He Was Alfalfa

Carl Switzer was the actor best known for playing Alfalfa in the Our Gang series in the 1930's. Switzer was born in Illinois and when on a family vacation in Los Angeles Carl and his brother Harold were discovered by Hal Roach while they were performing at the Our Gang Café across the street from the Hal Roach studios. Both brothers were signed to contracts and went to work immediately in the Our Gang shorts. Harold eventually was used a mainly an extra but Carl was cast as Alfalfa the kid with the cowlick and off key singing voice.
During the run of the series Carl Switzer was his families main source of income. He was also the most troublesome of the Our Gang kids. Switzer was often the cause of trouble on the set and was considered a mean kid by many of the other cast members and despised by the crew. In 1938 MGM bought the series from Hal Roach and production was moved to the MGM lot. The series focus became much more centered on the Alfalfa character for the next two years. Switzer left the series in 1940 when he was 12 years old. His career never really took hold after this time he played mainly bit parts in B movies. He did have some small roles in bigger films but he never achieved the status he once had as a child.
In the early 1950's Switzer appeared on television in guest star roles and supplemented his income with raising and training hunting dogs as well as bartending. In 1954 he was set up on a blind date with a woman named Dian Collingwood the heiress from Kansas. They were married three months later in Las Vegas. They were running low on money as Switzer's family had used up most of his earnings from Our Gang. He and his wife had a child (Justin) and little to no income so they accepted the gift of a farm in Kansas. Switzer tried to be a farmer but wasn't cut out for it and the marriage suffered. He and his wife were divorced in 1957. Switzer then moved back to Los Angeles and was more actively involved in the breeding of hunting dogs.
In the late 50's Switzer had a couple of problems with the law. He was arrested in the Sequoia National Forrest in December of 1958 for cutting down pine trees. One of his hunting dog clients Bud Stilz, lost his dog on a hunting trip and Switzer set about finding the dog offering a $50 reward for the return of the dog. Several days later a man contacted Switzer and agreed to come to the bar in Studio City where Switzer was working at the time. Several days later on January 12,1959 Switzer and a friend were drinking and decided that Stilz "owed" Switzer the $50. They drove to the house where Stilz was living in Mission Hills and pounded on the door demanding the money. A fight ensued and Stilz pulled out a revolver. Switzer then pulled out a switchblade and lunged at Stilz who shot him. Carl Switzer was shot in the groin and bled to death on the way to the hospital. He was 31 years old.