Advanced search

Robert E. Hutchins was born March 29th, 1925, in Tacoma, Washington. He was born to James Hutchins and Olga Hutchins (nee Roe). Robert was a very outgoing boy with a charming personality, because friends persuaded James and Olga to go to a Hollywood photographer and get his picture taken. The photographer was impressed by Robert's intelligence, and asked to take a few feet of film of him. The results were so good that the film ended up in the projection room at Hal Roach Studios. Hal Roach decided the boy would be a good addition to his "Our Gang" short films, and signed him to a five year contract.

On his first day at the studio, Robert didn't have an identity for his part in the movies, and he was running around so much that he began to wheeze. Such led to the coining of the "Wheezer" name, one he carried for the rest of his time in Our Gang. Robert played the perky, tag-along little brother that was always anxious to be part of the mischief that the gang was getting into. He played such a part in both the silent films and the talkies.

Jackie Cooper recalls, "You'd go to play with Wheezer, and his father would pull him away, very competitive. I didn't get a satisfactory answer from my mother or grandmother as to why, but he was to be left alone. I guess his father was trying to make him a star or something. Obviously it never happened as it did for Spanky or some of the other kids."

In trying to make Robert a star, his father malnourished him, and isolated him from the other kids when not filming. James had a plan to keep him small and employable by underfeeding him, and wanted to ensure that Bobby and his siblings never learned that normal kids got a lot more to eat than they did. Nobody ever intervened upon the children's behalf. It's made worse by the fact that his plan backfired. While Robert was incredibly photogenic, and had some fine moments on screen, he looked and acted more like the slow-witted, malnourished child he was, as he aged. Sharper boys were given the leading parts, while Robert spent the last portion of his contract as a background player.

After he left Our Gang with 1933's "Mush and Milk", his film career was essentially over -- with an appearance in Pie for Two, Yoo-Hoo, and Strange Roads outside of his Our Gang shorts -- and he did no more acting after that. His mother and father divorced, and he, his brother James, and his mother moved back to Washington. They lived in a household with their grandmother, and Olga's new husband.

Robert got a job as a gas station attendant in 1942, and enrolled as an air cadet sometime in 1943, with speculation being that he enrolled sometime in August. He was very close to completing his advanced flight training, until a very unfortunate event occurred May 17th, 1945, and he perished. He was killed in a mid-air collision while trying to land a North American AT-6D Texan, at Merced Army Air Field Base in California. The other pilot involved received only minor damage, and landed safely.

Steven Stayner was born on 18 April 1965 in Merced, California, USA. He was an actor. He died on 16 September 1989 in Merced, California, USA.

Derek was born in Malaysia immigrating to the United States with his Mother and Father when he was young. Derek met my Brother at School in Van Nuys, ca. Derek spent most of his time at our home as we had a very large swimming pool in the back and was used by many of our Friends including Derek. He went with us to Leo Carrillo State Beach several times for a week or more. After Graduating, Derek joined the United States Navy and served aboard the USS Columbus CG-12. After he was Discharged Honorably, he returned to Van Nuys to continue his life. My Mother La Verna Larkin (Kenneth Green's Daughter) obtained him a job in Grip at Universal. He worked hard and soon became a No-1 in Grip moving over to camera Grip. Derek moved from his new home in North Hollywood to Fresno commuting back and forth to work at Universal. It was at one of these treks back to work on a Monday in December of 1996, when he was involved in an accident which took his life. Every one in my Family was devastated. I will always remember him as a fun, kind and generous person willing to help anymore. Derek was memorialized in the episode 14 (In Purgatory's Shadow), season 5 of Deep Space Nine (In Memory of Derek Garth). Derek was married with two children.

Larry Watson was born on 21 July 1938 in Lynwood, California, USA. He was an actor, known for The Sixth Sense (1972), Mission: Impossible (1966) and Mannix (1967). He died on 20 July 2010 in Merced, California, USA.

Dorothy Ward was born on 4 December 1911 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. She was an actress, known for The Flying Fool (1929), Courage (1930) and Protection (1929). She was married to ? Beutel. She died on 14 April 1988 in Merced County, California, USA.

Ralph E. Black was born on 15 March 1903 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He was an assistant director and production manager, known for The Silencers (1966), The Wrecking Crew (1968) and 99 River Street (1953). He died on 19 December 1980 in Merced, California, USA.

Paul Renay was born on 24 December 1906 in London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Shadows on the Stairs (1941) and Tales of Manhattan (1942). He died on 4 February 1953 in Merced, California, USA.

H.H. Pattee was born on 11 February 1893 in South Dakota, USA. He was an actor, known for The Greater Woman (1917), Neighbors (1918) and The Business of Life (1918). He died on 25 May 1974 in Merced County, California, USA.

Lela Chambers was born on 21 May 1907 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. She is known for Joe Palooka in the Squared Circle (1950), Jiggs and Maggie in Court (1948) and Jiggs and Maggie in Society (1947). She died on 3 March 1987 in Merced, California, USA.

Ronald Dean Blackwell was an actor, known for Paradox Road (2007), Trespass Into Terror (2015) and Bigfoot's Wild Weekend (2012). He died on 18 December 2015 in Merced, California, USA.

Cecil Kellogg was born on 4 November 1894 in Downers Grove, Illinois, USA. He was an actor, known for Mistaken Orders (1926) and Chip of the Flying U (1939). He died on 22 January 1972 in Merced, California, USA.

Constance Hilton was born on 8 April 1932 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She was an actress, known for On the Loose (1951). She died on 21 November 1987 in Merced, California, USA.

Spike Spackman was born on 3 January 1893 in Fullerton, Nebraska, USA. He was an actor, known for The Arizona Raiders (1936). He was married to Dolly. He died on 12 December 1981 in Merced County, California, USA.

Frank Tessier was born on 28 February 1875 in De Pere, Wisconsin, USA. He was married to Helen Amanda Gustafson and Mary Neubauer. He died on 27 October 1957 in Merced County, California, USA.

Nina Leilani Deering was born on 11 November 1985 in San Diego, California, USA. She died on 11 June 2020 in Merced, California, USA.

Adam Trelatsky was born on 31 December 1984 in Santa Barbara, California, USA. Adam was a composer, known for The Unknown Caller (2012). Adam died on 26 October 2019 in Merced, California, USA.

Duke Upshaw was born on 27 July 1908 in Greenville, Mississippi, USA. He was an actor. He died on 13 September 1984 in Merced, California, USA.