How did Alfalfa die? Alfalfa from The Little Rascals? They attended Redmon Elementary School and enjoyed picnicking and swimming during their leisure time. Meanwhile, Stiltz had Jack Piott backed up against the kitchen counter at gunpoint, shouting that he was next. With the former child star building his own development in the area of Palm Springs. Carl Switzer (left) as Alfalfa and George McFarland as Spanky in the 1938 film Canned Fishing | Photo: Getty Images, While at the tour, Harold and Carl performed one of their numbers and impressed Hal Roach, who invited them for auditions. WebO n this day, Jan. 21, in 1959, Carl Dean Switzer, the actor who played Alfalfa in the "Our Gang" series, was killed during a fight over $50 and a hunting dog. Although Sidney wasnt one of the series biggest stars, he claims that producers treated him very well. He was the first son of his parents, George Frederick and Gladys C. Shanks Switzer. Carl Switzer was born on the 7th of August, 1927. He taught me all I know. He was married to Dian Collingwood. Though Sidney claims that Carl Switzer was a pain to work with. Alfalfa would portray a 100-year-old Indian, in heavy makeup whose application aged him at a rate of almost fourteen years an hour. No one would mistake Joe Sam for the freckle-faced kid from Our Gang. Their lives also ended similarly and under tragic circumstances. Despite not facing Carl's problems due to being a child star, Harold had his own issues. Director Cecil B. Demille (who had shot both versions of The Ten Map showing location of 10400 Columbus Avenue, Mission Hills, What transpired in the minutes to follow has been told in many ways. As far as the Little Rascals curse is considered. All Rights Reserved, Slender Man stabbing, Waukesha, Wisconsin, Metamorphosis of Carl Switzer into Alfalfa, Update: Police Release Dead Serial Killers Account of Murder of Samantha Koenig. Alfalfas brother Harold, the one who got pushed into the background in their first Our Gang feature, died at 42 in April 1967, also at the end of a gun. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. While there is no shortage of urban legends about the Little Rascals. He nursed it even harder as he nursed drinks at night in the bar. We are changing the login scheme for contributors for simpler login and to better support using multiple devices. He should have turned back, but he was determined to bag a bear. Movie and television work was slow, so Alfalfa got a part-time job tending bar in Studio City. The newspapers, and official police account, played it like this: Everything was quiet in the Corrigan house when Alfalfa banged on the door, impersonating a police officer and flashing a phony badge. No matter how old they are. Hello and thank you for being a DL contributor. Jack cried and begged for his life. The Defiant Ones. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams.