'Little Rascals' Star Carl Dean Switzer Tried to Escape "Alfalfa" for a Normal Life

Carl Dean Switzer was bitter about his experience on the ‘Our Gang’ television series.Photo byGet.tv

Carl Dean Switzer was a fan favorite among many young Little Rascals viewers who grew up watching him as the freckled-faced, cowlick having “Alfalfa” on television. He also won the hearts of many starry-eyed girls who wished to be Darla, another ‘Our Gang’ character played by Hollywood child actress Darla Jean Hood (1931-1979), while fantasizing about being the object of his affection and the girl he tried to lure away from the other boys, especially with his high-pitched singing and squeaky speaking voice.

An Inside Look at His Childhood

Carl was born on August 7, 1927, to George Frederick Switzer (1905-1960) and Gladys Carrie Shanks (1904-1997) in Paris, Illinois. During his childhood, he moved to Los Angeles after his family took a road trip to see Hollywood producer Hal Roach, Sr. (1892-1992) at his television studio. He was signed after he and his older brother Harold (1925-1967) sang and danced in the Our Gang Café. After Carl made his debut on The Little Rascals, he instantly became a popular face as a lovable character.

As the star of ‘Our Gang’, Carl was loved by many viewers, but he was problematic on the set. He intentionally started trouble with his cast mates, damaged television studio equipment, and also caused issues with the staff. During one incident, he got extremely angry with Hal and urinated on one of the stage lights, causing a power outage, an awful stench that drove people out of the studio, and a production delay. Hal often scolded Carl in front of his peers for his bad behavior.

His Life After The Little Rascals

Although Carl gained a following as a popular ‘Our Gang’ star, he was constantly on a mission to prove that he was nothing like "Alfalfa". He desperately tried to disassociate himself from the character and would often avoid any events or interviews related to the show.

Carl continued acting after he left The Little Rascals and made appearances in films and television shows such as It’s a Wonderful Life, I Dream of Jeannie, and The Ten Commandments. He also settled down and married Diantha Musette Collingwood (1930-2004), the heiress of Collingwood Grain, Inc., in 1954. They had one child named Justin in the marriage.

His Troubled Reputation and Untimely Death

Carl had numerous brushes with the law during his short adult life, which included multiple arrests. In the 1950s, he was arrested for cutting down pine trees in the Sequoia National Forrest to sell them as Christmas trees. He received one year of probation and had to pay a $200+ fine.

Sadly, Carl’s life eventually took a tragic turn. On January 21, 1959, Carl visited the home of Moses Samuel “Bud” Stiltz (1921-1983) because he believed Bud owed him a $50 debt after he trained a hunting dog at Stiltz’s request. The two men argued, and Carl physically attacked Bud. The altercation ended with Carl’s fatal shooting. Ironically, Carl’s death was ruled a justifiable homicide and Bud was acquitted.

Carl was only 31 years old at the time of his death. His final resting place is the Hollywood Forever Cemetery next to his brother and father and also among countless other celebrities in Los Angeles.