Biography[]
Character: Buckwheat/Marmalarde
Birthday: March 19, 1929
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California
Date of Death: February 23, 1972
Place of Death: Los Angeles, California
First Short: Shiver My Timbers
Last Short: For Pete's Sake
Number of Shorts: 4
Year Active: 1931–1972
History: Not much is known about Carlena Beard. She is the real-life younger sister of Matthew Beard, who possibly got her in the series, and Betty Jane Beard, and the older sister of Bobbie Beard and of Rene Beard from Curley. She was first to portray a character named Buckwheat, but she was not the only Buckwheat in the series. The name was later taken over in roles played by Willie Mae Taylor and William Thomas Jr., who became best known. After Our Gang, she became a dancer and traveled for many years as a personal assistant to musician Lionel Hampton. She passed away at the age of forty-two in 1972 from a possible heart attack.
List of Shorts[]
Other Projects[]
- None known