Jay R. Smith (August 29, 1915 â€" October 5, 2002) was an American
child actor and comedian who had a brief career appearing in 17 of the
Our Gang film short series during the silent Pathé era between 1925
and 1931, where he was variously billed as "Freckles", "Pinky" and
"Specs". This series was syndicated to television as "The Little
Rascals".Smith's first film in the Our Gang series was Boys Will Be
Joys in 1925. He replaced Mickey Daniels as the freckle-faced kid and
continued until the silent era ended. He also appeared as himself in
45 Minutes From Hollywood (1926).Bowing to pressure from the studio,
Smith appeared in the sixth Our Gang talkie titled Moan and Groan,
Inc. (1929). He was dissatisfied with his performance in the film and
feared he would not have a successful career in talkies. He quit
acting in 1929.Jay R. Smith was the older brother of actor and fellow
Our Gang cast member Donnie Smith who was born as Donald R. Smith on
September 12, 1924 and appeared in 4 films in the series including
Fair and Muddy as the kid at the Orphanage (uncredited), Boxing Gloves
as Donnie, Little Mother as Beezer and Cat, Dog & Co. as Don, he is
one of the last surviving child actors of Hollywood silent film.
child actor and comedian who had a brief career appearing in 17 of the
Our Gang film short series during the silent Pathé era between 1925
and 1931, where he was variously billed as "Freckles", "Pinky" and
"Specs". This series was syndicated to television as "The Little
Rascals".Smith's first film in the Our Gang series was Boys Will Be
Joys in 1925. He replaced Mickey Daniels as the freckle-faced kid and
continued until the silent era ended. He also appeared as himself in
45 Minutes From Hollywood (1926).Bowing to pressure from the studio,
Smith appeared in the sixth Our Gang talkie titled Moan and Groan,
Inc. (1929). He was dissatisfied with his performance in the film and
feared he would not have a successful career in talkies. He quit
acting in 1929.Jay R. Smith was the older brother of actor and fellow
Our Gang cast member Donnie Smith who was born as Donald R. Smith on
September 12, 1924 and appeared in 4 films in the series including
Fair and Muddy as the kid at the Orphanage (uncredited), Boxing Gloves
as Donnie, Little Mother as Beezer and Cat, Dog & Co. as Don, he is
one of the last surviving child actors of Hollywood silent film.
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