'Little Rascals' Butch dead at 79

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Child star Thomas Ross Bond, the bully Butch in the "Our Gang" and "Little Rascals" comedies, has died in Northridge, Calif., at age 79.

Bond died Saturday at Northridge Hospital, the Los Angeles Times reported.

He appeared in 27 of the 221 "Our Gang" and "Little Rascals" comedy shorts over eight years. In 1993 he wrote a book, "You're Darn Right It's Butch!" and greeted fans at conventions until his death.

The Dallas native was discovered at age 5 when a scout for "Our Gang" producer Hal Roach told his mother he would get him an audition if she got him to Hollywood.

Bond made his debut as Tommy in the 1932 "Our Gang" short, "Spanky." His contract ran out in 1934 and he moved onto bit parts in films. Roach brought him back as Butch.

Although onscreen Butch was a nemesis for Alfalfa, off-screen Bond and Carl Switzer were best friends until the late actor's shooting death in 1959.

Among Bond's films were "Man from Frisco" in 1944 and he played Jimmy Olsen in the 1948 and 1950 "Superman" serial.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, a son and a grandson.