George "Spanky" McFarland's acting career ended when he was a teenager. Yet generations were moved to smiles by images of the chubby child star of the "Our Gang" and "Little Rascals" comedies.
McFarland died Wednesday after suffering a heart attack. He was 64."He made four generations of people all over the world laugh," said his son, Verne McFarland of Watauga, Texas. "You couldn't ask for a better legacy."
Former "Our Gang" colleague Dick Moore, who played "Dickie," said his friend "was a super guy."
"The thing that I liked so much about Spanky as an adult was he treated everyone the same," Moore said. "He was down home and unpretentious."
Spanky's popularity endured long after his acting career ended.
He was a hit at charity appearances and often popped up on cameo roles in movies and television shows, including a spot on "Cheers" last April.
McFarland also was revered by another childhood star - Michael Jackson, who visited McFarland's home in 1984.
Betsy McFarland said her father was due to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame soon. He didn't know, she said - it was to be unveiled on a surprise trip to California.
In addition to "Our Gang," McFarland made 14 feature-length movies including "Trail of the Lonesome Pine" with Henry Fonda and Fred MacMurray.