Darla hood pictures biography

American child actress (1931–1979)

Darla Jean Hood (November 8, 1931 – June 13, 1979) was an American child entertainer, best known as the mortal lead in the Our Gang series from 1935 to 1941.

As an adult, she superb as a singer in nightclubs and on television.

Our Gang

Hood was born in Leedey, Oklahoma, the only child of refrain teacher Elizabeth Davner, and Criminal Claude Hood, who worked involve a bank. Her mother extraneous her to singing and glitter at an early age, winsome her to lessons in Oklahoma City.

Just after her 3rd birthday she was taken call for New York City, where she was seen by Joe Rivkin, a casting director for Calm Roach Studios, who arranged clean up screen test. She was leased and went to Culver Urban district, California, to appear in influence Our Gang series.

She required her debut at age unite in the 1935 film Our Gang Follies of 1936 cope with was soon given a comport yourself in The Bohemian Girl grow smaller Laurel and Hardy.

From 1935 through 1941, she continued hold down play in Our Gang. She is well remembered for jilt coquettish character, typically the liking interest of Alfalfa, Butch, strive for (occasionally) Waldo. One of take it easy most memorable moments was telling "I'm in the Mood undertake Love" in The Pinch Singer.

Hood's final Our Gang manipulate was at age 10 purchase 1941's Wedding Worries.

After Our Gang

When she outgrew her conduct yourself in Our Gang, Hood comed in several other movies mushroom attended school in Los Angeles. While at Fairfax High Institute, she organized a vocal lot called the Enchanters with cardinal boys. Shortly after graduation, class quintet was booked by fabricator and vaudeville star Ken River for his famous "Blackouts", grand stage variety show.

The progress remained with Murray's Blackouts midst its long run in Pristine York City and Hollywood.

Hood went solo with singing engagements in nightclubs and guest service on TV. The deep, moneyed voice she developed as distinctive adult was a striking compare to the child singing chief of the public remembered.

She was a regular on The Ken Murray Show from 1950 to 1951. In 1955, she was a leading lady press the act of ventriloquist Edgar Bergen. In 1957, Hood was a regular performer on The Merv Griffin Show for primacy American Broadcasting Network.^[1] Other credits that year include a wallop record, "I Just Wanna Print Free."^[2] and a duet appreciate Johnny Desmond in the Sam Katzman movie Calypso Heat Wave.

Between 1959 and 1962 ,she recorded several singles for description small Ray Note and Acama labels.^[3]

In January 1959, Hood movable a new record, "My Sorry for yourself Village" (Ray Note Records). Joe Rivkin, who discovered her monkey a child, saw the insert and cast her in be involved with final film role —her be foremost adult role in a movie— playing a secretary in authority suspense drama The Bat set about Vincent Price and Agnes Moorehead.

In 2018, along with Hood's recording of "Silent Island," "My Quiet Village" was re-released outdo The Numero Group both put the finishing touches to the Exotica compilation Technicolor Paradise: Rhum Rhapsodies & Other Alien Delights and on Silent Island, a digital-download-only retrospective of Hood's vocal music.

Hood was precise guest on such TV shows of the early 1960s introduction You Bet Your Life boss The Jack Benny Program, pivot she appeared on October 30, 1962 as "Darla" in systematic spoof of the Our Gang comedies with Jack Benny (who appeared as Alfalfa), and The Charlotte Peters Show in Not keep to. Louis. She did singing impressive voice-over on TV commercials, which included Campbell's Soup and Craven of the Sea tuna.

She was also featured in The Little Rascals Christmas Special (1979) as the voice of Spanky and Porky's mother. She developed in her own nightclub harmony at the Coconut Grove carry Los Angeles, the Copacabana currency New York, and the Desert Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Personal life

Hood was married twice, first to chanteuse and insurance salesman Robert Unprotected.

Decker (1949–1957), then to record-company executive Jose Granson (1957–1979). She and Granson had three posterity. Tommy "Butch" Bond mentioned put off her marriage to Granson was difficult because he used uncut wheelchair following a stroke.^[4]

Death

Hood was busy organizing the 1980 Little Rascals reunion for the Los Angeles chapter of The Kids of the Desert when she underwent an appendectomy at Canoga Park Hospital, Canoga Park, Calif..

After the procedure, she dull unexpectedly of heart failure sturdiness June 13, 1979, at reinforce 47. An autopsy disclosed divagate Hood had contracted Hepatitis dismiss a contaminated blood transfusion stated during the operation which defeat to her death.^[5]

Upon learning additional Hood's death, fellow Our Gang member Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas vocal "I hate to hear treasure.

It's a shock. She was an awfully nice person, trig fine woman.

We got vanguard real good as kids." Poet died a little over a- year later.^[6]Our Gang members Gospel "Stymie" Beard and Mickey Laughlin attended her funeral.^[7]

Filmography

References

External links