Carl Dean Switzer (August 7, 1927[1] – January 21, 1959) was an American child actor, comic singer, dog breeder, and guide.

Switzer (rhyming with "Schweitzer", as referenced in the 1939 film Alfalfa's Aunt) began his career as a child actor in 1934.

After outgrowing the series in 1940, Switzer struggled to find substantial roles, but was typecast as a juvenile actor.

Following a public tour, eight-year-old Harold and six-year-old Carl entered the Hal Roach Studio's open-to-the-public cafeteria, the Our Gang Café, and began an impromptu performance.

By the end of the year, Alfalfa was one of the main characters, with a distinctive cowlick hairstyle, while Harold had been relegated to the background.

Although Carl was an experienced singer and musician, his character Alfalfa was often called upon to sing popular songs for comic effect, most often those of Bing Crosby[2] and Pinky Tomlin.

The comic effect was achieved by playing the musical accompaniment slightly beyond the young singer's range, so Switzer would struggle to reach the high notes -- resulting in squeaky, off-key tones.

By the end of 1937, Switzer's "Alfalfa" had surpassed the series' nominal star, George "Spanky" McFarland, in popularity.

[3] Switzer's best friend among the Our Gang actors was Tommy Bond, who played his on-screen nemesis "Butch".

His first role after leaving the series was as a boy scout in I Love You Again (1940) starring William Powell and Myrna Loy.

Switzer continued to appear in films in various supporting roles, including in Johnny Doughboy (1942), The Human Comedy (1943), Going My Way (1944), and The Great Mike (1944).

He reprised his "Alfalfa" character, complete with comically sour vocals, in PRC's Gas House Kids comedies in 1946 and 1947.

The Gas House Kids might have continued indefinitely, but the PRC studio was absorbed by the Eagle-Lion company in August 1947, ending the series.

In 1952, he played a busboy in the film Pat and Mike starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn.

In the 1954 musical film White Christmas, only his photograph was used: he appeared in costume as "Freckle-Faced Haynes, the Dog-Faced Boy", an army buddy of Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye).

In 1955 he was featured (but not credited) in the Bowery Boys comedy Dig That Uranium, reuniting him with former Gas House Kids teammate Bennie Bartlett.

Among his notable clients were Roy Rogers and Dale Evans (godparents of Switzer's son), James Stewart, and Henry Fonda.

[6] In 1956, with his money running out and Diantha pregnant, his mother-in-law offered them a farm near Pretty Prairie, Kansas.

[2] In 1987, former Our Gang co-star George "Spanky" McFarland recalled a meeting with Switzer when they spoke about the farm:[2] The last time I saw Carl was 1957.

He just grew up.On January 26, 1958, Switzer was getting into his car in front of a bar in Studio City, when a bullet smashed through the window and struck him in the upper right arm.

Sometime in 1959, Switzer agreed to train a hunting dog, a Treeing Walker Coonhound,[9] for Moses Samuel "Bud" Stiltz.

Unable to produce the money to settle the debt, Switzer took out ads in newspapers and put up fliers, offering a reward for the safe return of the animal.

Though differing accounts of the event exist, all agree that Stiltz was struck over the left side of his head with a glass clock.

Stiltz fired and shot Switzer in the groin, damaging an artery that caused massive internal bleeding.

After the gun's accidental discharge that almost hit Corrigan, Switzer turned to Piott and said they needed to leave.

Years later, Corrigan stood by what he told officers had happened that night, and said his stepfather did not have to kill Switzer.

Switzer had appeared as a slave (uncredited) in one of the last films for which DeMille was credited as a producer, The Ten Commandments.