Sidney Kibrick Explained

Sidney Kibrick
Birth Date:2 July 1928
Birth Place:Minneapolis, Minnesota
Occupation:Former film child actor
Yearsactive:1933–1943
Known For:Our Gang short subjects film series
Birth Name:Sidney Henry Kibrick
Family:Leonard Kibrick (brother)

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 to 1939.[1]

Biography

Early life

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)

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"), who was the sidekick of the neighborhood bully "Butch", played by Tommy Bond.

Post-Our Gang

Kibrick, after leaving his Hollywood showbiz career behind, worked as a real estate developer.[4] He kept in touch with Our Gang members at reunions, some of which he used to host.[5] In 1991, he acknowledged that he had avoided the tragic lives that former child actors often ended up having as adults.[6] 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.[7]

Filmography

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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rubin. Rebecca. 2017-07-27. Leonard Landy, 'Our Gang' Actor, Dies at 84. 2020-07-04. Variety. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20220417034406/https://variety.com/2017/tv/obituaries-people-news/leonard-landy-died-dead-our-gang-little-rascals-1202508793/ . April 17, 2022.
  2. Web site: Sidney Kibrick . Lord Heath . 23 August 2022.
  3. Web site: Hollywood Stars Visit Clear Lake Celebration. Globe Gazette. July 5, 1941. 1. July 5, 2020.
  4. Web site: Grand opening scheduled today at Desert Shadows resort near Palm Springs. Los Angeles Times. October 20, 1984. 266. July 5, 2020.
  5. Web site: Little Rascals 50th reunion planned at Desert Shadows. The Desert Sun. December 13, 1985. 23. July 5, 2020.
  6. Web site: Child stars on the brink. Chillicothe Gazette. April 22, 1991. 9. July 5, 2020.
  7. Web site: Sidney Kibrick remembers 'Our Gang'. Boomer Magazine. Nick Thomas.