Joe Cobb
Encyclopedia
Joe Frank Cobb was a former American
child actor
, most notable for appearing as the original "fat boy" in the Our Gang
comedies from 1922 to 1929. Some sources, such as the first edition (1977) of Our Gang The Life And Times of The Little Rascals document him as beein born in 1917.
, Cobb auditioned for producer Hal Roach's
comedy series at the age of five. He appeared in 86 Our Gang episodes during seven years, and had three guest appearances in the serial in the 1930s. His first Our Gang short was The Big Show
. Cobb appeared in the Our Gang series' last silent film
, Saturday's Lesson
, and its first talking short, Small Talk
. He was a recognizable character, with chubby cheeks and a trademark beanie cap. Some sources indicate that his final film with the Gang was Bouncing Babies
; however, he does not appear onscreen in that short. His last film as a regular cast member was the previous entry Lazy Days, but he would also return for cameos in three more shorts over the years: Fish Hooky
, Pay as You Exit
, and Reunion in Rhythm
.
After his acting career ended in the early 1940s, Cobb became an assembler for North American Aviation, a division of Rockwell International
. He retired in 1981.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
child actor
Child actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
, most notable for appearing as the original "fat boy" in the Our Gang
Our Gang
Our Gang, also known as The Little Rascals or Hal Roach's Rascals, was a series of American comedy short films about a group of poor neighborhood children and the adventures they had together. Created by comedy producer Hal Roach, the series is noted for showing children behaving in a relatively...
comedies from 1922 to 1929. Some sources, such as the first edition (1977) of Our Gang The Life And Times of The Little Rascals document him as beein born in 1917.
Early life and career
Born in Shawnee, OklahomaShawnee, Oklahoma
Shawnee is a city in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 29,857 at the 2010 census. The city is part of the Oklahoma City-Shawnee Combined Statistical Area; it is also the county seat of Pottawatomie County and the principal city of the Shawnee Micropolitan Statistical...
, Cobb auditioned for producer Hal Roach's
Hal Roach
Harold Eugene "Hal" Roach, Sr. was an American film and television producer and director, and from the 1910s to the 1990s.- Early life and career :Hal Roach was born in Elmira, New York...
comedy series at the age of five. He appeared in 86 Our Gang episodes during seven years, and had three guest appearances in the serial in the 1930s. His first Our Gang short was The Big Show
The Big Show (1923 film)
The Big Show is the ninth Our Gang short subject comedy released. The Our Gang series was created by Hal Roach in 1922, and continued production until 1944.-Notes:...
. Cobb appeared in the Our Gang series' last silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
, Saturday's Lesson
Saturday's Lesson
Saturday's Lesson is a 1929 Our Gang short silent comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. Produced by Hal Roach and released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was the 93rd Our Gang short to be released, and the final silent film in the series...
, and its first talking short, Small Talk
Small Talk (film)
Small Talk is a 1929 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. Produced by Hal Roach and released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was the 86th entry in the Our Gang series to be released, and the first to be made with sound....
. He was a recognizable character, with chubby cheeks and a trademark beanie cap. Some sources indicate that his final film with the Gang was Bouncing Babies
Bouncing Babies
Bouncing Babies is a 1929 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. Produced by Hal Roach and released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was the 92nd Our Gang short to be released.- Plot :...
; however, he does not appear onscreen in that short. His last film as a regular cast member was the previous entry Lazy Days, but he would also return for cameos in three more shorts over the years: Fish Hooky
Fish Hooky
Fish Hooky is a 1933 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 120th Our Gang short that was released.- Plot :...
, Pay as You Exit
Pay as You Exit
Pay as You Exit is a 1936 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Gordon Douglas. It was the 148th Our Gang short that was released.-Plot:...
, and Reunion in Rhythm
Reunion in Rhythm
Reunion in Rhythm is a 1937 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Gordon Douglas. It was the 150th Our Gang short that was released.-Plot:...
.
After his acting career ended in the early 1940s, Cobb became an assembler for North American Aviation, a division of Rockwell International
Rockwell International
Rockwell International was a major American manufacturing conglomerate in the latter half of the 20th century, involved in aircraft, the space industry, both defense-oriented and commercial electronics, automotive and truck components, printing presses, valves and meters, and industrial automation....
. He retired in 1981.