Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer

Carl Switzer
Switzer in Our Gang Follies of 1938
Born	Carl Dean Switzer (1927-08-07)August 7, 1927 Paris, Illinois, U.S.
Died	January 21, 1959(1959-01-21) (aged 31) Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Cause of death	Homicide by gunshot wound
Resting place	Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Los Angeles, California
Other names	Alfalfa Switzer
Occupations	Singer child actor dog breeder guide
Years active	1935–1959
Spouse	Dian Collingwood ​ ​ (m. 1954; div. 1957)​
Children	1
Relatives	Harold "Slim" Switzer (brother)

Carl Dean Switzer (August 8, 1927^[1] – January 21, 1959) was an American child actor, comic singer, dog breeder, and guide. He was best known for his role as Alfalfa in the short subjects series Our Gang.

Switzer began his career as a child actor in the mid-1930s appearing in the Our Gang short subjects series as Alfalfa, one of the series' most popular and best-remembered characters. After leaving the series in 1940, Switzer struggled to find substantial roles owing to typecasting. As an adult, he appeared mainly in bit parts and B-movies. He later became a dog breeder and hunting guide.

Switzer was married to Diantha Collingwood in 1954 and had a son named Justin. He was shot and killed by Moses "Bud" Stiltz in 1959 due to a disagreement regarding a business arrangement.