Billy Laughlin

William Robert Laughlin (July 5, 1932 – August 31, 1948) was an American child actor. He is best known for playing the character Froggy in the Our Gang short films in its final stretch, from 1940 to 1944.

Billy Laughlin
Laughlin in 1941
Born
William Robert Laughlin

(1932-07-05)July 5, 1932
San Gabriel, California, U.S.
DiedAugust 31, 1948(1948-08-31) (aged 16)
La Puente, California, U.S.
Cause of deathTraffic collision
Resting placeRose Hills Memorial Park,
Whittier, California
OccupationChild actor
Years active1940 -1944

Early life

Laughlin was born on July 5, 1932 in San Gabriel, California, to Robert Vine Laughlin (August 28, 1901 – September 30, 1972) and Charlotte C. Cruikshank (March 11, 1903 – June 4, 1992). According to Our Gang actor Robert Blake, Laughlin was "dearly loved".[1]

Career

Laughlin rose to fame at the age of eight when he appeared in his first Our Gang film, The New Pupil, in 1940. He worked in support of Alfalfa Switzer in his first three films and then replaced the now too old Switzer as the comic lead of the group with the 1941 films. His character was known for his strange, guttural voice, which was reminiscent of a frog's croak. Laughlin's last Our Gang short film was the last film of the series in 1944 called Dancing Romeo. Laughlin did the voice himself without dubbing, basing it on a Popeye impersonation he had been doing for friends.

When Our Gang stopped production in 1944, Laughlin appeared in a cameo in Monogram's Johnny Doesn't Live Here Any More, his only non Our Gang film, speaking in his natural voice for the only time ever on film (though he ends his last line with the word "Phew!" in the Froggy voice) then voluntarily moved away from show business and enjoyed relatively peaceful teenage years.

Death

Laughlin died at a hospital on August 31, 1948 after a speeding truck struck the Cushman motor scooter on which he was delivering newspapers near his home in La Puente, California. The 16-year-old friend who was operating the scooter, John Wilbrand, made a U-turn in front of the truck, but survived with minor injuries.[2][3][4][5][2] The scooter was given to Laughlin by his parents two weeks prior to the accident.[1] Only 16, Laughlin died younger than any of the other actors who appeared in the Our Gang films. Laughlin is interred in a grave at the Rose Hills Memorial Park Cemetery in Whittier, California next to his parents.

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References
  1. Blake, Robert (2012). Tale of a Rascal: What I Did for Love. Black Rainbow Publications. p. 178. ISBN 0615591949.
  2. "The Death of Froggy | The Little Rascals". littlerascals.proboards.com. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
  3. (09-02-1948)."Youth Dies From Injuries". La Puente Valley Journal.
  4. (10-05-1948). Certificate of Death No. 12160, William Laughlin, District 1951, County of Los Angeles, State of California.
  5. (09-02-1948)."Crash Kills Youth of 16". Los Angeles Times.



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