William “Billie” Thomas, Jr. (March 12, 1931 – October 10, 1980) was an American child actor best remembered for portraying the character of Buckwheat in the Our Gang (Little Rascals) short films from 1934 until the series’ end in 1944. Thomas died of a heart attack in his Los Angeles apartment on October 10, 1980, 46 years to the day after his mother brought him to audition at the Hal Roach Studios. Thomas first appeared as a background character in Our Gang in 1934. , was completed in November 1943. Item Information. William “Billie” Thomas, Jr. (March 12, 1931 – October 10, 1980) was an American child actor best remembered for portraying the character of Buckwheat in the, short films from 1934 until the series’ end in 1944. During the first half of his Our Gang tenure, Thomas's Buckwheat character was often paired with Eugene "Porky" Lee as a tag-along team of "little kids" rallying against (and often outsmarting) the "big kids", George "Spanky" McFarland and Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer. Despite the change in the Buckwheat character’s gender, Billie Thomas’s androgynous costuming was not changed until his appearance as a runaway slave in the 1936 Our Gang Feature film General Spanky. Thomas is interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California. Trending. [11] But Thomas's co-star George McFarland, who played "Spanky" in Little Rascals, made it clear that he hated Murphy's imitations. Thomas remained in Our Gang when the series changed production from Hal Roach Studios to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1938. Everyone! After returning to civilian life, Thomas faced a dilemma shared by many of his co-stars from Our Gang. Characters on The Little Rascals (1994) Stymie; Alfalfa; Uh Huh; Porky; Mr. Welling; George "Spanky" McFarland; Billy "Froggy" Laughlin; Lumberyard Clerk; A.J. For a full list, check here. Buckwheat was a wildly popular Eddie Murphy impression based on Billie Thomas' character of the same name in Hal Roach's "Our Gang" shorts of the 1930s and 40s (popularized on television as The Little Rascals). See more ideas about rascal, comedy short films, gang. He was a native of Los Angeles, California. Thomas was the only cast member to appear in all 52 of the MGM-produced entries and was the only holdover from the Hal Roach era to remain in the series until its end in 1944. The fallout from this incident included the resignation of a 20/20 producer[13] and a negligence lawsuit filed by the son of William Thomas. Get the best deals for buckwheat little rascals at eBay.com. , and by Willie Mae Walton in three other shorts. Buckwheat Dressed in white top hat New The Little Rascals Hamilton Collection O1. There are a lot of people who loved The Little Rascals. The reason for the change in appearance was so he could portray, in the 1936 Our Gang feature film General Spanky, a five-year-old slave asking men on a riverboat and, subsequently, shoeshine boy Spanky, "You be my master?". and is buckwheat? Thomas enlisted in the United States Army in 1954 at the age of 23, and was released from active military service in 1956 decorated with a National Defense Service Medal and a Good Conduct Medal. He was a native of Los Angeles, California. The half-hour series aired as part of an umbrella package conisisting of two other Hanna-Barbera cartoons. My mother just took me out to the studio on a regular interview day, and they needed a person, and that was it." The answer to this is Porky. Spanky, Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Darla, Stymie, Porky, Petey the dog and all of the Little Rascals star in this hilarious heartwarming classic directed by Penelope Spheeris (Wayne's World). You're not a Patriot anymore: New coach rips Brady debut POST COMMENTS AND INTERACT AND HAVE DISCUSSIONS! This new costuming — overalls, striped shirt, oversized shoes, and a large unkempt Afro — was retained for the series until the end. Despite being confronted by McFarland on the television newsmagazine A Current Affair, English, who died four years later at the age of 60, refused to retreat from his claim, maintaining that he had originated the role of Buckwheat, with other actors playing the character only after he had left it. '20/20' Producer Resigns Over Buckwheat Interview. [1], Despite the change in the Buckwheat character's gender, Billie Thomas's androgynous costuming was not changed until his appearance in the 1936 film Pay as You Exit. The “Buckwheat” character was a female at this time, portrayed by Our Gang kid Matthew “Stymie” Beard’s younger sister Carlena in For Pete’s Sake!, and by Willie Mae Walton in three other shorts. “After the Army, I wasn't really interested in the hassle of performing," he explained shortly before his death in 1980. The problem is Alfalfa belongs to an anti-girl organization. William "Billie" Thomas Jr. (March 12, 1931 – October 10, 1980) was an American child actor best remembered for portraying the character of Buckwheat in the Our Gang ( Little Rascals) short films from 1934 until the series' end in 1944. Thomas had a speech impediment as a young child, as did Lee, who became Thomas’ friend both on the set and off. [1] In his Classic Movie Guide write-up for the film, Leonard Maltin surmises that "Buckwheat's role as slave in search of a master may displease contemporary audiences. as a background player. He made Buckwheat into a stereotype that he wasn't, at the expense of the people in his family who are still alive. "Buckwheat actor's son sues ABC over phony", The Sons of the Desert Convention/Our Gang Reunion, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Billie_%22Buckwheat%22_Thomas&oldid=992470132, Turner Classic Movies person ID same as Wikidata, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 5 December 2020, at 12:44. William “Billie” Thomas, Jr. (March 12, 1931 – October 10, 1980) was an American child actor best remembered for portraying the character of Buckwheat in the Our Gang (Little Rascals) short films from 1934 until the series’ end in 1944. The "Buckwheat" character was a female at this time, portrayed by Our Gang kid Matthew "Stymie" Beard's younger sister Carlena in For Pete's Sake!, and by Willie Mae Walton in three other shorts. Feb 21, 2017 - This was one of my favorite shows when I was little. In the 2019-set sketch, the Little Rascals character was a contestant on The Masked Singer, dressed as Corn on the Cob. Billie ‘Buckwheat’ Thomas in The Little Rascals (1955)/MGM While Buckwheat’s death may have been natural, he perished fairly young. [10] In 2010, he wrote the book "Otay!" This is similar to the initial handling of another African American. But he continued to play the role as a girl. Several days were spent touring famous Hollywood attractions, and then the highlight of the gathering took place in the hotel ballroom. Alfalfa is wooing Darla and his "He-Man-Woman-Hating" friends attempt to sabotage the relationship. A member of the Little Rascals from 1934-1944. Although the character he played was often the subject of controversy in later years for containing elements of the “pickaninny” stereotype, Thomas always defended his work in the series, pointing out that Buckwheat and the rest of the black Our Gang kids were treated as equals to the white kids in the series. [14], CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (, "Spanky" McFarland discusses Buckwheat in a 1987 appearance, "The Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang", "Scholarship Keeps Controversial Image in the Spotlight : Education: Despite criticism, the son of the actor who played Buckwheat sees grant as a way to preserve his father's legacy", His gang Spanky McFarland remembers his long stint as a `Little Rascal'. Dec 2, 2015 - Explore Child Stars Photo Gallery's board "Our Gang--Farina, Stymie and Buckwheat", followed by 275 people on Pinterest. He was a native of Los Angeles, California. Despite Thomas being a male, the Buckwheat character remained a female—dressed as a Topsy-esque image of the African-American “pickaninny” stereotype with bowed pigtails, a large hand-me-down sweater and oversized boots. It talks about young love that was just cute. Thomas had a speech impediment as a young child, as did Lee, who became Thomas's friend both on the set and off. [1] Thomas is buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood.[9]. Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas. During the series' sec… This is an American Film that came out in 1994. Top Searches Holiday Gifts. After Stymie's departure from the series later in 1935, the Buckwheat character slowly morphed into a boy, first referred to definitively as a "he" in 1936's The Pinch Singer. originally uttered by Porky, but soon used by both characters.[1]. By 1940, Thomas had grown out of his speech impediment, and with Lee having been replaced by Robert Blake, Thomas's Buckwheat character was written as an archetypal black youth. ''O TAY'' catchphrase- Buckwheat from the Little Rascals. He was a native of Los Angeles… Hand color tinted photo of Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Darla & Spanky, The Little Rascals Our Gang. Buckwheat Little Rascals Porcelain Doll 17 inches Tall 1997 Hamilton Collection. When Thomas was brought out, he received a spontaneous standing ovation, and was moved to tears. [12], The next week, 20/20 acknowledged, on-air, that English's claim had been false and apologized for the interview. Mel Brooks portrays Mr. Welling, Whoopi Goldberg plays Buckwheat's mother, Daryl Hannah plays Miss Crabtree and Reba McIntire plays … The "Buckwheat" and "Porky" characters both became known for their collective garbled dialogue, in particular their catchphrase, "O-tay!" CMG Worldwide represents hundreds of celebrities like Dorothy Lamour. On November 30, 2012, he died at the age of 62. The film is an adaptation of Hal Roach's Our Gang, a series of short films of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s (many of which were broadcast on television as The Little Rascals) which … The Billy "Buckwheat" Thomas Story. "[2], Thomas remained in Our Gang for ten years, appearing in all but one of the shorts, Feed 'em and Weep (due to sickness when Philip Hurlic filled in for him), made from Washee Ironee in 1934 through the series' end in 1944. Despite the change in the Buckwheat character’s gender, Billie Thomas’s androgynous costuming was not changed until his appearance as a runaway slave in the 1936 Our Gang Feature film General Spanky. English's appearance prompted public objections from McFarland, who contacted media outlets following the broadcast to inform them that the true Buckwheat had been dead for ten years. He was a native of Los Angeles, California. Thomas remained in Our Gang when the series changed production from Hal Roach Studios to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1938. This new costuming—overalls, striped shirt, oversized shoes, and a large unkempt Afro—was retained for the series proper from late 1936’s Pay as You Exit on. Despite Thomas being a male, the Buckwheat character remained a female—dressed as a Topsy-esque image of the African-American "pickaninny" stereotype with bowed pigtails, a large hand-me-down sweater and oversized boots. member, Allen “Farina” Hoskins, who worked in the series during the silent and early sound eras. Mr. Murphy did a very poor imitation. Billie Thomas first appeared in the 1934 Our Gang shorts, For Pete’s Sake!, The First Round-Up, and Washee Ironee as a background player. Directed by Penelope Spheeris. Thomas was the only Our Gang cast member to appear in all 52 MGM Our Gang shorts, and was also the only holdover from the Hal Roach era to remain in the series until its end in 1944. [3][4] However, the work of Thomas and the other black cast members as actors is credited with helping the cause of race relations by playing alongside white children as equals in a desegregated show during the height of the Jim Crow Era. Eddie Murphy performed a series of Buckwheat sketches on Saturday Night Live during the 1980s when he was a cast member. Name: William "Billie" Thomas Nickname: Buckwheat Played By: William Thomas Jr. Born: 1931 Relatives: Mandy (mother), Joe (father), Big Shot (brother) Clubs: former member of He-Man Woman-Hater's Club, The Wise Owl Club, The Four Nitengales, former member of All-4-One Club, 1-2-3-Go Safety Society First Short: For Pete's Sake! The “Buckwheat” character was originally a female, portrayed by Matthew “Stymie” Beard’s younger sister, Carlena. Our Gang, also known as The Little Rascals or Hal Roach’s Rascals, was a series of American comedy short films about a group of poor neighborhood children and the adventures they had together. Billie Thomas, "Buckwheat" The Little Rascals/ Our Gang Billie Thomas (originally William Thomas, Jr.) (March 12, 1931 – October 10, 1980) was an American child actor best remembered for portraying the character of Buckwheat in the Our Gang (Little Rascals) short films from 1934 until the series' end in 1944. Details about Buckwheat Dressed in white top hat New The Little Rascals Hamilton Collection O1. Among those honored, on July 31, were fellow Our Gangers George McFarland, Dorothy DeBorba, Tommy Bond, and Joe Cobb. Since the character, “Buckwheat” was originally a girl, Hal Roach and the studio must have wanted to keep it that way — even though the new actor for Buckwheat was the boy, Billie Thomas. Perhaps the most familiar Little Rascals character was Spanky McFarland, who literally grew up on camera during the run of the series. By 1940, Thomas had grown out of his speech impediment, and with Lee having been replaced by Robert Blake, Thomas’s Buckwheat character was written as an archetypal black youth. [5] According to Julia Lee, author of Our Gang: A Racial History of The Little Rascals, Thomas and the others were "considered saviors in many ways" by the black community as the most popular black stars in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s. See more ideas about rascal, childhood memories, old tv shows. The series aired Saturday mornings on ABC from September 25, 1982 to September 1, 1984. The character of Buckwheat in later years became synonymous with the derogatory "pickaninny" stereotype. After Stymie’s departure from the series later in 1935, the Buckwheat character slowly morphed into a boy, first referred to definitively as a “he” in 1936’s The Pinch Singer. O TAY! Ferguson; Waldo; The Rascals; Woim Spanky started out as a toddler during the silent and early sound generation of the series, then became the lead character, supported by friends such as Alfalfa, Darla Hood, Froggy, Buckwheat… He was 12 years old when the final. Billie Thomas first appeared in the 1934 Our Gang shorts For Pete's Sake!, The First Round-Up, and Washee Ironee as a background player. Thomas had a speech impediment as a young child, as did Lee, who became Thomas’ friend both on the set and off. Alfalfa has fallen in love with Darla, … [5] Later, during the 1950s and 1960s, the NAACP fought against the tired and demeaning racial stereotypes and moved to have the television series ended.[5][6]. [1][7][8], On October 10, 1980, ten weeks after his July 31 appearance at the Hilton, Thomas died of a heart attack in his Los Angeles apartment at the age of 49, forty-six years to the day after his mother brought him to audition at the Hal Roach Studios. See more ideas about gang, comedy short films, rascal. ... Collectible Movie & TV Character Bobbleheads (1970-Now) Collectible Celebrity Bobbleheads (1970-Now) ... New Listing Harrahs Little Rascals Buckwheat Bobblehead … The Official Website of William "Buckwheat" Thomas. He was twelve years old when the final Our Gang film, Dancing Romeo, was completed in November 1943. Thomas remained in Our Gang for 10 years, appearing in all but one of the shorts made from Washee Ironee in 1934 through the series’ end in 1944. Thomas is interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California. During the series' first season, it aired with "Pac-Man" and "Richie Rich". Billie Thomas (originally William Thomas, Jr.) is best remembered as Buckwheat in the Our Gang (Little Rascals) shorts from 1934 until the series ended in 1943. [1], At "Hollywood 80", the second annual meeting of The Sons of the Desert, from July 30 to August 3, 1980, more than 500 fans gathered at the Los Angeles Hilton Hotel. He was 12 years old when the final Our Gang film, Dancing Romeo, was completed in November 1943. He was a native of Los Angeles. In its fourth decade of licensing and clearing intellectual property rights, CMG Worldwide is the recognized leader in its field. "[11], In 1990, the ABC newsmagazine 20/20 aired a segment featuring a man named Bill English, then a grocery bagger in Arizona, who claimed to be the adult Buckwheat. William “Billie” Thomas, Jr. (March 12, 1931 – October 10, 1980) was an American child actor best remembered for portraying the character of Buckwheat in the Our Gang (Little Rascals) short films from 1934 until the series’ end in 1944. In the hotel ballroom was born on March 12, 1931, Los. Friends attempt to sabotage the relationship package conisisting of two other Hanna-Barbera cartoons 9... Hall, Brittany Ashton Holmes, he died at the age of 62 Worldwide is the leader. Was completed in November 1943 was completed in November 1943 a female, by. 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