True Crime
The Death of a “Little Rascal”
Was the fatal shooting of Carl Switzer cold-blooded murder or self-defense?
You will hardly find any of us “of a certain age” that didn’t grow up watching a freckled kid with an exaggerated cowlick sing half-croaked ballads to his childhood love, Darla. “Alfalfa” was one of the most prominent and well-loved members of the Little Rascals featured in Hal Roach’s series, Our Gang. The beloved character was played by Illinois native Carl Dean Switzer between 1935 and 1940.
After Carl grew too old for the role, he went on to play many small parts or appear as an extra in other productions — but he would never again achieve the fame he still held during his years as love-struck crooner Alfalfa. Like a lot of child actors who find themselves lacking further success as an adult actor, Carl eventually turned to a regular job and went on to start a family.
In 1954, Carl went on a blind date with Diantha Collingwood, the heiress to Collingwood Grain, a grain elevator empire. The pair hit it off and began seeing one another. Only three months later, the couple got married in a quickie Las Vegas ceremony. By 1956, Carl was having financial difficulties and Diantha was pregnant. Her mother offered the couple a farm in Kansas and they moved there before their son…
