‘Our Gang’ actress Jean Darling dead at 93  

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Berlin, Sep 8 (IANS) Actress Jean Darling, who was best known for “Our Gang”, a series of American comedy short films, has died. She was 93.

The actress died on September 4 in Rodgau, according to the nytimes.com.

Darling broke out onto the scene in the early 1920s, scoring the role in Hal Roach’s “Our Gang”, after starting to act when she was just four years old.

She appeared in six “Our Gang” talkies and 46 silents. The series of shorts went on to become the inspiration for 1994 film “The Little Rascals”.

Darling also moved into films, starring as young Jane in the 1934 adaptation “Jane Eyre”, and she also appeared in an uncredited role in “Babes in Toyland”.

She later turned toward the stage, making her debut in 1942 in the musical “Count Me In”. She starred in “Carousel” in 1945, originating the role of Carrie Pipperidge and boasting 850 consecutive performances in the production.

Darling continued to work in adulthood, hosting TV show “A Date With Jean Darling” on NBC in the year 1950. She also hosted “The Singing Knit-Witch”.

In 2013, the actress appeared in a short silent film “The Butler’s Tale”. She moved to Dublin in the 1970s and wrote mystery and horror stories for magazines.

Darling is survived by her son, Roy, and grandsons Robert and Alec.


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