31 January 2025

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Carl Switzer rose to fame as the freckle-faced Alfalfa in the series “Our Gang” — but it wouldn't be a great life for the actor.

At the age of 31, the former child star was killed in a fight that reportedly earned him $50. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, that would be $539.36 in today's money.

“All hell has broken loose,” said James Tehrani, author of the new book, “Alfalfa – The Scoundrel You Know, The Character You Never Knew” He told Fox News Digital.

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Close-up of Karl Switzer as Clover wearing a white shirt and suspenders.

Carl Switzer as Alfalfa from “The Little Rascals” series, originally known as “Our Gang.” Photo dated January 1, 1936. (CBS via Getty Images)

“I think there's a lot more to the story than the $50,” he said. “But the one thing that was important to me was not to spread any more misinformation and stay away from rumors and rumours… I hope this is just the beginning and more will come out.”

At the time of the deadly fight, Switzer was a bartender and trainer of hounds. The success he achieved in Hollywood seemed long behind him as he took on odd jobs. History.com He also indicated that he had several confrontations with the police.

A few weeks ago, he was training one of Moses “Bud” Stiltz's dogs during a hunting trip. He ran away and Stiltz wanted his dog back. According to the book, Switzer placed an ad in a newspaper offering a $35 reward.

Carl Switzer looks on as James Stewart dances with Donna Reed in It's a Wonderful Life

Carl Switzer was seen in a scene opposite James Stewart and Donna Reed in It's a Wonderful Life. (everett)

Someone found the dog and came forward to claim the reward. Switzer paid the reward and bought the man several drinks as a thank you, paying him a $15 tab, or $100 in the day's value. But at some point that evening, the book said, Switzer felt Stiltz should return the $50 to him.

“Maybe it was a matter of principle,” Tehrani wrote, “or maybe because he was in desperate need of money.”

Book cover of James Tehrani's book on Carl Switzer

James Tehrani's book, Alfalfa – The Scoundrel You Knew, the Character You Never Knew is out now. (Bear Manor Media)

“He was scheduled to appear in court a few weeks after he died of a woman I couldn't trace,” Tehrani told Fox News Digital. “I loaned him a large sum of money… that may have been part of it. I heard other things during my research that I didn't include in my book because I couldn't verify them.”

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Three children are cast members "Our gang sits in a circle and looks at each other.

Clover was Carl Switzer's most famous role. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

“Carl supposedly put a letter in the newspaper with a $35 reward,” Tehrani said. “I spent hours… trying to find this classified ad, and I couldn't find it. So it's not known if this is true or not. But mysteriously, the dog showed up one day with this guy who brought the dog back… “Carl wasn't in a great financial position, but he bought the guy $15 worth of drinks, which doesn't add up when you think about it.”

Tehrani noted that Switzer “finally faced his problems.”

Carl Switzer as Clover who is bullied by another child in character while others look on.

As a child actor, Carl Switzer became a star. But as he grew older, he had financial problems and had several run-ins with the police. According to reports, he did not receive any proceeds from the show. (CBS via Getty Images)

“His marriage had ups and downs,” Tehrani explained. “He and his wife (Diantha Collingwood) got married very quickly. After a few months of dating, they had a son together, And they moved to Kansas. There was a chance for a better life there, but it was short-lived. “So he was struggling, especially when he came back to Hollywood and was away from his son.”

“There were other accidents along the way,” Tehrani noted. “In 1958, he cut down a bunch of trees for Christmas trees. He was arrested and fined for it. It was a tough time financially.”

Switzer's friend, photographer Jack Piot, offered to drive him to see Stiltz at night. Once they arrived at the home of Stiltz's girlfriend, Rita Corrigan, Switzer got out and hurriedly headed to the front door.

“Western Union for Bud Stiltz,” Corrigan heard a voice say. When the door did not open, Switzer forcefully said, “You're going to let me in, or I'm going to break the door down.”

Close-up of Karl Switzer dressed in uniform for a movie role.

Carl Switzer appeared in the 1954 film The High and the Mighty, starring John Wayne. (everett)

Stiltz, who seemed unfazed, asked Corrigan to let Switzer in. Once the door opened, Switzer “went straight at Stiltz.” Piot was putting out his cigarette outside and did not immediately follow Switzer.

“There was a confrontation upstairs,” Tehrani said. “In the end, it led to Bud getting shot a few times and Carl wrestling with Bud. Then Jack came in and tried to break it up the best he could. But he also supposedly hit Bud with a watch…and then a shot was fired.”

“What happens depends on who you believe,” Tehrani said. “Jack Bute said Carl's hand was on the door as he was about to leave when he was shot. Bud said he felt threatened, and Carl was attacking him, possibly with a knife. The problem with this case is it's a he-said-she-said situation.”

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Carl Switzer wears a rain jacket and hat while Clover looks puzzled

Carl Switzer played Clover from the mid-1930s to the early 1940s. Then in 1955, the “Our Gang” comedies morphed into “The Little Rascals.” (CBS via Getty Images)

There were some things everyone agreed on. Damaged and bruised, Stiltz was shot in the head. Switzer was shot in the abdomen. He reportedly told Stiltz, “Why did you shoot me?”

When police arrived, Switzer was bent over on the ground next to the door, clinging to life. Although Switzer did not bleed much from the wound, he would succumb to his injuries by the time he arrived at the hospital.

A paramedic found a locked keyblade. But according to Tehrani, Piot claimed he never saw Switzer with a knife.

“What we do know is that Carl and Bud were good friends at one point,” Tehrani said. “They were both hunters. But at some point, things went south. It seemed like in the months leading up to that, there were a lot of phone calls back and forth…but it was more of a he-said-she-said thing.”

Carl Switzer is wrapped in a blanket and carried by a child who plays Spanky in the series.

Carl Switzer as Alfalfa and George McFarland as Spanky in the 1938 film “Canned Catch.” (John Springer/Corbis/Corbis Collection via Getty Images)

Steltz told reporters that Switzer entered the property while intoxicated or “under the influence of something.” The book shared its claim for $50. Stiltz also claimed that Switzer snatched the gun from him, but he got it back. That's when Switzer pulled out his knife and said, “I'm going to kill you.” Stiltz said he had no choice but to shoot the actor in self-defense.

On the other hand, Piot said he never saw Switzer with a gun in his hand.

The book stressed that despite the number of people in the house, there were “disparate and sometimes vastly different recollections of what happened that night.”

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The jury ruled the incident a justifiable homicide. Bute died in 1973, followed by Stiltz in 1983.

For decades, rumors persisted that Switzer was a Hollywood star who turned to drugs. Al-Tehrani said that this could not be further from the truth.

“There is a legend that says that after that Leaving the series “Our Gang” “He disappeared from Hollywood,” he said. “To some extent, that's true. He didn't have the big roles after the Our Gang series, but he was in either a TV show or a movie every year until just before his death in 1959.

Close-up of Karl Switzer smiling in a plaid shirt.

Carl Switzer took odd jobs in his final years before his murder. (Family photo courtesy of James Tehrani).

“Look at 'It's a Wonderful Life'.” It's a movie people watch every year around the holidays… and he had a role there. “He wasn't credited, but he was in the great dance scene, dancing with Donna Reed… He was in The Defiant Ones and The 10 Commandments, which are important films.”

“He deserves to be recognized,” Tehrani continued.

The cast of Our Gang acts out a scene from the movie.

James Tehrani hopes his book will share the full story of Carl Switzer's short life in Hollywood. (Bear Manor Media)

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“He was one of the most famous child actors of the 1930s, arguably one of the most famous actors of all time… Was he a perfect person? No, he did some not-so-great things that I talk about in the book, but he was also a child “He was put in a very difficult position.”

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