Janet Elizabeth Burston (January 11, 1935 – March 3, 1998) was an American

child actress The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting on stage or in movies or television. An adult who began their acting career as a child may also be called a child actor, or a "former child actor". Closely associated t ...

who was the final leading lady in the ''

Our Gang ''Our Gang'' (also known as ''The Little Rascals'' or ''Hal Roach's Rascals'') is an American series of comedy short films chronicling a group of poor neighborhood children and their adventures. Created by film producer Hal Roach, also the ...

short subjects A short film is any motion picture that is short enough in running time not to be considered a feature film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes ...

series, replacing

Darla Hood Darla Jean Hood (November 8, 1931 – June 13, 1979) was an American child actress, best known as the leading lady in the ''Our Gang'' series from 1935 to 1941. She was born in Leedey, Oklahoma, the only child of music teacher Elizabeth Dav ...

in 1942.

Career

Burston began her film career in the

film '' All About Hash'' as a background child character in 1940 at age five. Burston stayed as a background character for two years before replacing

as leading lady in 1941. She stayed with the gang until the end of the series in 1944. She appeared in a few outside films as well, leaving show business in 1964, eventually becoming a housewife. Janet Burston married four times during her lifetime. After her retirement from acting, she kept a low profile and attended few ''Our Gang'' reunions.

Death

Burston died in her sleep on March 3, 1998. She was 63.

''Our Gang'' filmography

#'' All About Hash'' (1940) #''

Waldo's Last Stand ''Waldo's Last Stand'' is a 1940 ''Our Gang'' short comedy film directed by Edward Cahn. It was the 193rd ''Our Gang'' short (194th episode, 105th talking short, 106th talking episode, and 25th MGM produced episode) that was released. Plot The ...

'' (1940) #''

Baby Blues ''Baby Blues'' is an American comic strip created and produced by Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott since January 7, 1990. Distributed by King Features Syndicate from 1995 until January 2022, and distributed by Andrews McMeel Syndication as of Janu ...

'' (1941) #''

Melodies Old and New ''Melodies Old and New'' is a 1942 ''Our Gang'' short comedy film directed by Edward Cahn. It was the 203rd ''Our Gang'' short (204th episode, 115th talking short, 116th talking episode, and 35th MGM produced episode) that was released. Plot The ...

'' (1942) #'' Surprised Parties'' (1942) #'' Doin' Their Bit'' (1942) #'' Rover's Big Chance'' (1942) #'' Benjamin Franklin, Jr.'' (1943) #''

Family Troubles ''Family Troubles'' is a one-reel comedy short subject and is an episode of the ''Our Gang'' series. It was released to theatres on April 3, 1943, produced and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was the 212th ''Our Gang'' short to be released. P ...

'' (1943) #'' Calling All Kids'' (1943) #'' Election Daze'' (1943) #''

Little Miss Pinkerton ''Little Miss Pinkerton'' is a 1943 ''Our Gang'' short comedy film directed by Herbert Glazer. It was the 216th ''Our Gang'' short (217th episode, 128th talking short, 129th talking episode, and 48th MGM produced episode) that was released. Syno ...

'' (1943) #''

Three Smart Guys ''Three Smart Guys'' is a 1943 ''Our Gang'' short comedy film directed by Edward Cahn. It was the 217th ''Our Gang'' short released (218th episode, 129th talking short, 130th talking episode, and 49th MGM produced episode). Plot Mickey, Froggy an ...

'' (1943) #''

Radio Bugs ''Radio Bugs'' is a 1944 '' Our Gang'' short comedy film directed by Cyril Endfield. It was the 218th ''Our Gang'' short released. Plot Froggy and his parents enjoy a Red Skelton USO performance over the radio. Learning from his father that com ...

'' (1944) #''

Tale of a Dog ''Tale of a Dog'' is a 1944 ''Our Gang'' short comedy film directed by Cyril Endfield. It was the 219th ''Our Gang'' short to be released, and the penultimate film in the series. ''Tale of a Dog'' was sold to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer not a ...

'' (1944) #''

Dancing Romeo ''Dancing Romeo'' is a 1944 '' Our Gang'' short comedy film directed by Cyril Endfield. Produced and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was the 220th and final ''Our Gang'' short to be released. Plot Froggy has a crush on a young girl named M ...

'' (1944)

External links

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Meeting Janet Burston in 1995
Deaths from cancer in California 1935 births 1998 deaths American film actresses 20th-century American actresses Our Gang {{US-film-actor-1930s-stub