George 'Spanky' McFarland Biography

Fast Facts

• Helped raise money for charities by participating in golf tournaments and even had his own charity golf classic for 16 years
• When he was 3, he started modeling baby clothes in his hometown
• His big break was as the star of a one-minute-long Wonder Bread commercial
• Quote: "I was probably 5 or 6 years old before I realized that all kids weren't in movies․"
• Quote: "This was my life: get up in the morning, go to the studio and during the day get somewhere in the neighborhood of three hours of schooling, not necessarily at the same time; take an hour for lunch, and that leaves five hours of shooting for film․"
• Best known for playing the plump Little Rascal in baggy pants and a two-toned beanie in the "Our Gang" comedies
• As an adult, his television career was primarily relegated to working with Philco-Ford in commercials
• Served in the Air Force, joining in 1952 at the age of 24
• Traveled the country doing speaking engagements in his later years
• Worked at a soft-drink plant and a hamburger stand, made popsicles, sold wine, cars and appliances and started a barbecue restaurant