RIP Gordon Lee, Our Gang's "Porky"
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 8:48 am
Via AICN...
Gordon Lee who portrayed the lovable, mischievous "Porky" has died at the age of 71 at his home in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Lee, who was born in Fort Worth, Texas got the chance to portray the character when his mother sent in a picture of him to Hal Roach Studios. The picture passed Hal Roach's desk at the time he was looking for a younger brother for "Spanky" called "Little Sinner." But, in a moment of inspiration, Roach decided to team him up the two-year old with "Buckwheat" and give him the name "Porky" because he was chubby. History was created and so was the duos famous catch-phrase, "o-tay!"
Gordon Douglas, who was the director on the series, knew Lee wouldn't understand direction and blocking on the set at two years old, so he filmed Lee just being himself, which provided some of the funniest moments of the series.
For four years he costarred in the "Our Gang" comedies, which later became the "Little Rascals" in television syndication.
After Lee left "Our Gang," he went back to Texas, graduated college and became a teacher, no doubt inspiring many other future "Little Rascals."
