Trivia

When introduced at a Little Rascals reunion in 1980, he received a spontaneous standing ovation. He was moved to tears. (He died 3 months later of a heart attack.)

Later worked as a film lab technician at Technicolor in Hollywood for over 20 years.

In 1990 the ABC program 20/20 (1978) was hoaxed into believing that Billy "Buckwheat" Thomas was alive and working as a grocery bagger in Tempe, Arizona. (Thomas actually died in 1980.) A segment broadcast October 5 with narrator Hugh Downs featured an impostor.

Served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

Has one son, William Thomas III (1950 - present).

Things didn't go well for the other Our Gang members. Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer was shot dead age 31, Darla Hood contracted hepatitis in hospital and died aged 47, Robert 'Bobby' Blake was tried and acquitted of his wife's murder, Tommy Bond and his wife were severely injured in a car crash in 1996 and Pete the Dog was fatally poisoned.

Started as a member of 'The Little Rascals' as a replacement for Matthew "Stymie" Beard.

In 1935, his 'Buckwheat' character was at first androgynous, wearing pigtails. It only evolved into being called 'he' a year later.

Interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, California, USA.

Had a speech impediment as a child, which he eventually overcame while still in Our Gang, an aspect rather conveniently overlooked by comedian Eddie Murphy in his impression of Thomas's Buckwheat character.