---
name: "Carl Switzer"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/carl-switzer"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "7 August 1927"
died: "21 January 1959"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 1
updated: "2026-09-20T03:25:22.313903+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Carl Switzer

Actor. Born 7 August 1927 in Paris, Illinois, USA. Died 21 January 1959.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 7 August 1927, Paris, Illinois, USA
- **Died:** 21 January 1959
- **Also known as:** Carl Dean Switzer, Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer, Alfalfa, Alfalfa Switser, 'Alfalfa' Switzer, Alfalfa Switzer, Alfy Switzer, Our Gang
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 4: 1 acting, 3 other
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1940s 73 (3), 1950s 74 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_%22Alfalfa%22_Switzer, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1040783, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842813/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/941239

## Streaming the US now

- **The Roku Channel:** [*The Defiant Ones*](https://film.one/film/the-defiant-ones.md) (74)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Carl Switzer was an American actor best known for his role as Alfalfa in the *Our Gang* comedy short subjects produced by Hal Roach Studios. Born Carl Dean Switzer on 7 August 1927 in Paris, Illinois, he joined the series in 1935 and appeared in more than sixty shorts before leaving in 1940.

After outgrowing child roles, Switzer continued in feature films, often in uncredited or supporting parts. Notable credits include *Going My Way* (1944), *It's a Wonderful Life* (1946), *The High and the Mighty* (1954), *White Christmas* (1954) and *The Ten Commandments* (1956). His final film appearance was as Angus in *The Defiant Ones* (1958). He also worked as a dog breeder and hunting guide. Switzer died on 21 January 1959 in Mission Hills, California.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, tcm.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

### Performed in (1) — the average rests on these

- *The Defiant Ones* (1958), Fi1m 74, as Angus — [page](https://film.one/film/the-defiant-ones.md)

### Also credited (3) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *A Letter to Three Wives* (1949), Fi1m 79, as Leo, Second Messenger (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/a-letter-to-three-wives.md)
- *Going My Way* (1944), Fi1m 74, as Herman Langerhanke (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/going-my-way.md)
- *The Human Comedy* (1943), Fi1m 66, as Auggie (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-human-comedy.md)

## Complete filmography (136)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Little Rascals - The ClassicFlix Restorations, Volume 6* (2022), Actor
- *The Little Rascals - The ClassicFlix Restorations, Volume 5* (2022), Actor
- *The Best of The Little Rascals in 3D* (2012), as Alfalfa
- *The Little Rascals: Scary Spooktacular* (2011), as Alfalfa (archive footage)
- *Our Gang - Comedy Festival* (2001), as Alfalfa
- *The Our Gang Story* (1994), as Alfalfa (archive footage)
- *Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies* (1988), as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Classic Comedy Teams* (1986), as Alfalfa (segment "Our Gang") (archive footage)
- *Going Hollywood: The '30s* (1984), as (archive footage)
- *Rascal Dazzle* (1981), as Alfalfa (archive footage)
- *The Defiant Ones* (1958), as Angus — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-defiant-ones.md)
- *Motorcycle Gang* (1957), as Speed
- *Between Heaven and Hell* (1956), as Savage
- *The Ten Commandments* (1956), as Slave (uncredited) — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/the-ten-commandments.md)
- *Dig That Uranium* (1955), as Shifty Robertson
- *Francis in the Navy* (1955), as Timekeeper (uncredited)
- *Track of the Cat* (1954), as Joe Sam
- *This Is My Love* (1954), as Customer
- *White Christmas* (1954), as Bennie Haynes (uncredited)
- *The High and the Mighty* (1954), as Ensign Keim
- *Flight Nurse* (1953), as Soldier with Wounded Arm
- *Island in the Sky* (1953), as Sonny Hopper
- *The WAC from Walla Walla* (1952), as Pvt. Cronkheit (uncredited)
- *I Dream of Jeanie* (1952), as Freddie (as Carl Dean Switzer)
- *Pat and Mike* (1952), as Bus Boy
- *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, Actor
- *Here Comes the Groom* (1951), as Messenger (uncredited)
- *Two Dollar Bettor* (1951), as Chuck Nordlinger
- *Cause for Alarm!* (1951), as Guy with Tex
- *Lux Video Theatre* (1950), series, as Mailer
- *Redwood Forest Trail* (1950), as Alfie
- *House by the River* (1950), as Walter Herbert, office boy
- *Alias the Champ* (1949), as Newsboy (uncredited)
- *A Letter to Three Wives* (1949), as Leo, Second Messenger (uncredited) — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/a-letter-to-three-wives.md)
- *Big Town Scandal* (1948), as Frankie Snead
- *State of the Union* (1948), as Bellboy
- *On Our Merry Way* (1948), as Leopold 'Zoot' Wirtz
- *Driftwood* (1947), as Messenger boy
- *The Gas House Kids in Hollywood* (1947), as Alfalfa
- *Gas House Kids Go West* (1947), as Alfalfa
- *It's a Wonderful Life* (1946), as Freddie Othello (uncredited) — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/its-a-wonderful-life.md)
- *Courage of Lassie* (1946), as First Youth
- *Gas House Kids* (1946), as Sammy Levine
- *Primary Flight Training: Before You Fly* (1945), as Mac
- *Primary Flight Training: Keep It Flying, Part 2* (1945), as Cadet Sylvester McDribble
- *She Wouldn't Say Yes* (1945), as Delivery Boy (uncredited)
- *Man Alive* (1945), as Ignatius Lafferty (uncredited)
- *Primary Flight Training: Taxiing and Take-offs* (1945), as Cadet Sylvester McDribble
- *Together Again* (1944), as Elevator Boy (uncredited)
- *The Great Mike* (1944), as Speck
- *Rosie the Riveter* (1944), as Buzz Prouty
- *Going My Way* (1944), as Herman Langerhanke (uncredited) — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/going-my-way.md)
- *Dixie* (1943), as Boy in Street (uncredited)
- *Shantytown* (1943), as Bindy
- *The Human Comedy* (1943), as Auggie (uncredited) — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/the-human-comedy.md)
- *Johnny Doughboy* (1942), as Alfalfa
- *Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch* (1942), as Billy Wiggs
- *The War Against Mrs. Hadley* (1942), as Telegram Delivery Boy
- *There's One Born Every Minute* (1942), as Junior Twine
- *Henry and Dizzy* (1942), as Billy Weeks
- *My Favorite Blonde* (1942), as Frederick (uncredited)
- *Reg'lar Fellers* (1941), as Bump Hudson
- *Kiddie Kure* (1940), as Alfalfa
- *Goin' Fishin'* (1940), as Alfalfa
- *Waldo's Last Stand* (1940), as Alfalfa
- *Barnyard Follies* (1940), as Alfalfa
- *Good Bad Boys* (1940), as Alfalfa
- *I Love You Again* (1940), as Leonard Harkspur Jr.
- *Bubbling Troubles* (1940), as Alfalfa
- *The New Pupil* (1940), as Alfalfa
- *All About Hash* (1940), as Alfalfa
- *The Big Premiere* (1940), as Alfalfa
- *Alfalfa's Double* (1940), as Alfalfa / Cornelius 'Corny'
- *Time Out for Lessons* (1939), as Alfalfa
- *Dad for a Day* (1939), as Alfalfa
- *Captain Spanky's Show Boat* (1939), as Alfalfa
- *Auto Antics* (1939), as Alfalfa
- *Dog Daze* (1939), as Alfalfa
- *Joy Scouts* (1939), as Alfalfa
- *Cousin Wilbur* (1939), as Alfalfa
- *Clown Princes* (1939), as Alfalfa
- *Duel Personalities* (1939), as Alfalfa
- *The Ice Follies of 1939* (1939), as Small Boy (uncredited)
- *Tiny Troubles* (1939), as Alfalfa Switzer
- *Alfalfa's Aunt* (1939), as Alfalfa
- *Practical Jokers* (1938), as Alfalfa
- *Football Romeo* (1938), as Alfalfa
- *Men in Fright* (1938), as Alfalfa
- *Aladdin's Lantern* (1938), as Alfalfa
- *Party Fever* (1938), as Alfalfa
- *The Little Ranger* (1938), as Alfalfa
- *Hide and Shriek* (1938), as Alfalfa
- *The Awful Tooth* (1938), as Alfalfa
- *Feed 'em and Weep* (1938), as Alfalfa
- *Came the Brawn* (1938), as Alfalfa
- *Three Men in a Tub* (1938), as Alfalfa
- *Bear Facts* (1938), as Alfalfa
- *Canned Fishing* (1938), as Alfalfa
- *Scandal Street* (1938), as Bennie Nordskudder
- *Our Gang Follies of 1938* (1937), as Alfalfa
- *Mail and Female* (1937), as Alfalfa / Cousin Amelia
- *The Pigskin Palooka* (1937), as Alfalfa
- *Framing Youth* (1937), as Alfalfa
- *Fishy Tales* (1937), as Alfalfa
- *Night 'n' Gales* (1937), as Alfalfa
- *Wild and Woolly* (1937), as Zero
- *Roamin' Holiday* (1937), as Alfalfa
- *Three Smart Boys* (1937), as Alfalfa
- *Rushin' Ballet* (1937), as Alfalfa
- *Hearts Are Thumps* (1937), as Alfalfa
- *Glove Taps* (1937), as Alfalfa
- *Reunion in Rhythm* (1937), as Alfalfa
- *Spooky Hooky* (1936), as Alfalfa
- *General Spanky* (1936), as Alfalfa
- *Easy to Take* (1936), as Alfred Bottle
- *Pay As You Exit* (1936), as Alfalfa
- *Two Too Young* (1936), as Alfalfa
- *Kelly the Second* (1936), as Boy with Stomach Ache (uncredited)
- *Bored of Education* (1936), as Alfalfa
- *Arbor Day* (1936), as Alfalfa
- *Second Childhood* (1936), as Alfalfa
- *Too Many Parents* (1936), as Kid Singer
- *The Lucky Corner* (1936), as Alfalfa
- *Divot Diggers* (1936), as Alfalfa
- *The Pinch Singer* (1936), as Alfalfa
- *Our Gang Follies of 1936* (1935), as Alfalfa
- *Life Hesitates at 40* (1935), as Boy at Soda Fountain
- *Little Sinner* (1935), as Alfalfa
- *Little Papa* (1935), as Alfalfa
- *Sprucin' Up* (1935), as Alfalfa
- *Teacher's Beau* (1935), as Alfalfa
- *Southern Exposure* (1935), as Messenger Boy (uncredited)
- *Beginner's Luck* (1935), as Tom
- *The Little Rascals: The Pirates of Our Gang* (1934), as Alfalfa
- *Stage Mother* (1933), as 'Irish Eyes' Singer (uncredited)
- *The Little Rascals* (1929), series, as Alfalfa

## Gallery

- ![Carl Switzer](https://film.one/media/person/1233925/gallery-d5cb75628255.jpg) Carl Switzer — Trailer screenshot, from Our Gang, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Alfalfa_gip.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Carl Switzer](https://film.one/media/person/1233925/gallery-b6981020f3f2.jpg) Carl Switzer — Image via TMDB
- ![Carl Switzer](https://film.one/media/person/1233925/gallery-016a06298062.jpg) Carl Switzer — Image via TMDB

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© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/carl-switzer