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{{short description|American actor}}
{{Short description|American actor (1925-1981)}}
{{For|the English film actor (born 1989)|Matthew Beard (British actor)}}
{{For|the English film actor (born 1989)|Matthew Beard (British actor)}}
<noinclude>{{User:RMCD bot/subject notice|1=Stymie Beard|2=Talk:Matthew Beard (American actor)#Requested move 8 February 2021 }}
</noinclude>{{multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=December 2009}}
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{{infobox person
{{infobox person
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|death_place= Los Angeles, California, U.S.
|death_place= Los Angeles, California, U.S.
|resting_place = [[Evergreen Cemetery (Los Angeles)|Evergreen Cemetery]], Los Angeles
|resting_place = [[Evergreen Cemetery (Los Angeles)|Evergreen Cemetery]], Los Angeles
|occupation= [[Actor]], [[child actor]]
|occupation= Actor, child actor
|yearsactive= 1927–1981}}
|yearsactive= 1927–1981}}
[[File:Schools-out-our-gang-1930.jpg|thumb|270px|Matthew Beard, [[Pete the Pup]], and [[Bobby Hutchins]] in ''[[School's Out (1930 film)|School's Out]]'' (1930)]]
[[File:Schools-out-our-gang-1930.jpg|thumb|270px|Beard, [[Pete the Pup]], and [[Bobby Hutchins]] in ''[[School's Out (1930 film)|School's Out]]'' (1930)]]

'''Matthew Beard Jr.''' (January 1, 1925 – January 8, 1981) was an American [[child actor]], most famous for portraying the character of Stymie in the ''[[Our Gang]]'' [[short film]]s from 1930-35. The role was so high profile that he adopted the name '''Stymie Beard''', credited with this for some later roles, such as his 1978 appearance in ''[[The Buddy Holly Story]]''. He was a native of [[Los Angeles]], California.
'''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 '''Stymie Beard''', and was so credited in some later roles, such as his 1978 appearance in ''[[The Buddy Holly Story]]''.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Beard was born near [[Los Angeles]], [[California]] to Matthew Beard Sr. and Johnnie Mae Beard (née Clay). His father was the founding pastor of Beloved Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles.<ref>Supporting Actors in Motion Pictures: Volume II, Roger L. Gordon, Dorrance Publishing Co., 2018, p. 25</ref>

Matthew Beard Jr. was born near Los Angeles, California. His father was Matthew Beard and his mother was Johnnie Mae Beard (née Clay). His father was also the founding pastor of Beloved Church of God in Christ, in Los Angeles.<ref>Supporting Actors in Motion Pictures: Volume II, Roger L. Gordon, Dorrance Publishing Co., 2018, p. 25</ref>


==''Our Gang'' years==
==''Our Gang'' years==
{{Moresources|section|date=June 2023}}
Beard had previously played baby parts in many films before signing a five-year contract to play in ''Our Gang''. In contrast to [[Allen Hoskins|Farina]], the character he replaced, Stymie was a slick-tongued con-artist who was always self-assured, nonchalant, and ready with a sly comment as well as clever ideas to solve the problems he faced. Stymie could also offer sound, commonsense advice that helped resolve the dilemmas of his playmates. The character's trademark was a bald head crowned by an oversize [[Bowler hat|derby hat]], a gift to Beard from comedian [[Stan Laurel]], who had also worked under ''Our Gang'' creator [[Hal Roach]]. Stymie is the only ''Our Gang''er who both replaced one of the original gang members ([[Allen Hoskins|Allen "Farina" Hoskins]]) and was in turn replaced by one who would stay on until the series disbanded, [[Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas]].
Beard previously played baby parts in many films, then signed a five-year contract to play in ''Our Gang''. In contrast to [[Allen Hoskins|Farina]], the character he replaced, Stymie was a slick-tongued con-artist who was self-assured, nonchalant, and ready with a sly comment and clever ideas to solve the problems he faced. He could offer sound common sense that helped resolve his playmates' dilemmas.

The character's trademark was a bald head crowned by an oversize [[Bowler hat|derby hat]], a gift to Beard from comedian [[Stan Laurel]], who had worked under ''Our Gang'' creator [[Hal Roach]]. Stymie is the only member of ''Our Gang'' who both replaced one of the original gang members ([[Allen Hoskins|Allen "Farina" Hoskins]]) and was in turn replaced by one who stayed until the series disbanded: [[Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas]].

The character was originally to be named Hercules; however, ''Our Gang'' director [[Robert F. McGowan|Robert McGowan]], frustrated ("stymied") by little Matthew's curious wanderings around the studio, gave him the name Stymie. McGowan later recalled that Stymie was his favorite of all the ''Our Gang'' kids. The then-five-year-old Beard came to the series a year after the transition from the silent/early sound era, and had the distinction of being with the Gang from the sound movies of the early 1930s through the transitional period of the mid-1930s.


In 1934, Roach Studios loaned Beard and other Our Gang kids to [[Samuel Goldwyn Productions]] for [[Eddie Cantor]]'s ''[[Kid Millions]]'',<ref>[https://entertainment.ha.com/itm/movie-tv-memorabilia/documents/hal-roach-studios-loan-out-agreement-for-matthew-stymie-beard/a/7022-46708.s "Hal Roach Studios Loan Out Agreement for Matthew "Stymie" Beard....", Heritage Auctions, 2010]</ref> where they appeared in the "ice cream fantasy" sequence.
The name "Stymie" was provided by ''Our Gang'' director [[Robert F. McGowan|Robert McGowan]], who was always frustrated ("stymied") by little Matthew's curious wanderings around the studio; the character was originally to be named "[[Hercules]]". McGowan would later recall that Stymie was his favorite of all the ''Our Gang'' kids. The then five-year-old Beard came to the series a year after the transition from the silent/early talkie era ''[[Our Gang]]''. He had the exclusive distinction of being with the gang from "[[June Marlowe|Miss Crabtree]]" talkies of the early 1930s, through the mid-thirties transitional period, up until the era of the more familiar group of [[Spanky McFarland|Spanky]], [[Carl Switzer|Alfalfa]], and Buckwheat, who would ultimately replace Stymie in 1935.


==Family==
Beard's paycheck was used to help support his [[East Los Angeles (region)|East Los Angeles]] family, including thirteen brothers and sisters. After Beard renamed his younger brother Bobbie "Cotton" (which was also used as Bobbie's ''Our Gang'' character name), his parents allowed him to name all of the rest of his siblings as they were born. He named one "Dickie" after his best friend, child actor and ''Our Gang'' kid [[Dickie Moore (actor)|Dickie Moore]]. Four other members of the Beard family would appear in the ''Our Gang'' comedies:
Beard's paycheck helped support his family in [[East Los Angeles (region)|East Los Angeles]], including 13 brothers and sisters. After Beard renamed his younger brother Bobbie "Cotton" (which was used as the name of one of the ''Our Gang'' characters), his parents allowed him to name all of the rest of his siblings as they were born. He named one Dickie after [[Dickie Moore (actor)|Dickie Moore]], another member of ''Our Gang''. Four other members of the Beard family appeared in the ''Our Gang'' comedies:
*His younger sister Betty Jane Beard preceded Stymie in the gang, playing Farina's little brother Hector in ''[[Moan & Groan, Inc.]]'' and ''[[When the Wind Blows (1930 film)|When the Wind Blows]]'' (even though she was a girl).
* His younger sister Betty Jane Beard preceded Stymie in the gang, playing Farina's little brother Hector in ''[[Moan & Groan, Inc.]]'' and ''[[When the Wind Blows (1930 film)|When the Wind Blows]]'' (even though she was a girl).
*His younger sister Carlena Beard appeared as Stymie's younger sister in ''[[Shiver My Timbers]]'', ''[[Readin' and Writin']]'', and ''[[For Pete's Sake!]]'' She did not appear in ''The First Round-Up''. Willie Mae Taylor played "Buckwheat", a role which would eventually be converted to a male character and given to Billie Thomas.
*His younger brother [[Bobbie Beard]] appeared in six ''Our Gang'' shorts from 1932 to 1934 as Stymie's younger brother, "Cotton."
* His younger sister Carlena Beard appeared as Stymie's younger sister in ''[[Shiver My Timbers]]'', ''[[Readin' and Writin']]'', and ''[[For Pete's Sake!]]''.
* His younger brother [[Bobbie Beard]] appeared in six ''Our Gang'' shorts from 1932 to 1934 as Stymie's younger brother Cotton.
*His mother, Johnnie Mae Beard, has a cameo as Stymie's mother in ''[[Big Ears (film)|Big Ears]]'' and ''[[Free Wheeling]]''.
* His mother Johnnie Mae Beard had a cameo as Stymie's mother in ''[[Big Ears (film)|Big Ears]]'' and ''[[Free Wheeling]]''.


Beard's younger brother Renee Beard would appear in [[Hal Roach]]'s ''[[Our Gang]]''-derived featurettes of the 1940s: ''[[Curley (1947 film)|Curley]]'' and ''[[Who Killed Doc Robbin]]''.
Beard's younger brother, Renee Beard, appeared in [[Hal Roach]]'s featurettes of the 1940s, ''[[Curley (1947 film)|Curley]]'' and ''[[Who Killed Doc Robbin]]''.


==Later years==
==Later years==
After Beard left the series in 1935 at the age of ten, he went on to score some minor roles in feature films, such as ''[[Captain Blood (1935 film)|Captain Blood]]'' (1935) starring [[Errol Flynn]] and ''[[Jezebel (1938 film)|Jezebel]]'' (1938) with [[Bette Davis]]. At the age of 15 he made an appearance and was credited as "[[Mose]]" the bellboy in the 1940 [[Fritz Lang]] directed ''[[The Return of Frank James]]'' with [[Henry Fonda]] and fellow child star (and ''[[Our Gang]]'' alumnus) [[Jackie Cooper]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032983/fullcredits|title=The Return of Frank James (1940)|publisher=|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref> By the time he was in high school, he had retired from acting.
After Beard left the series in 1935 at the age of 10, he acted in minor roles in feature films such as ''[[Captain Blood (1935 film)|Captain Blood]]'' (1935) and ''[[Jezebel (1938 film)|Jezebel]]'' (1938). At age 15, he appeared as [[Mose]] the bellboy in the 1940 ''[[The Return of Frank James]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032983/fullcredits|title=The Return of Frank James (1940)|publisher=|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref> By the time he was in high school, he had retired from acting.


Falling into drug use and street life, Beard became addicted to [[heroin]]. He spent most of his early adult life in and out of jail on drug and theft charges.<ref name=imdb_bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdc.com/name/nm0063915/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211235934/http://www.imdc.com/name/nm0063915/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2019-12-11|title=Matthew 'Stymie' Beard - Biography - IMDb<!-- Bot generated title -->|publisher=}}</ref>
Falling into drug use and street life, Beard became addicted to heroin. He spent most of his early adult life in and out of jail on drug and theft charges.<ref name=imdb_bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdc.com/name/nm0063915/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211235934/http://www.imdc.com/name/nm0063915/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2019-12-11|title=Matthew 'Stymie' Beard - Biography - IMDb<!-- Bot generated title -->|publisher=}}</ref>


In the 1960s, he checked himself into [[Synanon]], a drug rehabilitation facility in [[Los Angeles]], and successfully ended his heroin use.<ref name=imdb_bio/> After leaving Synanon, he made a small comeback, appearing in small roles in feature films and episodes of television shows such as ''[[Sanford and Son]]'' and ''[[The Jeffersons]]'' as a guest star (including two episodes of ''Maude'' as a resident of an apartment complex where the title character's husband temporarily lived)<ref name=imdb_rolls>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0063915/|title=Matthew 'Stymie' Beard|website=IMDb}}</ref> and ''[[Good Times]]'' where he had a recurring role (1974-1977) as "Monty".<ref name=imdb_rolls/>
In the 1960s, he checked himself into [[Synanon]], a drug rehabilitation facility and cult in Los Angeles and successfully ended his heroin use.<ref name=imdb_bio/> After leaving Synanon, he made a small comeback, appearing in small roles in feature films and guest-starring in episodes of television shows such as ''[[Sanford and Son]]'', ''[[Emergency!]]'', and ''[[The Jeffersons]]''. He appeared in episodes of ''[[Maude (TV series)|Maude]]'' as a resident of an apartment complex where the title character's husband temporarily lived,<ref name=imdb_rolls>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0063915/|title=Matthew 'Stymie' Beard|website=IMDb}}</ref> and on ''[[Good Times]]'', where he had a recurring role (1974–1977) as Monty.<ref name=imdb_rolls/>


In 1978, he appeared in the film ''[[The Buddy Holly Story]]'' as a member of the backstage crew at the Apollo Theatre, wearing his trademark bowler hat.<ref name=imdb_rolls/>
In 1978, he appeared in the film ''[[The Buddy Holly Story]]'' as a member of the backstage crew at the Apollo Theatre, wearing his trademark bowler hat.<ref name=imdb_rolls/>


Beard traveled around the country, giving lectures on drug-abuse awareness.<ref name=imdb_bio/>
He also lectured around the United States on drug-abuse awareness.<ref name=imdb_bio/>


==Death==
==Death==
Beard suffered a [[stroke]] on January 3, 1981 (two days after his 56th birthday), sustained head injuries from falling down a flight of stairs, and died of [[pneumonia]] on January 8, 1981. He was residing in [[Los Angeles]], California, at the time of his death.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Death of child actor Matthew 'Stymie' Beard, Jr... - RareNewspapers.com|url=https://www.rarenewspapers.com/view/654544|access-date=2021-02-06|website=www.rarenewspapers.com}}</ref>
Beard suffered a stroke on January 3, 1981, two days after his 56th birthday, sustained head injuries from falling down a flight of stairs, and died of pneumonia on January 8, 1981. He was living in Los Angeles at the time.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Death of child actor Matthew 'Stymie' Beard, Jr... - RareNewspapers.com|url=https://www.rarenewspapers.com/view/654544|access-date=2021-02-06|website=www.rarenewspapers.com}}</ref>


He is interred in the [[Evergreen Cemetery (Los Angeles)|Evergreen Cemetery]], Los Angeles. He was buried with the famous derby hat he wore all his life, from his Stymie days.
He is interred in the [[Evergreen Cemetery (Los Angeles)|Evergreen Cemetery]] in Los Angeles, buried with the famous derby he wore all his life.


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
Line 106: Line 107:
|1939|| ''[[Way Down South (film)|Way Down South]]'' || Gumbo ||
|1939|| ''[[Way Down South (film)|Way Down South]]'' || Gumbo ||
|-
|-
|1939|| ''[[Swanee River (film)|Swanee River]]'' || Negro Boy || Uncredited
|1939|| ''[[Swanee River (1939 film)|Swanee River]]'' || Black Boy || Uncredited
|-
|-
|1940|| ''[[The Return of Frank James]]'' || Mose ||
|1940|| ''[[The Return of Frank James]]'' || Mose ||
Line 127: Line 128:
|-
|-
|1974|| ''[[Truck Turner]]'' || Jail Guard ||
|1974|| ''[[Truck Turner]]'' || Jail Guard ||
|-
|1974|| ''[[Good Times]]'' || Monty ||
|-
|1976|| ''[[Emergency!]]'' || Bar Owner ||
|-
|-
|1977|| ''Disco 9000'' || Harold Jackson ||
|1977|| ''Disco 9000'' || Harold Jackson ||
Line 136: Line 141:


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
The book series ''[[Captain Underpants]]'' has one of the kids named [[Captain Underpants|George Beard]]. The author [[Dav Pilkey]] loved ''Our Gang'', so he named the said character's last name after Beard.

The book series [[Captain Underpants]] has one of the kids named [[Captain Underpants|George Beard]]. The author, [[Dav Pilkey]], loved Our Gang growing up, so he named the said character’s last name after Beard.


== References ==
== References ==
<references />
<references />


==Further reading==
==Additional reading==
* Holmstrom, John. ''The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995'', Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, p.&nbsp;132.
* Holmstrom, John. ''The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995'', Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, p.&nbsp;132.
* Dye, David. ''Child and Youth Actors: Filmography of Their Entire Careers, 1914-1985''. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 1988, pp.&nbsp;13–14.
* Dye, David. ''Child and Youth Actors: Filmography of Their Entire Careers, 1914-1985''. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 1988, pp.&nbsp;13–14.
Line 169: Line 173:
[[Category:1925 births]]
[[Category:1925 births]]
[[Category:1981 deaths]]
[[Category:1981 deaths]]
[[Category:African-American male actors]]
[[Category:American male child actors]]
[[Category:American male child actors]]
[[Category:African-American male child actors]]
[[Category:African-American male child actors]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American male actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:Deaths from pneumonia]]
[[Category:Deaths from pneumonia in California]]
[[Category:Hal Roach Studios actors]]
[[Category:Hal Roach Studios actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:Burials at Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Burials at Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles]]
[[Category:American male comedy actors]]
[[Category:Our Gang]]
[[Category:Our Gang]]
[[Category:Infectious disease deaths in California]]

Latest revision as of 21:45, 19 October 2024

Matthew Beard
Beard as "Stymie" in School's Out
Born
Matthew Beard Jr.

(1925-01-01)January 1, 1925
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedJanuary 8, 1981(1981-01-08) (aged 56)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeEvergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles
Occupation(s)Actor, child actor
Years active1927–1981
Beard, Pete the Pup, and Bobby Hutchins in School's Out (1930)

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 Stymie Beard, and was so credited in some later roles, such as his 1978 appearance in The Buddy Holly Story.

Early life

[edit]

Beard was born near Los Angeles, California to Matthew Beard Sr. and Johnnie Mae Beard (née Clay). His father was the founding pastor of Beloved Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles.[1]

Our Gang years

[edit]

Beard previously played baby parts in many films, then signed a five-year contract to play in Our Gang. In contrast to Farina, the character he replaced, Stymie was a slick-tongued con-artist who was self-assured, nonchalant, and ready with a sly comment and clever ideas to solve the problems he faced. He could offer sound common sense that helped resolve his playmates' dilemmas.

The character's trademark was a bald head crowned by an oversize derby hat, a gift to Beard from comedian Stan Laurel, who had worked under Our Gang creator Hal Roach. Stymie is the only member of Our Gang who both replaced one of the original gang members (Allen "Farina" Hoskins) and was in turn replaced by one who stayed until the series disbanded: Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas.

The character was originally to be named Hercules; however, Our Gang director Robert McGowan, frustrated ("stymied") by little Matthew's curious wanderings around the studio, gave him the name Stymie. McGowan later recalled that Stymie was his favorite of all the Our Gang kids. The then-five-year-old Beard came to the series a year after the transition from the silent/early sound era, and had the distinction of being with the Gang from the sound movies of the early 1930s through the transitional period of the mid-1930s.

In 1934, Roach Studios loaned Beard and other Our Gang kids to Samuel Goldwyn Productions for Eddie Cantor's Kid Millions,[2] where they appeared in the "ice cream fantasy" sequence.

Family

[edit]

Beard's paycheck helped support his family in East Los Angeles, including 13 brothers and sisters. After Beard renamed his younger brother Bobbie "Cotton" (which was used as the name of one of the Our Gang characters), his parents allowed him to name all of the rest of his siblings as they were born. He named one Dickie after Dickie Moore, another member of Our Gang. Four other members of the Beard family appeared in the Our Gang comedies:

Beard's younger brother, Renee Beard, appeared in Hal Roach's featurettes of the 1940s, Curley and Who Killed Doc Robbin.

Later years

[edit]

After Beard left the series in 1935 at the age of 10, he acted in minor roles in feature films such as Captain Blood (1935) and Jezebel (1938). At age 15, he appeared as Mose the bellboy in the 1940 The Return of Frank James.[3] By the time he was in high school, he had retired from acting.

Falling into drug use and street life, Beard became addicted to heroin. He spent most of his early adult life in and out of jail on drug and theft charges.[4]

In the 1960s, he checked himself into Synanon, a drug rehabilitation facility and cult in Los Angeles and successfully ended his heroin use.[4] After leaving Synanon, he made a small comeback, appearing in small roles in feature films and guest-starring in episodes of television shows such as Sanford and Son, Emergency!, and The Jeffersons. He appeared in episodes of Maude as a resident of an apartment complex where the title character's husband temporarily lived,[5] and on Good Times, where he had a recurring role (1974–1977) as Monty.[5]

In 1978, he appeared in the film The Buddy Holly Story as a member of the backstage crew at the Apollo Theatre, wearing his trademark bowler hat.[5]

He also lectured around the United States on drug-abuse awareness.[4]

Death

[edit]

Beard suffered a stroke on January 3, 1981, two days after his 56th birthday, sustained head injuries from falling down a flight of stairs, and died of pneumonia on January 8, 1981. He was living in Los Angeles at the time.[6]

He is interred in the Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles, buried with the famous derby he wore all his life.

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1927 My Best Girl Child Uncredited
1927 Uncle Tom's Cabin Child Uncredited
1929 Hearts in Dixie Child Uncredited
1929 Show Boat Child Uncredited
1929 Hallelujah Child Uncredited
1930 Mamba Native Boy Uncredited
1934 Kid Millions Little Boy in Ice Cream Number Uncredited
1935 Captain Blood Governor's Attendant Uncredited
1935 The Littlest Rebel Black Boy Uncredited
1936 The Prisoner of Shark Island Boy Seeking Dr. Mudd Uncredited
1936 Grand Jury Marshmallow Uncredited
1936 Rainbow on the River Lilybell Jones Uncredited
1937 Penrod and Sam Buzz Uncredited
1937 Slave Ship Black Boy on Pier Uncredited
1938 Jezebel Ti Bat
1938 The Beloved Brat Pinkie White
1938 Two-Gun Man from Harlem Jimmy Thompson
1938 Kentucky Black Child Uncredited
1939 The Great Man Votes Davy's Friend Uncredited
1939 Outside These Walls Penny Uncredited
1939 Way Down South Gumbo
1939 Swanee River Black Boy Uncredited
1940 The Return of Frank James Mose
1941 Belle Starr Young Jake Uncredited
1942 Broken Strings Dickey Morley
1943 Stormy Weather Stagehand Uncredited
1944 The Bridge of San Luis Rey Pancho Uncredited
1945 Fallen Angel Shoeshine Boy Uncredited
1947 Dead Reckoning Bellboy Uncredited
1947 The Burning Cross Shoe Shine Boy Uncredited
1953 The Vanquished Dr. Colfax's Stableboy Uncredited
1974 Truck Turner Jail Guard
1974 Good Times Monty
1976 Emergency! Bar Owner
1977 Disco 9000 Harold Jackson
1978 The Buddy Holly Story Luther
1980 Pray TV Willie Washington, Usher

Legacy

[edit]

The book series Captain Underpants has one of the kids named George Beard. The author Dav Pilkey loved Our Gang, so he named the said character's last name after Beard.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Supporting Actors in Motion Pictures: Volume II, Roger L. Gordon, Dorrance Publishing Co., 2018, p. 25
  2. ^ "Hal Roach Studios Loan Out Agreement for Matthew "Stymie" Beard....", Heritage Auctions, 2010
  3. ^ "The Return of Frank James (1940)" – via www.imdb.com.
  4. ^ a b c "Matthew 'Stymie' Beard - Biography - IMDb". Archived from the original on 2019-12-11.
  5. ^ a b c "Matthew 'Stymie' Beard". IMDb.
  6. ^ "Death of child actor Matthew 'Stymie' Beard, Jr... - RareNewspapers.com". www.rarenewspapers.com. Retrieved 2021-02-06.

Additional reading

[edit]
  • Holmstrom, John. The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995, Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, p. 132.
  • Dye, David. Child and Youth Actors: Filmography of Their Entire Careers, 1914-1985. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 1988, pp. 13–14.
  • Willson, Dixie. Little Hollywood Stars, Akron, OH, and New York: Saalfield Pub. Co., 1935.
[edit]
Preceded by Our Gang
1930–1935
Succeeded by