Hollywood Mourns The Loss Of Iconic ‘Little Rascals’ Star Betsy Gay
Betsy Gay, best known for her work in the comedy short film series The Little Rascals, died at the age of 96 on June 13. Gay died in Bakersfield, California where she lived with her family.
The Last Little Rascal
Best known for her work as an actress and a yodeler, she was born in February 1929 in Waterford, Connecticut. Both of her parents, Charles and Helen Gay, were entertainers as well. Her friend, Robert Satterfield, had announced Gay’s death on Facebook and wrote that “She will be deeply missed.” He posted the tribute using her real name, Elizabeth Cashen. Her friend shared the news of her passing and some rare photos from her early days in Hollywood. Satterfield also stated that Gay had attended the very last The Little Rascals reunion in 2014.
From Acting to Yodeling
In the 1930s, Gay appeared in the comedy short film series, Our Gang, later renamed The Little Rascals. She played the role of Effie, the girlfriend of Alfalfa, on the series, along with the shorts, until 1938. She made appearances in the projects of Our Gang Follies of 1938 and Came the Brown.
She acted in more than 40 roles by the time she turned 13. Some of her more notable roles are The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, At The Circus, and Mystery Plane. In 1941, Betsy Gay launched a career in Western music, specifically yodeling. She also continued to act in the Pasadena Playhouse productions of Quality Street and Heroes Unlimited. During her music career, she had performed alongside Stuart Hamblen and his Lucky Stars and won the California State Yodeling Championship in 1945 and 1946.
Life After Fame
After retiring from her music and acting career, Gay married Thomas Cashen in 1954. The two had five kids together. She remained private about her life after retiring, but did an interview in 2011 where she reflected on her career. In the interview with Darwin Lee Hill, she shared how she got her start in the film business. According to the interview with Hill, she stated, “Those days, there were a lot of kids who worked in movies. One mother told my mother, ‘You ought to take Betsy to the studio, they come there all the time looking for kids to be in Our Gang comedies.’”
Watch The Little Rascals on Peacock and Tubi TV.
Pooch (1932) Official The Little Rascals Episode
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Elke Simmons' writing portfolio includes contributions to The Laredo Morning Times, Walt Disney World Eyes and Ears, Extinction Rebellion (XR) News/Blog, and Dead Talk News.