Sidney Henry Kibrick (born July 2, 1928) is an American former child actor primarily of the 1930s, most notable for appearing in the Our Gang short subjects film series, featuring in more than two dozen, between 1933 and 1939.[1]

Sidney Kibrick
Born
Sidney Henry Kibrick

(1928-07-02) July 2, 1928 (age 96)
OccupationFormer film child actor
Years active1933–1943
Known forOur Gang short subjects film series
FamilyLeonard Kibrick (brother)

Biography

edit

Early life

edit

Kibrick was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA on July 2, 1928; his brother was actor and fellow Our Gang cast member Leonard Kibrick.[2] He attended Mount Vernon Junior High and the University of Southern California.[3]

Our Gang (film shorts)

edit

Kibrick's family relocated to Los Angeles when he was five and he was discovered at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre with his mother, where the film producer was scouting for children to appear in the "Our Gang" film short subjects, which were created by Hal Roach. Kibrick initially featured in a brief non-dialogue appearance as an extra in the feature film Dead End, and was observed as one of three or so children huddled together during one of the river dock scenes. He made his uncredited film debut in Out all Night (1933), and after a few more uncredited roles was cast as a regular in 1935. Although his character was then unnamed, from 1937 to 1939 he was given the character name of "Woim" (a Brooklyn accent vernacular pronunciation of "worm"),[4] who was the sidekick of the neighborhood bully "Butch", played by Tommy Bond.

Post-Our Gang

edit

Kibrick, after leaving his Hollywood showbiz career behind, worked as a real estate developer.[5] He kept in touch with Our Gang members at reunions, some of which he used to host.[6] In 1991, he acknowledged that he had avoided the tragic lives that former child actors often ended up having as adults.[7] In 2022, he attended an exhibit at the Hollywood Museum, honoring the 100th anniversary of the series and, as of August 2023 at the age of 95, is cited as the last surviving Our Gang cast member.[4]

Filmography

edit
Year Title Role
1933 Out All Night Litte Boy (uncredited)
1933 The Kid's Last Fight (film short) Thug (uncredited)
1933 The Bowery Little boy on pier eating sandwich (uncredited)
1933 Allez Oop (film short) Boy watching Buster (uncredited)
1934 Tomorrow's Youth Boy waiting to play Baseball (uncredited)
1935 Anniversary Trouble (film short) As Our Gang
1935 Beginner's Luck (film short) Our Gang Member (credited as Our Gang)
1935 Little Papa (film short) Our Gang Member
1935 Little Sinner (film Short) Our Gang Member (as Our Gang)
1935 Our Gang Follies of 1936 (film short) Our Gang Member (as Our Gang)
1935 Babes in Hollywood ( film short) Boy (uncredited)
1936 The Pinch Singer (film short) Our Gang Member, (as Our Gang)
1936 The Peppery Salt (film short) Boy (uncredited)
1936 Bored of Education (film short) Student
1936 Two Too Young (film short) Student
1936 Pay As You Exit (film short) Audience Member
1937 Reunion in Rhythm (film short) Our Gang Member
1937 The Great O'Malley Street Kid (uncredited)
1937 Glove Taps (film short) Woim
1937 Hearts Are Thumps (film short) Woim
1937 Rushin' Ballet (film short) Woim (as Our Gang)
1937 Dead End Boy (uncredited)
1937 Fishy Tales (film short) Woim (as Our Gang)
1937 The Pigskin Palooka (film short) Woim (as Our Gang)
1937 Nothing Sacred Boy Chorister with Squirrel
1938 Rawtide (film short) Boy playing Baseball
1938 Came the Brawn (film short) Woim (as Our Gang)
1938 The Little Ranger (film short) Woim (as Our Gang)
1938 Party Fever (film short) Woim (as Our Gang)
1938 Just Around the Corner Gang Member (uncredited)
1938 Football Romeo (film short) The Woim
1938 Practical Jokers (film short) Woim
1939 Jesse James Boy (uncredited)
1939 Duel Personalities (film short) Woim
1939 Cousin Wilbur (film short) Woim (as Our Gang member)
1939 Baby Daze (film short) Neighbor, Boy wearing a Fedora (uncredited)
1939 The Jones Family in Hollywood Young Boy (uncredited)
1939 Dog Daze (film short) Woim (as Our Gang)
1939 Auto Antics (film short) Woim (as Our Gang)
1939 Captain Spanky's Show Boat (film short) Woim (uncredited)
1939 Time Out for Lessons (film short) Football Player
1940 Music in My Heart Boy (uncredited)
1940 Pier 13 Boy Catcher
1940 Spring Parade Boy (uncredited)
1940 Little Man Young Danny (uncredited)
1942 The Man Who Returned to Life Newsboy (uncredited)
1942 Flight Lieutenant Pudgy (uncredited)
1943 Keep 'Em Slugging Kid at Meeting (uncredited)

References

edit
  1. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (2017-07-27). "Leonard Landy, 'Our Gang' Actor, Dies at 84". Variety. Archived from the original on April 17, 2022. Retrieved 2020-07-04.
  2. ^ "Sidney Kibrick". Lord Heath. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Hollywood Stars Visit Clear Lake Celebration". Globe Gazette. July 5, 1941. p. 1. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Nick Thomas. "Sidney Kibrick remembers 'Our Gang'". Boomer Magazine.
  5. ^ "Grand opening scheduled today at Desert Shadows resort near Palm Springs". Los Angeles Times. October 20, 1984. p. 266. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  6. ^ "Little Rascals 50th reunion planned at Desert Shadows". The Desert Sun. December 13, 1985. p. 23. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  7. ^ "Child stars on the brink". Chillicothe Gazette. April 22, 1991. p. 9. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
edit