What Happened To Darla From Little Rascals?

In American television’s history, among many shows, Our Gang, later named Little Rascals, evokes nostalgia. One of them Darla Hood’s life story evokes more than just her infectious personality. Beyond the screen, her life took unexpected turns and challenges, opening doors to many new achievements. 

It’s almost been 30 years since the beloved troublemakers debuted as little rascals. After that long, the fans are wondering what happened to Darla from Little Rascals. 

Well, Look no further! 

Let’s look into the cast of Little Rascals, the life of the main actors/actresses on screen, and how they navigated their lives through them and where they are now. 

From Sassy Darla to a Mature Adult

Darla was the American favorite child star of her time, after the show she went on to work in many different roles, small and big.

Here is a list of all the film work Hood did after Little Rascals:

• In 1942: Born to Sing, as the ‘Quiz Kid’
• In 1943: Happy Land, as Lenore Prentiss 
• In 1957: Calypso Heat Wave, as Johnny’s Duet Partner
• In 1957: The Helen Morgan Story, as Girl Singer at Piano
• In 1959: The Bat, as Judy Hollander
• In 1965: Gulliver’s Travels Beyond the Moon, as the Princess.

Her work as a singer was also renowned after her journey in Little Rascals, as follows:

• In high school, she organized and was a part of a quintet called Enchanters.
• Ken Murray took the group up for his show Blackouts to perform on stage.
• She sang in nightclubs as a solo vocalist.
• She appeared in the Ken Murray show in 1950.
• She was the lead performer in Edgar Bergen’s show.
• She regularly performed from 1957 onwards on the Merv Griffin Show.
• She released her new record My Quiet Village in 1959.

As evident, she was one of the few exceptions among child actors who ended up with poor careers after moving onto the industry’s big leagues. 

In 1962, Darla talked about the problem with many child stars, saying:

 “They think they are better than anyone else. They don’t learn to give to others. They are on the receiving end of a lot of adulation that gradually knocks out any humility they have. And my mother was every inch a stage mother. Mom pushed me, sure, but she didn’t force me down producers’ throats like some of the other mothers. And she always had my best interest at heart.”

Is Darla from Little Rascals Still Alive?

What happened to Darla from Little Rascals at the end of her life was unexpected, tragic, and a loss felt by the whole nation.

At the age of just 47, Darla underwent congestive heart failure and passed away on June 13, 1979. 

Her autopsy report showed she had contracted hepatitis C, which became the cause of her sudden death. It was later found that she had contracted Hep C during a routine appendix surgery when she received blood transfusions. 

Her loss is mourned to this day as the generation of Little Rascals remembers the beloved sassy Darla in their hearts.

What Happened to Darla From Little Rascals and The Cast?

So far, only one cast member of the show is alive, Sidney Kibrik at the age of 95.

The remaining members of the fan-favorite show have unfortunately passed away. Among these, Carl ‘Alfalfa’ Switzer was killed in a gruesome crime at the young age of just 31. 

Many accounts exist of what happened and to this day people have different beliefs about the case.

• Carl Switzer was given the duty of training a coonhound dog that belonged to Moses Stiltz, his old friend. 

• The dog one day ran away following a bear, the result of which was that Stiltz threatened Switzer to either bring back his dog or “be prepared for payback”.

• The dog was found after a while, and the reward for the act was given by Switzer. It was a sum of 50$ at the time, which he felt Stiltz should pay him since it was Stiltz’s dog.

• Upon trying to recover the debt owed to him, Carl went to Stiltz’s house and the two were in a physical conflict that led to Stiltz taking out his .38 revolver, Carl was shot in the groin during the skirmish and the young actor died on the way to the hospital.

Moses Stiltz pled not guilty and the jury believed that it was an act of self-defense, . 

Over 42 years later, Stiltz’s son reported in an interview that the decision was wrong and he did murder Carl Switzer after the fight had ended and the actor was on his way out.

Who Were Some of the Notable Child Actors in “The Little Rascals”?

• Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer: Known for his iconic cowlick hairstyle, Alfalfa was portrayed by Carl Switzer. He appeared in the series from 1935 to 1940.
• George “Spanky” McFarland: Spanky was one of the most popular and enduring characters in the series, known for his chubby cheeks and mischievous antics. He appeared in the series from 1932 to 1942.
• Darla Hood: Darla was the cute and charismatic female lead in many of the episodes. She appeared in the series from 1935 to 1941.
• Billie “Buckwheat” Thomas: Buckwheat was known for his large, expressive eyes and distinctive hair. He appeared in the series from 1934 to 1944.
• Eugene “Porky” Lee: Porky was known for his chubby cheeks and comedic timing. He appeared in the series from 1935 to 1939.
• Matthew “Stymie” Beard: Stymie was known for his distinctive derby hat and gravelly voice. He appeared in the series from 1930 to 1935.

Conclusion to What Happened to Darla on Little Rascals

Darla Hood was an American TV show child star beloved by all for her role as Darla on The Little Rascals. 

She went on to break the stereotypes that child stars wash out as they move into adulthood. 

She acted in many films, sang in many TV shows, and performed live on many different occasions along with some of the nation’s biggest names.

sShe met an unfortunate and tragic incident that led to her untimely death at the age of 47.

Darla and her cast are remembered even today for bringing a show that magical to life. Her cast members have also passed, all but one Sidney Kibrik.

One member of the cast, Carl Switzer died a horrible death, being shot and killed over a petty debt dispute with his friend, who walked free after the murder.

FAQs