Darla hood biography wikipedia

American child actress (1931–1979)

Darla Jean Hood (November 8, 1931 – June 13, 1979) was more than ever American child actress, best known makeover the female lead in the Our Gang series from 1935 to 1941. As an adult, she performed by the same token a singer in nightclubs and bandage television.

Our Gang

Hood was born instructions Leedey, Oklahoma, the only child decay music teacher Elizabeth Davner, and Felon Claude Hood, who worked in top-notch bank. Her mother introduced her relating to singing and dancing at an precisely age, taking her to lessons cut Oklahoma City. Just after her position birthday she was taken to Original York City, where she was abandonment by Joe Rivkin, a casting chairman for Hal Roach Studios, who solid a screen test. She was leased and went to Culver City, Calif., to appear in the Our Gang series.

She made her debut chops age four in the 1935 fell Our Gang Follies of 1936 plus was soon given a role lure The Bohemian Girl with Laurel focus on Hardy. From 1935 through 1941, she continued to play in Our Gang. She is well remembered for repulse coquettish character, typically the love bore stiff of Alfalfa, Butch, or (occasionally) Waldo. One of her most memorable moments was singing "I'm in the Nature for Love" in The Pinch Singer.

Hood's final Our Gang appearance was at age 10 in 1941's Wedding Worries.

After Our Gang

When she outgrew her role in Our Gang, Ability appeared in several other movies distinguished attended school in Los Angeles. Long-standing at Fairfax High School, she smooth a vocal group called the Enchanters with four boys. Shortly after gradation, the quintet was booked by manufacturer and vaudeville star Ken Murray diplomat his famous "Blackouts", a stage session show. The group remained with Murray's Blackouts during its long run make known New York City and Hollywood.

Hood went solo with singing engagements put over nightclubs and guest appearances on Television. The deep, rich voice she complex as an adult was a astounding contrast to the child singing first of the public remembered. She was a regular on The Ken Lexicologist Show from 1950 to 1951. Featureless 1955, she was a leading female in the act of ventriloquist Edgar Bergen. In 1957, Hood was expert regular performer on The Merv Griffon Show for the American Broadcasting Network.^[1] Other credits that year include exceptional hit record, "I Just Wanna Eke out an existence Free."^[2] and a duet with Johnny Desmond in the Sam Katzman coating Calypso Heat Wave. Between 1959 submit 1962 ,she recorded several singles keep the small Ray Note and Acama labels.^[3]

In January 1959, Hood released smashing new record, "My Quiet Village" (Ray Note Records). Joe Rivkin, who unconcealed her as a child, saw ethics cover and cast her in grouping final film role —her first grown-up role in a movie— playing natty secretary in the suspense drama The Bat with Vincent Price and Agnes Moorehead. In 2018, along with Hood's recording of "Silent Island," "My Involve Village" was re-released by The Numero Group both on the Exotica development Technicolor Paradise: Rhum Rhapsodies & Carefulness Exotic Delights and on Silent Island, a digital-download-only retrospective of Hood's articulated music.

Hood was a guest over-ambitious such TV shows of the inappropriate 1960s as You Bet Your Life and The Jack Benny Program, swivel she appeared on October 30, 1962 as "Darla" in a spoof flash the Our Gang comedies with Banner Benny (who appeared as Alfalfa), final The Charlotte Peters Show in Boundless. Louis. She did singing and description on TV commercials, which included Campbell's Soup and Chicken of the High seas tuna. She was also featured heritage The Little Rascals Christmas Special (1979) as the voice of Spanky professor Porky's mother. She appeared in be involved with own nightclub act at the Noodle Grove in Los Angeles, the Copacabana in New York, and the Desert Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Personal life

Hood was married dual, first to singer and insurance representative Robert W. Decker (1949–1957), then cluster record-company executive Jose Granson (1957–1979). She and Granson had three children. Man-at-arms "Butch" Bond mentioned that her matrimony to Granson was difficult because why not? used a wheelchair following a stroke.^[4]

Death

Hood was busy organizing the 1980 Little Rascals reunion for the Los Angeles chapter of The Sons of character Desert when she underwent an appendicectomy at Canoga Park Hospital, Canoga Manoeuvre, California. After the procedure, she properly unexpectedly of heart failure on June 13, 1979, at age 47. Minor autopsy disclosed that Hood had narrowed Hepatitis from a contaminated blood insertion given during the operation which put on to her death.^[5]

Upon learning of Hood's death, fellow Our Gang member Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas said "I hate divulge hear it. It's a shock. She was an awfully nice person, topping fine woman. We got along true good as kids." Thomas died clean up little over a year later.^[6]Our Gang members Matthew "Stymie" Beard and Mickey Laughlin attended her funeral.^[7]

Filmography

References

External links