HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Wally Albright (born Walton Algernon Albright Jr.; September 3, 1925 - August 7, 1999) was an American actor, water sportsman, and businessman. As a child actor, he was best known for his role 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 ...
'' film series.


Career

The son of Wally and Lois Albright, he was born in
Burbank, California Burbank is a city in the southeastern end of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Located northwest of downtown Los Angeles, Burbank has a population of 107,337. The city was named after David Burbank, w ...
. He was seen in a film with
Gloria Swanson Gloria May Josephine Swanson (March 27, 1899April 4, 1983) was an American actress and producer. She first achieved fame acting in dozens of silent films in the 1920s and was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Actress, most f ...
in 1928. He appeared in a number of films during his career, and is notable for appearing in six ''
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 ...
throughout the early 1930s. Though his tenure with the gang was brief, his role was usually that of the gang leader alongside
Matthew "Stymie" Beard Matthew Beard Jr. (January 1, 1925 – January 8, 1981) was an American actor. As a child actor, he was most famous for playing Stymie in the '' Our Gang'' short comedy films of 1930–1935. The role was so well known that he adopted the name ...
. Albright played so many roles as a baby that he was quite well-known by the time he was three. He appeared in the small parts of various films made by Hal Roach Studios. At the end of 1933, when
Gus Meins Gus Meins (March 6, 1893 – August 1, 1940), born Gustave Peter Ludwig Luley, was an American film director. He was born in Frankfurt, Germany. Career Meins started out in the 'teens as a cartoonist for the Los Angeles Evening Herald before ...
took over directing, ''Our Gang'' needed a few new characters. Several older ''Our Gang''ers left the series in the summer of 1933, including Dorothy DeBorba and Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins. Albright would be one of several characters, including
Scotty Beckett Scott Hastings Beckett (October 4, 1929 – May 10, 1968) was an American actor. He began his career as a child actor in the ''Our Gang'' shorts and later costarred on ''Rocky Jones, Space Ranger''. Early life and career Born in Oakland, Califo ...
and
Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas William "Billie" Thomas Jr. (March 12, 1931 – October 10, 1980) was an American child actor best remembered for portraying the character of Buckwheat in the ''Our Gang'' (''Little Rascals'') short films from 1934 until the series' end in 1 ...
, to debut in 1934 in the ''Our Gang'' short '' Hi Neighbor''. He ended up becoming one of the most prominent members of the gang. To the dismay of
Hal Roach Harry Eugene "Hal" Roach Sr.Randy Skretvedt, Skretvedt, Randy (2016), ''Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies'', Bonaventure Press. p.608. (January 14, 1892 – November 2, 1992) was an American film and television producer, director, a ...
and director
Gus Meins Gus Meins (March 6, 1893 – August 1, 1940), born Gustave Peter Ludwig Luley, was an American film director. He was born in Frankfurt, Germany. Career Meins started out in the 'teens as a cartoonist for the Los Angeles Evening Herald before ...
, Albright voluntarily left the gang and returned to a normal childhood life. However, he did play a small role in
The Grapes of Wrath ''The Grapes of Wrath'' is an American realist novel written by John Steinbeck and published in 1939. The book won the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize for fiction, and it was cited prominently when Steinbeck was awarded the Nobel Prize ...
, appearing as an older child in a migrant camp. In the movie, Albright’s character lies to Ma Joad about having good food when eating fried dough like every other migrant at the camp.


Later years

In adult life, Albright became a champion
water sports Water (chemical formula ) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as a s ...
man and eventually operated a successful trucking firm, shipping produce. He died in
Sacramento, California ) , image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg , mapsize = 250x200px , map_caption = Location within Sacramento C ...
on August 7, 1999. He is buried in the Garden of Ascension at Forest Lawn,
Glendale, California Glendale is a city in the San Fernando Valley and Verdugo Mountains regions of Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, California, United States. At the 2020 United States Census, 2020 U.S. Census the population was 196,543, up from ...
.Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14000 Famous Persons by Scott Wilson


Filmography

*''
The Case of Lena Smith ''The Case of Lena Smith'' is a 1929 American silent drama film directed by Josef von Sternberg, starring Esther Ralston and James Hall, and released by Paramount Pictures. ''The Case of Lena Smith'' is ranked by film critics as among the †...
'' (1929) as Franz (age 3) (film debut) *''
Scandal A scandal can be broadly defined as the strong social reactions of outrage, anger, or surprise, when accusations or rumours circulate or appear for some reason, regarding a person or persons who are perceived to have transgressed in some way. Th ...
'' (1929) as Bit Role (uncredited) *''
Thunder Thunder is the sound caused by lightning. Depending upon the distance from and nature of the lightning, it can range from a long, low rumble to a sudden, loud crack. The sudden increase in temperature and hence pressure caused by the lightning pr ...
'' (1929) as Davey *''
Wonder of Women ''Wonder of Women'' is a 1929 American pre-Code drama film directed by Clarence Brown and starring Lewis Stone, Leila Hyams, and Peggy Wood. It was nominated for Best Writing at the 2nd Academy Awards. Based on the 1927 German novel ''Die Frau ...
'' (1929) as Wulle-Wulle *''
The Single Standard ''The Single Standard'' is a 1929 American romantic drama film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer directed by veteran John S. Robertson and starring Greta Garbo, Nils Asther, and Johnny Mack Brown. This was Greta Garbo's fifteenth film and her second c ...
'' (1929) – Arden's Son (uncredited) *''
The Trespasser Trespasser In the law of tort, property, and criminal law a trespasser is a person who commits the act of trespassing on a property, that is, without the permission of the owner. Being present on land as a trespasser thereto creates liabi ...
'' (1929) as Jack Merrick *''
Song o' My Heart ''Song o' My Heart'' is a 1930 Pre-Code American film directed by Frank Borzage and starring John McCormack, Alice Joyce, Maureen O'Sullivan, Effie Ellsler and John Garrick. It was O'Sullivan's second film role. The film was double-shot in bot ...
'' (1930) as Boy (uncredited) *''
The Prodigal ''The Prodigal'' is a 1955 Eastmancolor biblical epic CinemaScope film made by MGM starring Lana Turner and Edmund Purdom. It was based on the New Testament parable about a selfish son who leaves his family to pursue a life of pleasure. The f ...
'' (1931) as Peter *''
East Lynne ''East Lynne'' is an English sensation novel of 1861 by Ellen Wood, writing as Mrs Henry Wood. A Victorian best-seller, it is remembered chiefly for its elaborate and implausible plot, centring on infidelity and double identities. There have ...
'' (1931) as William as a Boy *'' Salvation Nell'' (1931) as Jimmy *''
Sob Sister Sob sister was an American term in the early 20th century for reporters (usually women) who specialized in newspaper articles (often called "sob stories") with emphasis on the human interest angle using language of sentimentality. The derogatory la ...
'' (1931) as Billy Stotesley (uncredited) *'' Law of the Sea'' (1931) as Cole Andrews-as a child *'' The Silver Lining'' (1932) as Bobby O'Brien *''
Choo-Choo! ''Choo-Choo!'' is a 1932 ''Our Gang'' short comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 114th (26th talking episode) ''Our Gang'' short that was released. It is a remake of the 1923 ''Our Gang'' film '' A Pleasant Journey''. Plot Exch ...
'' (1932, Short) as Wally, an orphan *''
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm ''Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm'' is a classic American 1903 children's novel by Kate Douglas Wiggin that tells the story of Rebecca Rowena Randall and her aunts, one stern and one kind, in the fictional village of Riverboro, Maine. Rebecca's joy ...
'' (1932) as Billy Randall (uncredited) *''
Thirteen Women ''Thirteen Women'' is a 1932 American pre-Code psychological thriller film, produced by David O. Selznick and directed by George Archainbaud. It stars Myrna Loy, Irene Dunne and Ricardo Cortez. The film is based on the 1930 bestselling novel of ...
'' (1932) as Bobby Stanhope *'' The Conquerors'' (1932) as Roger Standish – One of the Twins *'' End of the Trail'' (1932) as Jimmy 'Sonny' Travers *''
Grand Slam Grand Slam most often refers to: * Grand Slam (tennis), one player or pair winning all four major annual tournaments, or the tournaments themselves Grand Slam or Grand slam may also refer to: Games and sports * Grand slam, winning category te ...
'' (1933) as Boy Bridge Player (uncredited) *''
Zoo in Budapest ''Zoo in Budapest'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code romance/melodrama film directed by Rowland V. Lee and starring Loretta Young, Gene Raymond, O.P. Heggie, and Paul Fix. Gene Raymond, playing Zani, a young, mischievous man who has grown up only ar ...
'' (1933) as Paul Vandor *'' The Wrecker'' (1933) as Young Boy *'' Ann Vickers'' (1933) as Mischa Feldermans (uncredited) *'' Smoky'' (1933) as Clint's Son (uncredited) *''
Mr. Skitch ''Mr. Skitch'' is a 1933 American comedy film directed by James Cruze and written by Sonya Levien and Ralph Spence. The film stars Will Rogers, Rochelle Hudson, ZaSu Pitts, Florence Desmond, Harry Green and Charles Starrett. The film was release ...
'' (1933) – Little Ira Skitch (uncredited) *'' As the Earth Turns'' (1934) as John *''
Hi'-Neighbor! ''Hi'-Neighbor!'' is a 1934 ''Our Gang'' short comedy film directed by Gus Meins. Produced by Hal Roach and released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was the 126th ''Our Gang'' short to be released and Meins' first series entry as director. ...
'' (1934, Short) as Wally *'' Ever Since Eve'' (1934) as Child (uncredited) *''
For Pete's Sake! ''For Pete's Sake!'' is a 1934 ''Our Gang'' short comedy film directed by Gus Meins. It was the 127th (39th talking episode) ''Our Gang'' short that was released. Plot After Wally fills little Marianne's favorite doll with sawdust and gives it ...
'' (1934, Short) as Wally *''
The First Round-Up ''The First Round-Up'' is a 1934 ''Our Gang'' short comedy film directed by Gus Meins. It was the 128th (40th talking episode) ''Our Gang'' short that was released. Plot Wally Albright and the gang have planned for an elaborate camping trip for ...
'' (1934, Short) as Wally *''
Honky Donkey ''Honky Donkey'' is a 1934 '' Our Gang'' short comedy film directed by Gus Meins. It was the 129th (41st talking episode) ''Our Gang'' short. It was partially filmed at the Culver Hotel. Plot A pampered rich boy named Wally is shown gettin spoi ...
'' (1934, Short) as Wallace *''
The Count of Monte Cristo ''The Count of Monte Cristo'' (french: Le Comte de Monte-Cristo) is an adventure novel written by French author Alexandre Dumas (''père'') completed in 1844. It is one of the author's more popular works, along with ''The Three Musketeers''. Li ...
'' (1934) as Albert, Age 8 (uncredited) *'' You Belong to Me'' (1934) as Second Schoolboy (uncredited) *''
Washee Ironee ''Washee Ironee'' is a 1934 '' Our Gang'' short comedy film directed by James Parrott. It was the 131st ''Our Gang'' short (43rd talking episode) that was released. Plot On the day that he is scheduled to perform a violin solo at a swank bridge ...
'' (1934, Short) as Waldo *''
Kid Millions ''Kid Millions'' (1934) is an American musical film directed by Roy Del Ruth, produced by Samuel Goldwyn Productions, and starring Eddie Cantor. Its elaborate "Ice Cream Fantasy Finale" production number was filmed in three-strip Technicolor, one ...
'' (1934) as Little Boy in Ice Cream Number (uncredited) *'' Black Fury'' (1935) as Willie Novak (uncredited) *''
The Affair of Susan ''The Affair of Susan'' is a 1935 American comedy film directed by Kurt Neumann and starring Zasu Pitts, Hugh O'Connell and Walter Catlett.Lowe p.1968 It is a remake of the 1928 silent film '' Lonesome''. Two lonely people meet at an amusemen ...
'' (1935) as Boy on Stoop (uncredited) *''
O'Shaughnessy's Boy ''O'Shaughnessy's Boy'' is a 1935 film starring Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper and directed by Richard Boleslawski. The picture was partly set in a circus. The cinematographer was James Wong Howe. Plot summary The plot involves a one-armed lio ...
'' (1935) as Child (uncredited) *''
Waterfront Lady ''Waterfront Lady'' is a 1935 American film directed by Joseph Santley. Premise When a young man is befriended by a gambling ship operator and made a partner in the business, he becomes involved in a police manhunt after he covers up a murder c ...
'' (1935) as Mickey O'Flaherty *'' Little Miss Nobody'' (1936) as Orphan (uncredited) *''
The Crime of Dr. Forbes ''The Crime of Dr. Forbes'' is a 1936 American crime film directed by George Marshall and starring Gloria Stuart, Robert Kent and Henry Armetta.Monaco p.357 The film's art direction was by Duncan Cramer. This film was shot at 20th Century Fox ...
'' (1936) as Crippled Boy (uncredited) *''Who's Lonely Now'' (1935, Short) as Johnson's Son (uncredited) *'' Star for a Night'' (1936) as Hans (uncredited) *''
The Cowboy Star ''The Cowboy Star'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by David Selman and starring Charles Starrett. Plot Spencer Yorke is a star of western films, but he has grown tired of the unreality of the movies in which he appears. He decides he ...
'' (1936) as Jimmy Baker *''
Maid of Salem ''Maid of Salem'' is a 1937 film made by Paramount Pictures, directed by Frank Lloyd, and starring Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray. Plot It tells the story of a young girl in Salem, Massachusetts, 1692, who has an affair with an adventurer. ...
'' (1937) as Jasper (uncredited) *''
Old Louisiana ''Old Louisiana'' is a 1937 American Western film, directed by Irvin Willat. It stars Tom Keene, Rita Hayworth, and Will Morgan. References External links''Old Louisiana''at the Internet Movie Database IMDb (an abbreviation of Intern ...
'' (1937) as Davey *'' The Woman I Love'' (1937) as Georges *''
Captains Courageous ''Captains Courageous: A Story of the Grand Banks'' is an 1897 novel by Rudyard Kipling that follows the adventures of fifteen-year-old Harvey Cheyne Jr., the spoiled son of a railroad tycoon, after he is saved from drowning by a Portuguese f ...
'' (1937) as Boy (uncredited) *'' What Price Vengeance?'' (1937) as Sandy MacNair *''
Super-Sleuth ''Super-Sleuth'' is a 1937 comedy film directed by Ben Stoloff. It was an early lead role for Jack Oakie. ''Super Sleuth'' was a remade in 1946 as '' Genius at Work'', with comedy team of Wally Brown and Alan Carney. Plot A film detective believe ...
'' (1937) as Teenage Fan (uncredited) *''
It Happened in Hollywood ''It Happened in Hollywood'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Harry Lachman and starring Richard Dix, Fay Wray and Victor Kilian. The arrival of sound wrecks the career of a leading western actor while his leading lady rises to new heig ...
'' (1937) as Boy (uncredited) *''
Roll Along, Cowboy ''Roll Along, Cowboy'' is a 1937 American musical Western film directed by Gus Meins. It is based on the 1931 novel ''The Dude Ranger'' by Zane Grey, and is the second adaptation of the novel, after the 1934 film ''The Dude Ranger''. Plot sum ...
'' (1937) as Danny Blake *''
Sons of the Legion ''Sons of the Legion'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by James P. Hogan and starring Lynne Overman, Evelyn Keyes and Tim Holt. Its plot concerns a group of boys looking to start a S.A.L. squadron. However, because a boy's father wrongfu ...
'' (1938) as Harold *''
King of the Sierras ''King of the Sierras'' is a 1938 American western directed by Samuel Diege and Arthur Rosson and distributed by Grand National Pictures. The film is also known as ''Black Stallion'' (alternative American title) and ''Killers of the Prairie'' ...
'' (1938) as Sonny Blake *''
Boy Trouble ''Boy Trouble'' is a 1939 American film starring Charles Ruggles, Mary Boland, Donald O'Connor, and Billy Lee. Plot In the story, Sybil Fitch (Boland) adopts two orphan boys (O'Connor, Lee). Her husband (Ruggles) is infuriated. However, when the ...
'' (1939) as Boy (uncredited) *'' Mexicali Rose'' (1939) as Tommy Romero *''
The Grapes of Wrath ''The Grapes of Wrath'' is an American realist novel written by John Steinbeck and published in 1939. The book won the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize for fiction, and it was cited prominently when Steinbeck was awarded the Nobel Prize ...
'' (1940) as Boy Who Bragged of Eating Chicken (uncredited) *'' Johnny Apollo'' (1940) as Office Boy *'' Public Enemies'' (1941) as Tommy *''
A Yank at Eton ''A Yank at Eton'' is an American comedy-drama film directed by Norman Taurog for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and starring Mickey Rooney, Ian Hunter, and Peter Lawford. Released in 1942, it is a kind of junior thematic sequel to MGM's British-made fil ...
'' (1942) as Boy in Locker Room (uncredited) *'' Junior Army'' (1942) as Student (uncredited) *''
Laura Laura may refer to: People * Laura (given name) * Laura, the British code name for the World War I Belgian spy Marthe Cnockaert Places Australia * Laura, Queensland, a town on the Cape York Peninsula * Laura, South Australia * Laura Bay, a bay on ...
'' (1944) as Newsboy (uncredited) *'' The Enchanted Cottage'' (1945) as Soldier at Dance (uncredited) *''
The Wild One ''The Wild One'' is a 1953 American crime film directed by László Benedek and produced by Stanley Kramer. The picture is most noted for the character of Johnny Strabler, portrayed by Marlon Brando, whose persona became a cultural icon of the 1 ...
'' (1953) as Cyclist (uncredited) *''
Gypsy Colt ''Gypsy Colt'' is a 1954 American drama film directed by Andrew Marton and starring Donna Corcoran, Ward Bond and Frances Dee. Shot in Ansco Color, it was produced and distributed by Hollywood studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film's basic plot w ...
'' (1954) as Don (uncredited) *'' White Christmas'' (1954) as Andy (uncredited) (final film role)


References


Bibliography

* Holmstrom, John. ''The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995'', Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, p. 138-139. * Dye, David. ''Child and Youth Actors: Filmography of Their Entire Careers, 1914-1985''. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 1988, p. 4.


External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Albright, Wally American male child actors Male actors from Burbank, California 1925 births 1999 deaths 20th-century American male actors Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) Our Gang