The Tragic Life & Death of 'Our Gang'/'Little Rascals' Former Child Star Matthew 'Stymie' Beard, Jr.

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The Big Picture

He was born on January 1, 1925, in Los Angeles, and died there on January 3, 1981. He was one of the most beloved former child stars in the history of Hollywood. As an African-American actor, he was also a pioneering personality of early cinema. His name was Matthew Beard, Jr. who was best known as "Stymie" from the original Our Gang feature film shorts later known as The Little Rascals. This is his story.

A Closer Look

Matthew "Stymie" Beard, Jr. was cast as an infant in several movies before his legendary appearances in the initial Our Gang franchise, created by producer Hal Roach. The character was first called "Hercules” until director Robert McGowan changed it to "Stymie" because was frequently “stymied” by young Beard’s meanderings on the Roach studio lot.

As his sister Loretta, once described him, Beard was ''the little baldheaded kid with the derby.'' Those became his visual trademarks in the Our Gang movie and subsequent TV show (when it changed titles to The Little Rascals).

The derby hat, which was oversized, was a gift from comedian Stan Laurel, who partnered with Oliver Hardy in the famed Laurel & Hardy shorts and films also produced by Roach

Stymie enjoyed making the Our Gang movies and especially appreciated their quality. But unfortunately, behind the camera, his personal life was littered with one challenge after the next.

For starters, he resided in a crime-ridden neighborhood in East Los Angeles with his parents and 13 siblings, all for whom he provided financial support.

The Big Screen Switch

When Matthew Beard was just 10 years old, he exited the Our Gang franchise and was cast in a few minor big-screen roles in movies like Captain Blood (1935) and The Return of Frank James (1940). But by the time he was a teenager in high school, he had left acting and the world of Hollywood behind, and sadly began a traumatic struggle and descent into substance abuse with heroin.

The Return to TV

Matthew Beard eventually recovered from his drug addiction, and decades after playing Stymie, made TV guest appearances on shows like Sandford & Son and The Jeffersons and was cast in a semi-regular capacity as Monty on Good Times.

The Return to the Big Screen

In 1978, Matthew Beard returned to the larger-than-life world of motion pictures with a minor role in the true-life tale The Buddy Holly Story. In this film about the famed music icon, Beard in his final screen performance adorned his legendary bowler hat as part of a backstage crew at the Apollo Theatre.

His Final Days Were Filled With Both Triumph and Trauma

In his last years, Matthew Beard remained sober and made live motivational appearances on the lecture circuit advocating against substance abuse.

However, in early January of 1981, he had a stroke, fell down a flight of stairs, hit his head, and within five days died of pneumonia at only 56 years old. He was buried with his iconic derby on his head.

Lasting Impression

Of his days as Stymie with his fellow child actors in The Little Rascals/Our Gang days, Matthew Beard, Jr. once concluded:

“We had a lot of fun doing the films. Aside from an occasional scrap, the kids got along very well. It was a wonderful experience.”