| Norman Chaney | |
|---|---|
Chaney as Chubby in School's Out |
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| Born | Norman Myers Chaney November 1, 1914 Baltimore, Maryland U.S. |
| Died | May 29, 1936 (aged 21)[1][2][3][4] Baltimore, Maryland U.S. |
| Cause of death | glandular ailment |
| Occupation | Film actor |
| Years active | 1929-1931 |
Norman Myers Chaney (November 1, 1914 – May 29, 1936) was an American child actor, notable for appearing in the Our Gang comedies as "Chubby" from 1929 to 1931.
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According to some sources, Chaney was born on November 1, 1914 in Baltimore, Maryland, while according to "The Little Rascals, The Life & Times of Our Gang" written by Leonard Maltin and Richard W. Bann, he was born in 1918. He became a member of Our Gang at the dawn of the sound era. He relied on an affable personality, a flair for funny dialogue, and a priceless frown of frustration that seemed to swallow up his whole moon face. In fall 1928, Our Gang producer Hal Roach and director Robert F. McGowan began to look for an overweight child actor to replace Joe Cobb in the popular film series. Cobb was twelve years old, and the series was about to transition to sound. Roach and McGowan held a nationwide contest to find a replacement for Cobb. Chaney won this contest in early 1929 and was offered a two year contract. "He adapted gracefully, and we all liked him, he was a nice fellow," said McGowan of Chaney.[4] The roly-poly youngster's stay with the series was destined to be brief, but he still made a memorable impression on generations of fans. He was taught the expression of the "slow burn" by the comedian Edgar Kennedy.
At the time, Chaney was only 3' 11" and weighed about 113 pounds. He was nicknamed "Chubby" for the series and made his debut in the second sound entry, Railroadin', appearing in two years' worth of Our Gang films, including shorts such as Boxing Gloves and Teacher's Pet. Norman Chaney and Joe Cobb appeared in three shorts together. Chubby's meatiest moments are in Love Business, in which he competed with Jackie Cooper for the affections of their teacher, Miss Crabtree (bringing her flowers and candy, he coyly proposes, "Don't call me Norman, call me 'Chubsy-Ubsy'").
By spring 1931, Chaney was getting taller and increasingly heavier. He finished out the 1930-31 season without being offered another contract. Both Chaney and his parents decided he would not pursue acting following his final Our Gang short, Fly My Kite (1931). Jackie Cooper, who had been in the series for about as long as Chaney, also departed Our Gang in early 1931, as did Mary Ann Jackson, a holdover from the silent era, and stalwart kid Allen Hoskins, a member of the original 1922 cast.
After leaving the series, Chaney returned to his native Baltimore and attended public school, where he excelled in his studies. He continued to gain weight and eventually topped 300 lb (140 kg), though he never grew beyond 4 ft 7 in (1.4 m). His weight continued to increase, and it was discovered that he had a glandular ailment. In 1935, Chaney underwent treatment for the ailment at Johns Hopkins Hospital; his weight then dropped from over 300 lb (140 kg) to less than 140 lb (64 kg).
Chaney became seriously ill afterward and died on May 29, 1936 at age 21. At the time of his death, Chaney weighed 110 lb (50 kg). He was the first of the regular Our Gang alumni to die and the only one not to live to see the end of the series in 1944.
Chaney is buried in an unmarked grave in Section 'E' of Baltimore Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland.
