Ex-'Little Rascals' Star Found Stabbed To Death

AP via WKMG ^ | October 22, 2002

[Shermy]

LAS VEGAS -- An 87-year-old man found stabbed to death in the desert has been identified as a former child actor in the "Our Gang" film series.

The body of Jay R. Smith was found Oct. 5 near Interstate 15, about 25 miles north of Las Vegas, police said. He died from multiple stab wounds, the Clark County coroner's office said.

As a freckle-faced boy, Smith was in three dozen of the "Our Gang" short comedies from 1925-29, most of them silent. The series, better known to TV audiences as "The Little Rascals," ran from the 1920s to the early 1940s, and the casts of children changed over the years.

In many of the films, Smith's roles were relatively minor.

According to the book "The Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang," Smith did have a prominent role in the 1928 short "Rainy Days." Baby-sitting, young Jay finds his small charges have drawn all over the walls of his home. He tries to cover up the drawings with new wallpaper, and the homemade wallpaper paste creates a spectacular mess. But Jay smiles proudly at his returning mother, saying, "Notice anything, Mom?"

Among the other films he appeared in were "Love My Dog," "Bring Home the Turkey," "Crazy House," "Thundering Fleas" and "Fair and Muddy." Smith's brother Donnie also appeared in a few Our Gang films, according to the book.

"None of us took it seriously while it was happening," Smith once said. "But looking back, it was a very pleasant time in my life, and as I grow older, it gets more valuable."

As an adult, Smith owned a paint store. He also served in the Army in World War II.

Police said a homeless man who had been staying in a shed next to Smith's home and doing odd jobs for him was being sought for questioning in the death. Detectives reported that money was withdrawn from Smith's bank account last week.

[First_Salute]

Thank you for finding and posting this.

[M. Thatcher]

I remember another one of those former child actors in "Our Gang" was also murdered. Sad.

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

At least it wasn't a hate crime.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Jay R. Smith was born on 29th August 1915. When he joined up with the little rascals he was already ten years old, still he could stay for the next four years in the serial.

With the begin of the sound film and grow out of the children's shoes, the film business didn't offer any occupation for Jay R. Smith.

During World War II he served in the US Army. After the end of the war he took over a paint business. After his retirement he went to Hawaii but the last years of his life he spends in Nevada.

[tracer]

Please tell me that they didn't kill Buckwkeat......

[The G Man]

Waldo was murdered several months ago. In addition, Alfalfa was killed in a knife fight, I believe in the 1950s.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Alfalfa was also stabbed to death.

[hot august night]

"The Little Rascals" was one of my favorite TV shows as a child, and I still enjoy watching the syndicated re-runs today. Classic and entertaining programs that never go out of style. I never missed that or "Davey and Goliath." And to this day I still love "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" (my favorite scene is when Charlie Brown always gets the rocks during trick-or-treating) and, of course, "A Christmas Story" -- my all-time favorite. Bring on the Red Ryder BB Gun! (or at least until they outlaw them, which the gun haters are succeeding in doing).

[Musket]

Police said a homeless man....

NO! Can't be! Everyone knows that the homeless are the most noble, honest, trustworthy law abiding people on earth! This MUST be a mistake!

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Here's your Waldo....

Darwood "Waldo" Kaye (1929-2002) - Filmographie

Signed picture of Darwood KayeDarwood Kaye was born on Sept. 8, 1929 in Fort Collins, CO. He moved with his parents to Idaho, then Montana, then to California at the age of five. He started in pictures at age of 6 and worked in 40 films over 9 years, including 21 "Our Gang" comedies as "Waldo". He graduated from Hollywood High School and attended UCLA. After this he was enlisted in the army, spent 1 1/2 years in service, mostly in Korea.

After his return he graduated from La Sierra College (now University) in 1952 with a degree in theology. He began work as a pastor in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in San Diego, CA. Later he served as a pastor in Palm Springs, Escondido, Oceanside & Fallbrook (all in California).

Certainly he received an invitation to go as a missionary to Thailand where he served from 1957 to 1974. When he returned to United States he served as a pastor in Santa Maria, St. Helena, La Crescenta, Tujunga, Burbank & Norwalk.

In 1992 he retired but continue to serve part-time at the La Sierra University Church.

He was married to Jean Smith. He had 4 sons. Three of them are also pastors and one writes scripts and produces the Voice of Prophecy radio program, a world-wide ministry. To complete the family he had 9 grandchildren.

Darwood Kaye was killed by a hit-and-run driver in May 2002.

Summary of his filmworks:

My Reputation (46) Best Foot Forward (43) The Big Premiere (40) Waldo's Last Stand (40) Three Smart Boys (37) Glove Taps (37)

[Poohbah]

Please tell me that they didn't kill Buckwkeat...

This just in: Buckwheat has been shot.

[tracer]

BOLO for John David Studds of Lima, Ohio.

Tell me, do you believe he killed Buckwheat?

[xrp]

holy crap, looks like Alfalfa was a Freemason also!

[Poohbah]

I think there was a second shooter behind the hot-dog stand...

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Buckwheat
Buckwheat Episode Guide

Episode #127 and Buckwheat's very first appearance as a "Little Rascal". Played by Carlena Beard, the episode was entitled, "For Pete's Sake!". Bratty Leonard breaks Marianne's doll, and refuses to do anything about it. The little girl has been ill, and older sister Jackie explains that she always takes the doll to sleep with her. Wally and the boys promise to have a new doll in her hands by bedtime, one with eyes that open and close.

Episode #128. "The First Round-Up" Willie Mae Taylor as Buckwheat. The gang plans an elaborate camping trip, roughing it for maybe a week or more, although Wally's father is certain that they'll be back that night after it gets dark.

Episode #129. "Honky Donkey" Willie Mae Taylor as Buckwheat. Wally's doting mother sends her son home from the city with chauffeur Barclay, but the youngster instructs him to take a detour through some alleys so he can meet some roughhouse playmates for a change.

"I started out when I was three years old", Thomas explains. "My mother just took me out to the studio on a regular interview day, and they needed a person, and that was it".The combination of a bewitching smile and deep luminous eyes won Hal Roach's favor and a film contract starting at $40 per week. Living in Los Angeles, he'd been working for Technicolor as a film technician for some twenty years. As a hobby, he was a citizen's band "ham" radio operator. In 1980, sadly, at the age of 49, William "Buckwheat" Thomas died of a heart attack.

[tracer]

Perhaps, but Studds was voted by his high school classmates as being "the one most likely to kill Buckwhesat".....

[Slyfox]

Recent picture

[tracer]

Wrong Buckwheat. The real one was just killed today, possibly by a loner from Lima, Ohio.....