George 'Spanky' McFarland

Although his name has sometimes been misspelled in older credits as "McFarlane", George is not related to the creator of the television series Family Guy (1999), who uses that particular spelling of his last name.

He was posthumously awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7095 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 1, 1994.

Final onscreen appearance was as himself in the cold open of the "Cheers" (1982) episode "Woody Gets an Election" (1993, season 11, episode 21).

1960 American pop group Spanky and Our Gang named themselves after McFarland's character because of the similarity of lead singer Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane's surname.

From 1955 to 1960, he created and hosted his own daily children's wraparound show, "The Spanky Show", which aired on KOTV (The Tulsa, Oklahoma affiliate of the CBS TV network). Set against the backdrop of a makeshift kids' clubhouse, Spanky entertained and informed his studio audiences and the viewers at home with games, stories, craftmaking, hobbies, comedy skits, informational segments, and interviews with guest performers, personalities, and the children in the studio audience in between the reruns of "The Little Rascals" film comedies.

Served in the United States Air Force at age 24 (1952).

He was an actor, known for Bedtime Worries (1933), Beginner's Luck (1935) and General Spanky (1936). He was married to Doris and Paula Jeanne Wilkinson.

Was the only Our Ganger to ever receive on-screen and poster billing. He received on-screen billing in Choo-Choo! (1932) and The Pooch (1932), and most Our Gang posters during the mid-1930s were billed: "Our Gang, featuring 'Spanky' McFarland, in..."

During final contract disputes between Hal Roach and Stan Laurel in the mid-1930s, a press release was issued that Oliver Hardy, Patsy Kelly and Spanky McFarland were to star together in 'The Hardy Family' series to be directed by James W. Horne with the first to be 'Their Night Out'.

George 'Spanky' McFarland was born on October 2, 1928 in Dallas, Texas, USA as George Robert Phillips McFarland.