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He was born Carl Dean Switzer in Paris, Illinois, the second son of George Switzer and Gladys Shanks. His older brother was Harold Frederick Switzer.
Carl became famous for playing "Alfalfa" in the Our Gang movies from 1935 to 1940, which were later syndicated on television under the title The Little Rascals.
Switzer's tenure as one of Our Gang ended when he was thirteen. He continued to appear in movies in various non-starring roles, however, which included Courage of Lassie and It's A Wonderful Life.
While not acting, Switzer bred hunting dogs and led guided hunting expeditions. Some of his more notable clients included Roy Rogers and Jimmy Stewart.
At the age of thirty-one, he was shot and killed in Van Nuys, California, during an altercation over the reward money for a lost dog he felt should be repaid him.
Carl Switzer is interred at the Hollywood Forever CemeteryHollywood Forever Cemetery is located at 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood, California, adjacent to the north side of Paramount Studios. It was founded in 1899 as Hollywood Cemetery. In 1998, the cemetery was purchased by the Forever Network, who r in HollywoodFor other uses, see Hollywood (disambiguation Hollywood is a district of the City of Los Angeles, California, U. that runs from about Vermont Avenue on the east to just beyond Laurel Canyon Boulevard above Sunset and Crescent Heights Boulevards on the wes.