Carl ‘Alfalfa’ Switzer

Carl ‘Alfalfa’ Switzer was an American actor known for his role as Alfalfa in the “Our Gang” film series, as well as for his performances in various films and television shows during the 1930s and 1940s. He was born on August 7, 1927, in Paris, Illinois, and tragically died on January 21, 1959, in Mission Hills, California.

Personal and Family Life

Carl Switzer was the youngest of four children born to George Frederick Switzer and Gladys C. Shanks. He had a brother, Harold Switzer, who was also a child actor. The Switzer family was known for their musical performances in their hometown, which eventually led them to Hollywood where they were offered contracts to appear in “Our Gang.”

Career Highlights

Switzer became famous for playing Alfalfa, a character that became iconic in the “Our Gang” series starting in 1935. Although he faced challenges in finding substantial roles after the series ended, he appeared in several films and took on various jobs, including dog breeding and guiding hunting expeditions. His career was marked by memorable performances but struggled towards the end of his life.

Death and Legacy

Carl Switzer died at the age of 31 after being shot in a dispute over money. The circumstances surrounding his death were controversial, with different accounts from witnesses. Despite the tragic end to his life, Switzer is remembered as a talented child actor and has gained attention in true-crime articles and documentaries since his passing.

Filmography

Title Release Date Character
Bored of Education 1936-08-20 Alfalfa
Track of the Cat 1954-11-19 Joe Sam
Two Dollar Bettor 1951-09-09 Chuck Nordlinger
This Is My Love 1954-10-27 Customer
Big Town Scandal 1948-05-27 Frankie Snead
A Letter to Three Wives 1949-01-20 Leo, Second Messenger (uncredited)
Came the Brawn 1938-04-15 Alfalfa
Hide and Shriek 1938-06-18 Alfalfa, alias X-10
Canned Fishing 1938-02-12 Alfalfa
Bear Facts 1938-03-05 Alfalfa
The Awful Tooth 1938-05-26 Alfalfa
Feed ’em and Weep 1938-05-06 Alfalfa
Three Men in a Tub 1938-03-26 Alfalfa
She Wouldn’t Say Yes 1945-11-29 Delivery Boy (uncredited)
General Spanky 1936-12-11 Alfalfa
Driftwood 1947-09-15 Messenger boy
Our Gang Follies of 1938 1937-12-18 Alfalfa
Little Papa 1935-09-21 Alfalfa
House by the River 1950-03-25 Walter Herbert, office boy
The Defiant Ones 1958-08-14 Angus
Motorcycle Gang 1957-10-22 Speed
Man Alive 1945-11-16 Ignatius Lafferty (uncredited)
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch 1942-10-01 Billy Wiggs
Arbor Day 1936-05-02 Alfalfa
Teacher’s Beau 1935-04-27 Alfalfa
Redwood Forest Trail 1950-09-18 Alfie
Island in the Sky 1953-09-05 Sonny Hopper
The Human Comedy 1943-03-02 Auggie (uncredited)
Dog Daze 1939-07-01 Alfalfa
Party Fever 1938-08-27 Alfalfa
Dixie 1943-06-23 Boy in Street (uncredited)
Flight Nurse 1953-11-15 Soldier with Wounded Arm
Second Childhood 1936-04-11 Alfalfa
Alfalfa’s Double 1940-01-20 Alfalfa / Cornelius ‘Corny’
Tiny Troubles 1939-02-18 Alfalfa Switzer
Henry and Dizzy 1942-06-05 Billy Weeks
The Big Premiere 1940-03-09 Alfalfa
Waldo’s Last Stand 1940-10-05 Alfalfa
Captain Spanky’s Show Boat 1939-09-08 Alfalfa (uncredited)