Biography for
George 'Spanky' McFarland More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

2 October 1928, Dallas, Texas, USA

Date of Death

30 June 1993, Grapevine, Texas, USA (heart attack)

Birth Name

George Robert Phillips McFarland

Spouse

Doris

(? - ?)

Trade Mark

Catchphrases: "Okey-dokey!" and its variant, "Okey-doke!". He said "Okey-dokey", much more often than "Okey-doke".

Trivia

Child actor, the chubby, not fat boy of the "Our Gang" short film comedies.

Spanky's famous double and triple-takes were taught to him by Stan Laurel, while a lot of his mannerisms (rolling of eyes, hands on hips, and his trademark exasperated expression) were inspired by Oliver Hardy. He, Laurel and Hardy were working together, but in different shorts, that were produced and directed by Hal Roach.

Spanky's real-life nickname as a child, was "Sonny".

Got the nickname Spanky when he was misbehaving on the Hal Roach lot during his first days there. His mother took him aside and threatened to punish him, saying, "Spanky, spanky; mustn't touch." Studio dialogue writer/editorial department head H.M. Walker overheard Mrs. McFarland using this phrase, and he had the youngster dubbed "Spanky."

In real life was a rival of Our Gang/Little Rascals co-star (and on-screen pal) Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer, as the two were constantly pitted against each other in rivalry bouts for star status, billing, and salaries instigated by their fathers.

His son is Emmett Vogan McFarland.

From 1955 to 1960, he created and hosted his own daily kids TV wraparound show, "The Spanky Show," which aired on KOTV (The Tulsa, Oklahoma affilliate of The CBS TV Network). Set against the backdrop of a makeshift kids' clubhouse, Spanky entertained and informed his studio audiences and the viewers at home with games, stories, craftmaking, hobbies, comedy skits, informational segments, and interviews with guest performers, personalities, and the kids in the studio audience in between the re-runs of "The Little Rascals" film comedies.

Was an executive with Philco (later Philco Ford) for many years.

Was an ardent golfer who, in his later years, could be frequently seen on the pro-am circuit.

Was the only Our Ganger to ever receive on-screen and poster billing. He received on-screen billing in Choo-Choo! (1932) and The Pooch (1932), and most Our Gang posters during the mid-1930s were billed: "Our Gang, featuring 'Spanky' McFarland, in..."

So far he is one of the only two members of "Our Gang" and or "The Little Rascals" to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, (co-star Jackie Cooper being the other one among the two). His star is located in front of the Labrea Plaza strip mall, at 7095 Hollywood Blvd on the North side of Hollywood Blvd, between the two closest cross streets of N. Labrea Ave and El Cerrito Place and his star is near the stars belonging to actor, 'Efrem Zimbalist Jr' and composer, Irving Berlin.

Although his name has sometimes been misspelled in older credits as "McFarlane", George is not related to the creator of the TV show "Family Guy", who uses that particular spelling of his last name.

Personal Quotes

[on his years with the Little Rascals] "I wouldn't take a million dollars for the experience...and I wouldn't take a penny to do it again. As a kid I had everything I wanted, we had a good life but when it was over....it was over."