Eugene Gordon Lee (October 25, 1933 â€" October 16, 2005) was an
American child actor, most notable for appearing in the Our Gang
(Little Rascals) comedies as Porky from 1935 to 1939. During his
tenure in Our Gang, Porky originated the catchphrase "O-tay!", though
it is commonly attributed to fellow character Buckwheat, played by
Billie ThomasEugene Lee was born in Fort Worth, Texas and was
adopted.Lee began performing in motion pictures in 1935, after
producer Hal Roach noted how much the eighteen-month-old toddler
looked like Our Gang star Spanky McFarland (who was also from Texas).
The Lee family traveled from Texas to Culver City, California.
Nicknamed "Porky" by the studio, Eugene Lee joined the cast as
Spanky's little brother. Porky appeared in 42 Our Gang comedies over
four years. Lee, McFarland, and Our Gang co-stars Carl "Alfalfa"
Switzer, Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas, and Darla Hood constituted what is
today the most familiar incarnation of Our Gang.This group moved from
Hal Roach Studios to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1938 after Roach sold the
series. When Lee grew several inches in height during early 1939 (to
the point that the five-year-old was the same height as ten-year-old
McFarland), MGM replaced him with Mickey Gubitosi, later better known
by the stage name of Robert Blake.
American child actor, most notable for appearing in the Our Gang
(Little Rascals) comedies as Porky from 1935 to 1939. During his
tenure in Our Gang, Porky originated the catchphrase "O-tay!", though
it is commonly attributed to fellow character Buckwheat, played by
Billie ThomasEugene Lee was born in Fort Worth, Texas and was
adopted.Lee began performing in motion pictures in 1935, after
producer Hal Roach noted how much the eighteen-month-old toddler
looked like Our Gang star Spanky McFarland (who was also from Texas).
The Lee family traveled from Texas to Culver City, California.
Nicknamed "Porky" by the studio, Eugene Lee joined the cast as
Spanky's little brother. Porky appeared in 42 Our Gang comedies over
four years. Lee, McFarland, and Our Gang co-stars Carl "Alfalfa"
Switzer, Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas, and Darla Hood constituted what is
today the most familiar incarnation of Our Gang.This group moved from
Hal Roach Studios to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1938 after Roach sold the
series. When Lee grew several inches in height during early 1939 (to
the point that the five-year-old was the same height as ten-year-old
McFarland), MGM replaced him with Mickey Gubitosi, later better known
by the stage name of Robert Blake.
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