Matthew "Stymie" Beard


This filmography was made in collaboration with Matthew Lydick.


full name: Matthew Beard, Jr.
family nickname: Junior
professional nickname: Stymie
born Jan. 1, 1925, in Los Angeles, CA
died Jan. 8, 1981, in Los Angeles, CA, of pneumonia


Special note: Regarding Stymie's full name, I'll let Stymie himself explain it, as he did for the Dec. 3, 1979, Chicago Tribune: "My name is Matthew Hercules Beard, but that got changed when 'The Little Rascals' came along. I was an eager little kid, always running around, trying to learn things, and the director could never find me. 'That kid stymies me,' he used to say, and the first thing I knew, they were all calling me Stymie. They even legalized it for me, dropping the Hercules, and the name on my driver's license to this day is Matthew Stymie Beard." I'm a little reluctant to list his name this way, since his birth certificate says Mathew Beard, Jr. However, that's with only one T in Mathew, which isn't the way it was spelled subsequently. The 1950 census spells it with two T's.

Also of note: Stymie's death came five days after he had suffered a stroke, which caused him to fall down a flight of stairs and sustain head injuries.

Also of note: Stymie was the oldest boy in a family of 14 kids, many of whom also worked in show business. In the Our Gang series alone, Betty Jane, Carlena and Bobbie all made occasional appearances, and Renee wound up in the Curley series, which was essentially an Our Gang revival. Even Stymie's mother, Johnnie, made an Our Gang appearance.


1927

My Best Girl (role: child)
Oct. 31, 1927 - Pickford/UA - 9 reels - Mary Pickford feature
©Dec. 22, 1927.
Uncle Tom's Cabin (role: child)
prem. Nov. 4, 1927 - Universal - 13 reels - feature
© Nov. 10, 1927. Released Sep. 2, 1928. Starring Margarita Fischer, James B. Lowe and Virginia Grey.

1929

Hearts In Dixie (role: child)
prem. Mar. 10, 1929 - Fox - 8 reels - feature
©Mar. 16, 1929. Released in May 1929. Starring Stepin Fetchit, Clarence Muse and Eugene "Pineapple" Jackson.
Show Boat (role: child)
prem. Mar. 16, 1929 - Universal - 12 reels - Laura La Plante & Joseph Schildkraut feature
Released July 28, 1929. IMDb states that the film was 14 reels in length. The Copyright Catalogue indicates 12 reels, which might be the shorter, silent version.
Hallelujah (role: child)
Aug. 20, 1929 - MGM - 12 reels - feature
©Sep. 3, 1929. Starring David L. Haynes and Nina Mae McKinney. This film was also released in a 7-reel silent version.

1930

Mamba (role: native boy)
prem. Mar. 10, 1930 - Color Art/Tiffany - 9 reels - 2-strip Technicolor - feature
©Mar. 26, 1930. Starring Jean Hersholt and Eleanor Boardman.
101. Teacher's Pet (small part: Hercules)
Oct. 11, 1930 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-35 - Our Gang series
Filmed May 21 to 29, 1930. ©Nov. 24, 1930. Also made as Spanish version entitled Comenzo la escuela, which used the English original with full-frame cut-in titles, but wasn't accepted by MGM for release in this format.
102. School's Out (supporting role)
Nov. 22, 1930 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-36 - Our Gang series
Filmed June 17 to 25, 1930.

1931

103. Helping Grandma (featured role)
Jan. 3, 1931 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-37 - Our Gang series
Filmed July 28 to Aug. 6, 1930. ©Oct. 1, 1930.
104. Love Business (small part)
Feb. 14, 1931 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-38 - Our Gang series
Filmed Sep. 3 to 15, 1930, with retakes Sep. 20, 1930. ©Oct. 26, 1930.
105. Little Daddy (featured role: Stymie)
Mar. 28, 1931 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-39 - Our Gang series
Filmed Oct. 30 to Nov. 13, 1930. ©Feb. 6, 1931.
The Stolen Jools (small part)
Apr. 4, 1931 - Masquers Club/National Variety Artists/Paramount - 2 reels
The Our Gang kids are among the multitude of stars featured in this short.
106. Bargain Day (featured role: Stymie/speaking voice for the monkey)
May 2, 1931 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-40 - Our Gang series
Filmed Dec. 14 to 23, 1930, with retakes Jan. 26 to Feb. 2, 1931. ©Mar. 23, 1931.
107. Fly My Kite (supporting role: Stymie)
May 30, 1931 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-41 - Our Gang series
Filmed Mar. 2 to 14, 1931. ©May 7, 1931.
108. Big Ears (featured role: Stymie)
Aug. 29, 1931 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-1 - Our Gang series
Filmed May 25 to June 5, 1931. ©Aug. 17, 1931. Also released with Spanish subtitles as Orejas de burro.
109. Shiver My Timbers (featured role)
Oct. 10, 1931 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-2 - Our Gang series
Filmed June 29 to July 9, 1931. ©Oct. 1, 1931. Also released with Spanish subtitles as Piratas infantiles.
110. Dogs Is Dogs (featured role: Stymie)
Nov. 21, 1931 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-3 - Our Gang series
Filmed Aug. 12 to 28, 1931. ©Oct. 27, 1931.

1932

111. Readin' And Writin' (featured role)
Jan. 2, 1932 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-4 - Our Gang series
Also listed for Feb. 2, 1932. Filmed Sep. 30 to Oct. 10, 1931. ©Dec. 17, 1931.
112. Free Eats (featured role: Stymie)
Feb. 13, 1932 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-5 - Our Gang series
Also listed for Feb. 18, 1932. Filmed Nov. 6 to 19, 1931. ©Feb. 11, 1932.
113. Spanky (featured role: Stymie)
Mar. 26, 1932 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-6 - Our Gang series
Filmed Dec. 14 to 22, 1931. ©Mar. 29, 1932.
114. Choo-Choo! (supporting role)
May 7, 1932 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-7 - Our Gang series
Filmed Jan. 25 to Feb. 4, 1932. ©May 2, 1932.
115. The Pooch (lead role: Stymie)
June 11, 1932 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-8 - Our Gang series
Also listed for June 4, 1932. Filmed Mar. 9 to 17, 1932. ©June 13, 1932.
116. Hook And Ladder (featured role: Stymie)
Aug. 27, 1932 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-9 - Our Gang series
Filmed May 18 to 28, 1932. ©Sep. 14, 1932.
118. Birthday Blues (featured role: Stymie)
Oct. 1932 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-11 - Our Gang series
Listed for both Oct. 1 and Nov. 12, 1932. Filmed July 30 to Aug. 4, 1932. ©Oct. 24, 1932. Earilest verified screening took place on Oct. 14, 1932.
117. Free Wheeling (featured role: Stymie)
Nov. 1932 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-10 - Our Gang series
Listed for both Oct. 1 and Nov. 12, 1932. Filmed July 19 to 27, 1932, with retakes Sep. 3, 1932. ©Nov. 7, 1932. Earliest verified screening took place on Nov. 12, 1932. Stymie sings a bit of "Carolina Moon" in this short.
119. A Lad An' A Lamp (featured role: Stymie)
Dec. 17, 1932 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-12 - Our Gang series
Filmed Sep. 3 to 10, 1932. ©Dec. 12, 1932.

1933

120. Fish Hooky (featured role: Stymie)
Jan. 28, 1933 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-13 - Our Gang series
Filmed Oct. 17 to 22, 1932. ©Jan. 16, 1933.
121. Forgotten Babies (small part: Stymie)
Mar. 11, 1933 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-14 - Our Gang series
Filmed Dec. 3 to 10, 1932. ©Mar. 13, 1933.
122. The Kid From Borneo (featured role: Stymie)
Apr. 15, 1933 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-15 - Our Gang series
FIlmed Jan. 9 to 16, 1933. ©Mar. 13, 1933.
123. Mush and Milk (featured role: Stymie)
May 27, 1933 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-16 - Our Gang series
Filmed Jan. 27 to Feb. 3, 1933. ©Apr. 17, 1933.
124. Bedtime Worries (supporting role: Stymie)
©Sep. 26, 1933 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-17 - Our Gang series
Also listed for Sep. 9, 1933. Filmed July 20 to 31, and Aug. 12, 1933.
125. Wild Poses (small part: Stymie)
Oct. 28, 1933 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-18 - Our Gang series
Filmed Aug. 18 to 23, 1933. ©Oct. 20, 1933.

1934

The Cracked Iceman (small part: student)
Jan. 27, 1934 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. C-20 - Charley Chase series
Filmed in Oct. 1933. ©Dec. 13, 1933.
126. Hi'-Neighbor! (supporting role: Stymie)
Mar. 3, 1934 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-19 - Our Gang series
Filmed Jan. 20 to 30, 1934. ©Feb. 24, 1934.
Four Parts (small part: boy who loses penny)
Mar. 17, 1934 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. C-21 - Charley Chase series
Filmed circa Dec. 1933/Jan. 1934. ©Feb. 21, 1934.
127. For Pete's Sake! (featured role: Stymie)
Apr. 14, 1934 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-20 - Our Gang series
Filmed Feb. 23 to Mar. 3, 1934. ©Apr. 4, 1934.
128. The First Round-Up (featured role: Stymie)
May 5, 1934 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-21 - Our Gang series
Filmed Mar. 19 to 24, 1934. ©May 1, 1934.
129. Honky-Donkey (supporting role)
June 2, 1934 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-22 - Our Gang series
Filmed Apr. 2 to 7, 1934. ©May 25, 1934.
130. Mike Fright (supporting role: Stymie)
Aug. 25, 1934 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-23 - Our Gang series
Also listed for Feb. 25, 1934. Filmed May 29 to June 7, 1934. ©July 25, 1934. Stymie takes part in singing "The Man On The Flying Trapeze."
Kid Millions (small part)
Nov. 10, 1934 - Goldwyn/UA - 10 reels - Eddie Cantor feature
Filmed mid-Aug. to early Sep. 1934. ©Dec. 8, 1934. Partially filmed in 3-strip Technicolor.
131. Washee Ironee (supporting role: Stymie)
©Nov. 13, 1934 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-24 - Our Gang series
Also listed for Sep. 29, 1934. Filmed Oct. 1 to 9, 1934.

1935

132. Mama's Little Pirate (supporting role: Stymie)
©Jan. 5, 1935 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-25 - Our Gang series
Also listed for Nov. 3, 1934. Filmed Nov. 15 to 24, 1934.
133. Shrimps For A Day (supporting role)
©Feb. 20, 1935 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-26 - Our Gang series
Also listed for Dec. 8, 1934. Filmed Dec. 15 to 22, 1934.
134. Anniversary Trouble (supporting role: Stymie)
©Mar. 13, 1935 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-27 - Our Gang series
Also listed for Jan. 1, 1935, and Jan. 19, 1935. Filmed Jan. 25 to Feb. 1, 1935.
135. Beginner's Luck (supporting role)
©Apr. 8, 1935 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-28 - Our Gang series
Also listed for Feb. 23, 1935. Filmed Feb. 20 to 28, 1935.
136. Teacher's Beau (supporting role)
Apr. 27, 1935 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-29 - Our Gang series
Filmed Mar. 13 to 20, 1935. ©May 1, 1935.
The Littlest Rebel (role: black boy)
prem. Dec. 19, 1935 - 20th Century-Fox - 8 reels - Shirley Temple feature
©Dec. 27, 1935. Released Dec. 27, 1935.
Captain Blood (role: governor's attendant)
prem. Dec. 19, 1935 - Cosmopolitan/Warner Bros. - 12 reels - Errol Flynn & Olivia de Havilland feature
Released Dec. 28, 1935. ©Dec. 31, 1935.

1936

142. Divot Diggers (archival sound)
Feb. 8, 1936 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-36 - Our Gang series
Filmed Nov. 18 to 25, 1935. ©Feb. 6, 1936. The sounds of the kids yelling near the end of this short derive from "Washee Ironee," so presumably we're hearing Stymie somewhere in the chaos.
The Prisoner Of Shark Island (role: boy seeking Dr. Mudd)
prem. Feb. 12, 1936 - 20th Century-Fox - 10 reels - Warner Baxter feature
©Feb. 21, 1936. Released Feb. 28, 1936. Also starring Gloria Stuart.
Grand Jury (role: Marshmallow)
prem. July 31, 1936 - RKO - 7 reels - Fred Stone feature
©July 31, 1936. Released Aug. 7, 1936. Also starring Owen Davis, Jr., and Louise Latimer.
Camp Meetin' (role: church boy)
Oct. 9, 1936 - RKO - 2 Reels - Radio Musicals series
©Oct. 9, 1936.
Rainbow On The River (role: Lilybell Jones)
Dec. 18, 1936 - Breen/Principal/RKO - 87 min. - Bobby Breen feature
It was reported that Stymie was making $205 a week while making this film. Reissued in 1947 as It Happened In New Orleans.

1937

151. Reunion In Rhythm (small part)
Jan. 9, 1937 - Roach/MGM - 1 reel - prod. K-5 - Our Gang series
Filmed Dec. 9 to 14, 1936. ©Jan. 14, 1937.
Penrod And Sam (role: Buzz)
Feb. 28, 1937 - Warner Bros. - 7 reels - Billy Mauch feature
&169;Feb. 2, 1937.
A Day At Santa Anita (role: Eclipse)
May 22, 1937 - Vitaphone/Warner Bros. - 2 reels - Technicolor - Broadway Brevity series
©Aug. 2, 1937. Starring Sybil Jason and Marcia Ralston.
Slave Ship (role: boy on pier)
prem. June 16, 1937 - 20th Century-Fox - 10 reels - Warner Baxter & Wallace Beery feature
©July 2, 1937.

1938

Jezebel (role: Ti Bat)
prem. Mar. 10, 1938 - Warner Bros. - 12 reels - Bette Davis feature
Credited as Stymie Beard. ©Jan. 26, 1938. Released Mar. 26, 1938.
The Beloved Brat (role: Pinkie White)
Apr. 30, 1938 - Warner Bros. - 6 reels - Bonita Granville feature
Credited as Stymie Beard. ©Jan. 27, 1938.
Two-Gun Man From Harlem (role: Jimmy Thompson)
May 1, 1938 - Merit/Sack Amusement - 65 min. - feature
Credited as Stymie Beard. Starring Herbert Jeffrey, Clarence Brooks and Marguerite Whitten.
Kentucky (role: black child)
prem. Dec. 24, 1938 - 20th Century-Fox - 11 reels - Loretta Young & Richard Greene feature
© Dec. 30, 1938. Released Dec. 30, 1938. Also starring Walter Brennan.

1939

The Great Man Votes (role:: Davy's friend)
Jan. 13, 1939 - RKO - 8 reels - John Barrymore
©Jan. 19, 1939.
Outside These Walls (role: Penny)
May 4, 1939 - Columbia - 6 reels - feature
©Apr. 18, 1939. Starring Michael Whalen, Dolores Costello and Virginia Weidler.
Way Down South (role: Gumbo)
July 21, 1939 - Breen/Principal/RKO - 63 min. - Bobby Breen feature
Credited as Stymie Beard. ©July 21, 1939. Also starring Clarence Muse. Stymie joins Muse, Ralph Morgan and Bobby Breen in singing "Oh, Dem Golden Slippers!"
Swanee River (role: black boy)
prem. Dec. 29, 1939 - 20th Century-Fox - 84 min. - Technicolor - feature
©Dec. 13, 1939. Released Jan. 5, 1940. Starring Don Ameche, Andrea Leeds and Al Jolson.

It should also be noted that Stymie at some point appeared on both Lux Radio Theatre and Silver Screen Theatre, though I've yet to nail down any dates for these.


1940

Broken Strings (role: Dickey Morley)
1940 - Goldport/Borden - 6 reels - Clarence Muse feature
Credited as Stymie Beard.
The Return Of Frank James (role: Mose)
prem. Aug. 10, 1940 - 20th Century-Fox - 10 reels - Henry Fonda feature
Credited as Stymie Beard. ©Aug. 16, 1940. Released Aug. 16, 1940. Also starring Gene Tierney, Jackie Cooper and Henry Hull.

1941

Belle Starr (role: young Jake)
prem. Sep. 5, 1941 - 20th Century-Fox - 9 reels - Technicolor - Randolph Scott & Gene Tierney feature
©Sep. 12, 1941. Released Sep. 12, 1941.

1942


1943

Stormy Weather (role: stagehand)
prem. July 21, 1943 - 20th Century-Fox - 78 min. - feature
©July 16, 1943. Starring Lena Horne, Bill Robinson and Cab Calloway.

1944

The Bridge Of San Luis Rey (role: Pancho)
Feb. 11, 1944 - Bogeaus/UA - 107 min. - Lynn Bari feature
©Feb. 11, 1944.

1945

Fallen Angel (role: shoeshine boy)
prem. Nov. 7, 1945 - 20th Century-Fox - 11 reels - feature
©Nov. 7, 1945. Starring Alice Faye, Dana Andrews and Linda Darnell.

1946


1947

Dead Reckoning (role: bellboy)
prem. Jan. 11, 1947 - Columbia - 100 min. - Humphrey Bogart & Lizabeth Scott feature
©Feb. 15, 1947. Released in Feb. 1947.
The Burning Cross (role: shoeshine boy)
prem. Aug. 28, 1947 - Somerset/Screen Guild - 77 min. - Hank Daniels & Virginia Patton feature
©Sep. 1, 1947. Released Sep. 1, 1947.

1948


1953

The Vanquished (role: Dr. Colfax's stableboy)
June 3, 1953 - Pine-Thomas/Paramount - 9 reels - Technicolor - feature
©June 1, 1953. Starring John Payne, Jan Sterling, Coleen Gray and Lyle Bettger.

1957


1963


1965


1973

Sanford And Son episode: A House Is Not A Pool Room (role: Otis Littlejohn)
Nov. 23, 1973 - Tandem/NBC - 30 min. - TV episode
Credited as Stymie Beard.

1974

Sanford And Son episode: Fred Sanford, Legal Eagle (role: Otis Littlejohn)
Jan. 11, 1974 - Tandem/NBC - 30 min. - TV episode
Credited as Stymie Beard.
Hawkins episode: Murder On The Thirteenth Floor (role: Gus)
Feb. 5, 1974 - Arena/MGM/CBS - 73 min. - TV episode
Good Times episode: Too Old Blues (role: Monty)
Feb. 8, 1974 - Tandem/CBS - 30 min. - TV episode
Credited as Stymie Beard.
Good Times episode: Getting Up The Rent (role: Monty)
Feb. 22, 1974 - Tandem/CBS - 30 min. - TV episode
Credited as Stymie Beard.
It's Good To Be Alive (role: Stymie)
Feb. 22, 1974 - Harmon/MPC/CBS - 100 min. - TV movie
Credited as Stymie Beard. Starring Paul Winfield and Louis Gossett, Jr.
The First Woman President (undetermined role)
Apr. 14, 1974 - CBS - 60 min. - TV movie
Starring Eva Marie Saint and Richard Basehart.
Truck Turner (role: jail guard)
Prev. Apr. 19, 1974 - Sequoia/AIP - 91 min. - Isaac Hayes feature
Credited as Stymie Beard. Premiered June 26, 1974.
Good Times episode: J.J. Becomes A Man (role: Monty)
Sep. 17, 1974 - Tandem/CBS - 30 min. - TV episode
Credited as Stymie Beard.
Tomorrow episode: The Little Rascals (appearance)
Nov. 12, 1974 - NBC - 60 min. - TV episode
Also featuring Spanky McFarland, Darla Hood, and Buckwheat Thomas.
Sanford And Son episode: A Little Extra Security (role: Otis Littlejohn)
Dec. 13, 1974 - Tandem/NBC - 30 min. - TV episode
Credited as Stymie Beard.

Sometime during the mid '70s, Stymie made personal appearances, along with Jackie Lynn Taylor, at schools and churches, in addition to co-hosting an episode of Jackie's TV show.
Sometime during the latter half of the '70s (judging by the background music), Stymie appeared in a cheaply-made TV advertisement for Uppers and Downers bikinis.


1975

The Little Rascals Family Theater episode (appearance)
Circa 1975. During this year (by the end of May), The Little Rascals Family Theater debuted in sydication. It was hosted by Jackie Lynn Taylor and her husband, Jack Fries, and featured Little Rascals episodes interspersed with interview segments. It was still airing in the early 1980s, but this was after it had ceased production. One of the episodes was co-hosted by Stymie, probably in 1975.
Gallery episode: Whatever Became Of Hollywood? (appearance)
Jan. 3, 1975 - CBC - 30 min. - TV episode
Made in Canada. Darla Hood also appeared on this program.
Huckleberry Finn (role: Jeremiah)
Mar. 25, 1975 - ABC Circle/ABC - 78 min. - TV movie
Starring Ron Howard and Donny Most.
Maude episode: Consenting Adults (role: Stymie)
Sep. 15, 1975 - Tandem/CBS - 30 min. - TV episode
Maude episode: Rumpus In The Rumpus Room (role: Stymie)
Sep. 22, 1975 - Tandem/CBS - 30 min. - TV episode

1976

Emergency! episode: The Nuisance (role: bar owner)
Mar. 6, 1976 - Mark VII/Emergency/Universal/NBC - 60 min. - TV episode
Starsky And Hutch episode: The Las Vegas Strangler, Part 1 (role: Duke)
Sep. 25, 1976 - Spelling-Goldberg/ABC - 120 min. - TV episode
Credited as Stymie Beard.
Good Times episode: The Big Move: Part 2 (role: Monty)
Sep. 29, 1976 - Tandem/CBS - 30 min. - TV episode
Credited as Stymie Beard.

1977

The New Little Rascals (undetermined role)
unaired - Tandem - 30 min. - TV pilot
This credit is based on anecdotal evidence from an actor who claimed to have worked on the pilot.
Disco 2000 (role: Harold Jackson)
prem. July 27, 1977 - Lone Star & Yellow Rose/Choice & Cosmo - 101 min. - feature
Starring John Poole.
Good Times episode: The Evans Get Involved: Part 2 (role: Mr. Edwards)
Sep. 21, 1977 - Tandem/CBS - 30 min. - TV episode
Credited as Stymie Beard.
Good Times episode: Penny's Christmas (role: party guest)
Dec. 21, 1977 - Tandem/CBS - 30 min. - TV episode

1978

The Buddy Holly Story (role: Luther)
prem. May 18, 1978 - Innovisions/ECA/Columbia - 114 min. - feature
Credited as Stymie Beard. Starring Gary Busey.
Rascal Dazzle (archival)
1978 - King World/Picture Scores - 93 min. - documentary feature
©1978. Seems to have debuted on TV, followed by a theatrical release in late 1979. Includes footage from "Choo-Choo!" "The Pooch," "Free Wheeling," "Birthday Blues," "Fish Hooky," "Mush And Milk," "Hi'-Neighbor!" "For Pete's Sake!" "Mike Fright," "Washee Ironee," "Mama's Little Pirate," "Shrimps For A Day," "Anniversary Trouble," "Beginner's Luck" and "Reunion In Rhythm."

1979

Backstairs At The White House episode (role: Luke Henry)
Feb. 12, 1979 - Friendly/NBC - TV episode
Credited as Stymie Beard. Episode 3 of a nine-hour miniseries. Starring Olivia Cole, Leslie Uggams, and Louis Gossett, Jr.
The Jeffersons episode: A Short Story (role: small businessman #1)
Sep. 30, 1979 - Tandem/CBS - 30 min. - TV episode
Credited as Stymie Beard. Also appearing in this episode was Ernie "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison.
Diff'rent Strokes episode: The Adoption: Part 1 (role: The Man)
Oct. 31, 1979 - Tandem/NBC - 30 min. - TV episode
Credited as Stymie Beard.
The Little Rascals' Christmas Special (role: voice of Mr. Kluger)
Dec. 3, 1979 - King World/Muller-Rosen/Murakami-Wolf-Swenson/NBC - 30 min. - animated TV special
Credited as Stymie Beard.

1980

Visions segment: Strings (lead role)
Jan. 12, 1980 - KCET/PBS - 90 min. - TV episode
This episode was divided into two segments, with Stymie starring in the second one, which was possibly called String.
Sanford episode: Dinner At George's (appearance)
Apr. 5, 1980 - Tandem/NBC - 30 min. - TV episode
Sanford episode: Retrospective: Part 2 (archival)
Apr. 15, 1980 - Tandem/NBC - 30 min. - TV episode
Stymie appears as himself, so presumably this contains footage from the episode from 10 days earlier.

1981

East Of Eden episode: Part 2 (role: Cotton Eye)
Feb. 9, 1981 - Mace Neufeld/ABC - 90 min. - TV episode
Credited as Stymie Beard. Part of a TV mini-series.
East Of Eden episode:: Part 3 (role: Cotton Eye)
Feb. 10, 1981 - Mace Neufeld/ABC - 90 min. - TV episode
Credited as Stymie Beard. Part of a TV mini-series.
Pray TV (role: Willie Washington, usher)
Apr. 2, 1981 - Filmways/ABC - 87 min. - TV movie
Starring Dabney Coleman.
Palmerstown, U.S.A. episode: The Suitor (undetermined role)
June 2, 1981 - TAT/Haley/CBS - 60 min. - TV episode
The Sophisticated Gents episode (role: Mickey Mouse)
Sep. 29, 1981 - Wilson/NBC - 60 min. - TV episode
Episode 1 of a TV mini-series. An article from November 1979 states that Stymie was slated to soon work in this series, suggesting that it was filmed in early 1980.
The Sophisticated Gents episode: (role: Mickey Mouse)
Sep. 30, 1981 - Wilson/NBC - 60 min. - TV episode
Episode 2 of a TV mini-series.
The Sophisticated Gents episode: (role: Mickey Mouse)
Oct. 1, 1981 - Wilson/NBC - 60 min. - TV episode
Episode 3 of a TV mini-series.

1982

Hollywood: The Gift Of Laughter (archival)
May 16, 1982 - Wolper/Haley/MPA/ABC - 135 min. - TV movie
Includes footage from "The Pooch."

1984

Our Gang: Inside The Clubhouse (archival)
May 8, 1984 - Lang/Camellia City Telecasters - 93 mins. - TV documentary
Includes footage from "Teacher's Pet," "School's Out," "Bargain Day," "Dogs Is Dogs," "Readin' And Writin'," "Free Eats," "The Pooch," "Hook And Ladder," "Free Wheeling," "Mush And Milk," "Hi'-Neighbor!" "For Pete's Sake!" "Mike Fright," "Mama's Little Pirate," "Anniversary Trouble" and "Teacher's Beau."
Going Hollywood: The '30s (archival)
1984 - Castle Hill - 76 min. - TV documentary

1986

Classic Comedy Teams (archival)
1986 - Bergamn-Harris/Movietime/GoodTimes - video documentary
Includes footage from "School's Out" and "The Stolen Jools."

1987


1994

Hal Roach: Hollywood's King Of Laughter (archival)
Apr. 7, 1994 - RHI/Disney Channel - 49 min. - TV documentary
Includes footage from "School's Out."
The Our Gang Story (archival)
1994 - Film Shows/GoodTimes - 120 min. - video documentary
Includes footage from "School's Out," "The Stolen Jools," "Fly My Kite," "Dogs Is Dogs," "Hook And Ladder," "The Kid From Borneo," "Hi'-Neighbor!" "Shrimps For A Day," "Beginner's Luck," "Reunion In Rhythm" and a TV clip from the '70s.

1995


1997


2000

E! Mysteries & Scandals episode: The Little Rascal: Stymie (archival)
Apr. 24, 2000 - E! Entertainment Television - 30 min. - TV episode
Bamboozled (archival)
Oct. 20, 2000 - 40 Acres/New Line - 135 min. - color - Dolby
Includes footage from "School's Out."

2002

Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story (appearance)
Feb. 5, 2002 - Jones/TCM - 89 min. - TV documentary
Includes footage from "The Pooch" and "Hi'-Neighbor!"
E! True Hollywood Story episode: Curse Of The Little Rascals (archival)
Nov. 24, 2002 - E! Entertainment Television - 60 min. - TV documentary
That's Black Entertainment episode: Westerns (archival)
Dec. 6, 2002 - Starz! Encore - 50 min. - TV episode
This was a TV documentary mini-series. Stymie appears in footage from "Two-Gun Men From Harlem."

2014


Stymie Beard's payroll history

The following is a list of most of Stymie's history at the Roach studio, with the amounts he was making from week to week. The dates given are Saturdays, the last day of each week at the studio. The only exceptions would be Saturdays that were also holidays, in which case the Friday date is used for those weeks.

After this, it was nearly three weeks before Stymie returned to the studio.

After this, it was over a month before Stymie returned to the studio.

Much of the week ending Dec. 20th and the entirety of the week ending Dec. 27th are missing from the payroll ledger, but filming began on Bargain Day during this period.

After this, it would be over a year and a half before Stymie worked at the studio again.


See anything that needs changing? Contact me at BtheW@aol.com.


© Robert Demoss and Matthew Lydick.


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