Stymie from Our Gang appeared in episodes of Good Times and Sanford and Son as an adult

Our Gang actor was talented

Matthew "Stymie" Beard Jr. was a popular and talented child actor who starred on Our Gang for five years from the age of six until he was 10 before he aged out. The series name was later switched to The Little Rascals. Beard replaced Alvin "Farina" Haskins, who had aged out, and Billy "Buckwheat" Thomas later replaced him.

Stymie was considered cool and knew how to run the game and con his way into, or out of, just about anything. It was always fun to hear his mother yell for him Styyyyy-meee when he was enjoying himself with his friends.

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 white playmates.

Matthew Beard had a rough home life

Matthew was born on January 1, 1925. He grew up in LA, where he had a tough home life and was surrounded by negative influences. This was not evident when the cameras were rolling, as he always came across a happy child.

Stymie became addicted to drugs at a young age and continued to struggle with substance use for most of his life. Hal Roach once said that the children in his shows were the breadwinners in their families, which could be a source of stress.

In interviews, Beard said he had fun on Our Gang and did not deal with the stress of acting. Stymie was bald and wore an oversized derby hat, given to him by comedian Stan Laurel, who also worked under Our Gang creator Hal Roach on The Laurel and Hardy Show. Laurel's character also wore a derby hat.

Stymie made us laugh

Stymie had a quick wit and was known for widening his eyes and smiling with a gleeful expression. In one Our Gang short, Stymie put on the waterworks when he thought his dog Petey had been gassed to death.

The children in Our Gang and The Little Rascals were talented, and each had a unique personality that fans fell in love with. These kids were so professional that they did not learn scripts. Roach and his team instructed the children on what was expected in the scenes, and they improvised. They made money by being themselves and having fun.

It was Roach who nicknamed Matthew "Stymie" because he was stymied by the child's ability to wander throughout the studio. Beard continued acting after Our Gang and appeared in films such as Jezebel, Captain Blood, The Return of Frank James, and The Buddy Holly Story in 1978.

Good Times and Sanford and Son

In 1974, he appeared as Monty in the Good Times Episode Too Old Blues when James Evans Sr. (John Amos). y. Fans may recall that Monty was also in the episode The Big Move 2 after James's funeral.

Beard also appeared in three episodes of Sanford and Son as Otis Littlejohn, a friend of Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) and Grady Wilson (Whitman Mayo).

Matthew Beard Jr. entertained fans as the adorable Stymie and retained a friendship with cast member Darla Hood into adulthood. Sadly, two days after his 56th birthday, Stymie Beard had a stroke. He fell and sustained head injuries and died of pneumonia a few days later on January 8, 1981.

Stymie Beard left a legacy from Our Gang and his appearances on Good Times and Sanford and Son keep his memory alive for those who enjoyed his work.