The surviving members of the iconic “Little Rascals” cast dwindled to a handful this week after former child star Dick Moore died at age 89 — just three days after another member of the iconic “Gang” had passed away.
Moore, who was known as “Dickie” when he appeared in the “Our Gang” shorts in the 1930s, passed away on Monday, the New York Times reported. Actress Jean Darling, who appeared in the “Our Gang” series in the late 1920s, passed away on Sept. 4 at the age of 93.
There are believed to be just five “Rascals” remaining following the passing of Moore and Darling.
Robert Blake, perhaps better known for starring in the ’70s TV hit “Baretta,” Sidney Kibrick, Jerry Tucker, Mildred Kornman and Leonard Landy are thought to be the last living members of the “Gang.”
Blake, now 81, appeared in 40 “Our Gang” shorts between 1939 and 1944. The 87-year-old Kibrick appeared in the series in the late 1930s. Tucker, 89, appeared on the series throughout the 30s.
Kornman, 90, believed to be the oldest living “Rascal,” appeared in the series in the ’20s and ’30s, while the 82-year-old Landy was a “Gang” member from 1938 to 1941.
Originally called “Our Gang,” the legendary film shorts were later syndicated for TV with the new title “The Little Rascals.”
Outside of “Rascals,” Moore made his mark on Hollywood, playing the title role in “Oliver Twist” in 1933 and giving Shirley Temple her first on-screen kiss. It was the first-ever film version of “Oliver Twist” with sound.
He was survived by his third wife, actress Jane Powell, who was also a child star.
Moore wrote a book about his time as a child star in 1984 called “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (But Don’t Have Sex or Take the Car).”
“We were all very isolated,” he said in an 1984 interview, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “Shirley Temple told me she thought all children worked. … Many of us thought that was all there was. And we were in competition, too, of course. There was a big feeling of competition, and friendships were not encouraged.”
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dboroff@nydailynews.com
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