George McFarlandGeorge Robert Phillips McFarland (October 2, 1928 - June 30, 1993) was an American actor most famous for his childhood role as Spanky in the depression era children's comedy movie series Our Gang, also known as the Little Rascals. McFarland was born in Dallas, Texas on October 2, 1928 - not in Ft. Worth as many biographies report. His nickname "Spanky" is said to have arisen from repeated warnings by his mother not to misbehave. He was discovered at the age of three and soon became a regular and then most popular member of the children's comedy movie series Our Gang during the 1930s and 1940s. He played the role of an enterprising kid in the series and the de facto leader of the gang. In January 1994, "Spanky" became the only Our Gang member to receive a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. In later years some in his family affectionately would refer to him as just "Spank". His middle names came from family names, Robert after his father and Phillips was his mother's maiden name (George was his father's brother's name). Other biographies incorrectly report his middle name as being Emmett; however this was his father's middle name. His brother Tommy, who was also named after their father (Thomas Emmett McFarland), passed away in 1982, and McFarland died of a heart attack on June 30, 1993 followed by his mother just 30 days later. Note: Folk-rock singer Elaine McFarlane is known as "Spanky" from her tenure in the group Spanky and Our Gang, which was named in honor of the film troupe. She is not related to Spank. This page about George McFarland includes information from a Wikipedia article. Additional articles about George McFarland News stories about George McFarland External links for George McFarland Videos for George McFarland Wikis about George McFarland Discussion Groups about George McFarland Blogs about George McFarland Images of George McFarland |
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She is not related to Spank. He also has twins, Anton and Olivia, with longtime girlfriend Beverly D'Angelo. Note: Folk-rock singer Elaine McFarlane is known as "Spanky" from her tenure in the group Spanky and Our Gang, which was named in honor of the film troupe. The first, Julie Marie, is his daughter with acting coach Jan Tarrant. His brother Tommy, who was also named after their father (Thomas Emmett McFarland), passed away in 1982, and McFarland died of a heart attack on June 30, 1993 followed by his mother just 30 days later. Although he has never been married, Pacino has three children. Other biographies incorrectly report his middle name as being Emmett; however this was his father's middle name. Pacino still performs theatre work and has also dabbled in direction, his first film, The Local Stigmatic remains unreleased but his other two works, Looking for Richard and Chinese Coffee are both highly acclaimed. His middle names came from family names, Robert after his father and Phillips was his mother's maiden name (George was his father's brother's name). The quality of Pacino's performances, as well as his larger-than-life onscreen presence (Pacino stands about 5'6"), have established him as one of the greatest actors in motion picture history. In later years some in his family affectionately would refer to him as just "Spank". Pacino has turned down a number of key roles in his career, including that of Han Solo in Star Wars, Captain Willard in Apocalypse Now and Edward Lewis in Pretty Woman. In January 1994, "Spanky" became the only Our Gang member to receive a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. Pacino's more recent body of work remains impressive, boasting a number of fine performances that include the somewhat under-recognised 1990's crime thrillers Carlito's Way, Heat (movie), Donnie Brasco and The Recruit. He played the role of an enterprising kid in the series and the de facto leader of the gang. However, 1985's Revolution was arguably the worst film to ever feature Pacino and he returned to stage work for four years, re-surfacing in film in 1989's Sea of Love, which was to signal a welcome return to form. He was discovered at the age of three and soon became a regular and then most popular member of the children's comedy movie series Our Gang during the 1930s and 1940s. Say hello to my little friend!". His nickname "Spanky" is said to have arisen from repeated warnings by his mother not to misbehave. 1983's Scarface proved to be both a career highlight and a defining role, earning Pacino a Golden Globe nomination for his performance as a Cuban drug lord who cries out the now infamous line "You wanna play rough? Okay. Worth as many biographies report. Pacino's career took something of a downturn in the early 1980s and his appearances in Cruising and Author! Author! saw him critically panned. McFarland was born in Dallas, Texas on October 2, 1928 - not in Ft. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in motion picture, and the second for his role in the HBO miniseries Angels in America. George Robert Phillips McFarland (October 2, 1928 - June 30, 1993) was an American actor most famous for his childhood role as Spanky in the depression era children's comedy movie series Our Gang, also known as the Little Rascals. Pacino has not received another nomination from the Academy since those two, but has won two Golden Globes since the turn of the century, the first being the Cecil B. (The actress Julianne Moore repeated the feat in 2003, however she did not win either award). Pacino won himself Best Actor and was also up for the supporting award for his role in Glengarry Glen Ross, the only actor to ever receive both nominations in the same year. Despite further nominations, it wasn't until 1993 that Pacino would win an Oscar, this time for his portrayal of the irascible, retired and blind Lieutenant_Colonel Frank Slade in Martin Brest's Scent of a Woman. His performace earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and, by the end of the 1970s he would have three more nominations, all for Best Actor. Although numerous established actors, including Robert Redford, Warren Beatty, and Robert De Niro, were vying for the part, director Francis Ford Coppola selected the relatively unknown Pacino. His meteoric rise to fame came after portraying Michael Corleone in the blockbuster Mafia film The Godfather 1972. His talent shone through and by the end of the decade he had won an Obie award for his stage work in The Indian Wants the Bronx and a Tony Award for Does the Tiger Wear a Necktie? His big screen debut came in 1969's Me, Natalie but it was the 1971 film The Panic in Needle Park that would really show off his talents and bring him to the attention of director Francis Ford Coppola. In the late 1960s, Pacino studied under legendary acting coach Lee Strasberg, finding acting a therapeutic outlet in a youth which saw him depressed and so impoverished he could barely afford the bus fares required to get him to his next audition. He is of Sicilian heritage; Pacino's maternal grandparents immigrated to the United States from Corleone, Sicily. His parents divorced while Pacino was still a child. He was born Alfred James Pacino in The Bronx, New York, the son of Salvatore and Rose Pacino. Al Pacino (born April 25, 1940) is an American film actor. Merchant of Venice' (2004). Angels in America (2003). The Recruit (2003). S1m0ne (2002). People I Know (2002). Insomnia (2002). Any Given Sunday (1999). The Insider (1999). The Devil's Advocate (1997). Donnie Brasco (1996). City Hall (1996). Heat (1995). Scent of a Woman (1993). Carlito's Way (1993). Glengarry Glen Ross (1992). The Godfather Part III (1990). Sea of Love (1989). Revolution (1985). Scarface (1983). Author! Author! (1982). Cruising (1980). ...And Justice for All (1979). Bobby Deerfield (1977). Dog Day Afternoon (1975). The Godfather Part II (1974). Serpico (1973). Scarecrow (1973). The Godfather (1972). The Panic in Needle Park (1971). |