Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer

Biography

Date of Birth 7 August 1927, Paris, Illinois, USA Date of Death 21 January 1959, Mission Hills, California, USA (homicide) Birth Name Carl Dean Switzer Nickname Alfie Alfadoofus Spouse Dian Collingwood (1954 - 1954) (divorced) 1 child Trade Mark Off-key singing of popular (usually Bing Crosby) songs. Artificially straightened cowlick. Trivia Was Alfalfa in the "Our Gang" comedies. Shot to death in an argument in Mission Hills, California. Died by gunshot wound by an acquaintance in an argument over $50 which Switzer felt the acquaintance owed him. The acquaintance pleaded self-defense, and the judge ruled the death "justifiable homicide." [Source: "The Hollywood Death Book," James Robert Parish, 1992.] Buried at Hollywood Memorial Park (now Hollywood Forever), 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, California. Many sources have stated that the image of a dog displayed on his tombstone refers to the hound from the Little Rascals series. This is not, in fact, correct; rather, the image references work as a professional breeder. Although one of the most popular members of "Our Gang," Switzer's later life became an almost textbook example of the former child star whose life takes a turn for the worse. Numerous brushes with the law, a broken marriage, and grade-Z film work (when he could get it) all led up to his sudden, violent death in January 1959 at the age of only 31. A similar fate befell his brother, actor Harold Switzer, who, nine years later, killed his girlfriend and (a few hours after that) himself. For all his problems, Switzer did have notable success as an adult as a highly regarded hunting guide, whose regular clientele included Roy Rogers and James Stewart. His father was often engaged in power struggles with 'George 'Spanky' McFarland''s father (over billing, screen time, star status, etc.). The boys, however, managed to get along fine with one another. His best friend in the "Our Gang" cast was Tommy Bond, who played his on-screen nemesis Butch. Was a "problem child" during his tenure in "Our Gang." Switzer was known for staging pranks on both the crew and his fellow child actors (including his on-screen girlfriend Darla Hood, who in real life was apprehensive of Switzer). Distant cousin of David Switzer. Got into an argument with the director and urinated on the studio light and shut down production till the smoke and smell of it cleared. He and his brother Harold Switzer decided to audition for Our Gang but could not gain access into the studio. They went to the Our Gang Cafe and began singing and were quickly signed into Beginner's Luck (1935). His father and brother were buried next to him. He died on the same day as Cecil B. DeMille. Coincidentally, one of his final acting roles was an uncredited appearance as a slave in The Ten Commandments (1956), the last film which DeMille directed. In White Christmas (1954), the photo that Vera-Ellen shows to Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye of her brother Bennie is actually a photo of Switzer. Despite his trademark off-key singing, in real life he was a very skilled singer. He had three older siblings, Harold Switzer, Janice "Genness" Genevieve and a brother who died during childhood. His marriage lasted four months and produced a son. His family has always kept his son's name secret. In addition to acting, he worked as a bartender, dog trainer and fishing and hunting guide.