Ernie Weckbaugh
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Born Name:
Ernie Weckbaugh
Born Date: July 1931
Born Place: Beverly Hills, California
Died Date: October 20, 2010
Died Place: Los Angeles, California
Occupations: Actor, comedian, author, publisher
Brief Biography: Ernie Weckbaugh was best known for being a member of the original Our Gang (Little Rascals) comedy shorts during the late 1930s.
Early Life and Child Acting:
Born in Beverly Hills, California, Weckbaugh began his career in show business at the age of five. His photogenic looks caught the attention of his neighbor, Warner Brothers director William McGann, who helped him secure a studio contract and membership in the Screen Actors Guild. At age six, he performed in a song-and-dance chorus called The Floradora Sextette at the historic Jonathan Club. From 1937 to 1941, Weckbaugh was loaned to Hal Roach Studios to appear in the iconic Our Gang comedies. He frequently shared the screen with legendary child stars Spanky McFarland and Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer. Known colloquially on set and by fans as "Stinky," he often played the role of the tagalong kid or the slow-moving target of neighborhood bullies. His confirmed appearances include the 1938 short Came the Brawn. He also appeared uncredited as Joe in the 1938 Warner Brothers film Penrod and His Twin Brother.
Later Career and Publishing:
As he transitioned away from acting, Weckbaugh built a multi-faceted career in media and business:Journalism: He worked as a veteran journalist and penned columns for the L.A. Daily News.
Publishing: Alongside his wife Patty, he founded and operated Casa Graphics, Inc. and Bestseller Books Publishing. The couple helped self-publishers produce several hundred books.
Leadership: He served as the president of the Book Publicists of Southern California and was a heavily involved, 22-year member of the Glendale Toastmasters Club.
Author: He documented his unique Hollywood upbringing in his memoir, Lessons I Learned as a Little Rascal.
Philanthropy and Death:
Following a severe infection in 1976 that required extensive blood transfusions, Weckbaugh vowed to give back to the medical community. Over the next three decades, he donated more than 200 pints (25 gallons) of blood, culminating in his induction into the National Blood Donation Hall of Fame.
Born Date: July 1931
Born Place: Beverly Hills, California
Died Date: October 20, 2010
Died Place: Los Angeles, California
Occupations: Actor, comedian, author, publisher
Brief Biography: Ernie Weckbaugh was best known for being a member of the original Our Gang (Little Rascals) comedy shorts during the late 1930s.
Early Life and Child Acting:
Born in Beverly Hills, California, Weckbaugh began his career in show business at the age of five. His photogenic looks caught the attention of his neighbor, Warner Brothers director William McGann, who helped him secure a studio contract and membership in the Screen Actors Guild. At age six, he performed in a song-and-dance chorus called The Floradora Sextette at the historic Jonathan Club. From 1937 to 1941, Weckbaugh was loaned to Hal Roach Studios to appear in the iconic Our Gang comedies. He frequently shared the screen with legendary child stars Spanky McFarland and Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer. Known colloquially on set and by fans as "Stinky," he often played the role of the tagalong kid or the slow-moving target of neighborhood bullies. His confirmed appearances include the 1938 short Came the Brawn. He also appeared uncredited as Joe in the 1938 Warner Brothers film Penrod and His Twin Brother.
Later Career and Publishing:
As he transitioned away from acting, Weckbaugh built a multi-faceted career in media and business:Journalism: He worked as a veteran journalist and penned columns for the L.A. Daily News.
Publishing: Alongside his wife Patty, he founded and operated Casa Graphics, Inc. and Bestseller Books Publishing. The couple helped self-publishers produce several hundred books.
Leadership: He served as the president of the Book Publicists of Southern California and was a heavily involved, 22-year member of the Glendale Toastmasters Club.
Author: He documented his unique Hollywood upbringing in his memoir, Lessons I Learned as a Little Rascal.
Philanthropy and Death:
Following a severe infection in 1976 that required extensive blood transfusions, Weckbaugh vowed to give back to the medical community. Over the next three decades, he donated more than 200 pints (25 gallons) of blood, culminating in his induction into the National Blood Donation Hall of Fame.