1047:
193:
31:
247:
391:
Spear was managed by his grandmother Bertha Spear, who was also his legal guardian. Some name confusion existed for a while because of a different actor named Harry Spear, who appeared in some bit roles in several movies in the 1960s.
308:, entertaining audiences with a dancing and monologue routine. Joining in 1930, Spear was dubbed as Freckles and known for his bad boy character. He was one of the young vaudeville stars that took dance instruction from
162:
comedies, Spear also appeared in other shorts before his time in the Gang. He gained recognition for his ginger hair and freckles, as both of his well-known nicknames. After leaving showbiz, Spear started in vaudeville.
178:
He had a grandmother, Bertha Spear. Spear's legal surname, Bonner, was not used in documents like contracts, with his mother's maiden name, Spear being used instead. This was used after his parents divorced.
1159:
1154:
1114:
278:, though it would not be until 1928 when Spear made appearances as a leader. Spear was a popular member of the gang during the late silent era (1927–1929), often donning an oversized
1149:
1169:
1134:
1164:
1119:
1109:
710:
1030:
286:
took over the role as either the leader or tough guy in the gang, replacing Spear, though Spear did make a few sound appearances. Spear's final
1022:
351:
fame for unknown reasons, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary From U.S. Naval records, it was found that Harry Spear served as a
1104:
352:
791:
320:, however, it was never completed. In the mid-1940s, though, he had left the entertainment industry and severed ties with his former
1139:
582:
556:
533:
1003:
843:
915:
275:
228:, the leading and youngest character in the series. Even though Maltin, Leonard and Bann state that he appeared in a few
630:
316:, in April 1932. In Christmas 1933, twelve-year-old Spear would be offered a contract for a series similar to that of
995:
459:
347:, at the time, Spear (who went by his legal name of Harry Bonner) continually denied being the "Harry Spear" of
955:
971:
899:
152:
54:
784:
335:
Spear's whereabouts after the 1940s remained a mystery for over half a century. However, several diligent
644:
380:
312:
around
September of that year. Spear "told several amusing stories" at a meeting of the Rotary Club in
72:
224:
shorts. Though Spear slowly was given a lead role over time, Spear was often foreshadowed by "Big Boy"
1129:
1124:
987:
813:
313:
213:
148:
907:
859:
233:
867:
818:
401:
1144:
1050:
923:
777:
741:
612:
578:
552:
529:
225:
692:
963:
851:
678:
270:. Spear first made small appearances as an extra during mid-1927. After a void was left by
835:
292:
979:
931:
660:
570:
544:
521:
252:
144:
1098:
1086:
1067:
947:
891:
376:
317:
283:
271:
424:
875:
764:
356:
309:
266:
755:
274:
after his contract expired, Spear took over the "tough kid" role, often targeting
939:
883:
769:
364:
172:
131:
95:
760:
192:
30:
360:
344:
305:
279:
229:
135:
483:
429:
340:
746:
1075:
801:
750:
140:
246:
737:
175:, Harry was born to Joseph Francis Bonner and Louise Dorothy Spear
245:
191:
773:
597:. Parsons, Kansas: The Parsons Sun. August 4, 1934. p. 4.
577:, p. 253–254. New York: Crown Publishing/Three Rivers Press.
449:
Harry S. Bonner, Social
Security Death Index, SSN 557-26-4992
551:, p. 88–89. New York: Crown Publishing/Three Rivers Press.
528:, p. 60-61. New York: Crown Publishing/Three Rivers Press.
339:
fans attempted to track down Spear in 1995. Residing in
126:(December 16, 1921 – September 22, 2006), also known as
212:
as supporting character Ginger. He also appeared in
1014:
827:
109:
101:
91:
79:
61:
40:
21:
575:The Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang
549:The Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang
526:The Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang
304:After departing the series, Spear briefly entered
425:"Harry Spear, Our Gang | Fashion, Fedora, Style"
1160:United States Navy personnel of the Vietnam War
1155:United States Navy personnel of the Korean War
1115:Deaths from kidney cancer in the United States
785:
151:shorts from 1925 to 1927. He was a native of
8:
1150:United States Navy personnel of World War II
645:"Dr. Showalter Speaks at Waynesboro Rotary"
1061:
792:
778:
770:
232:westerns, Spear actually appeared in one,
208:series, Spear made appearances in several
29:
18:
282:. At the dawn of the sound era, newcomer
573:and Bann, Richard W. (1977, rev. 1992).
566:
564:
547:and Bann, Richard W. (1977, rev. 1992).
524:and Bann, Richard W. (1977, rev. 1992).
416:
260:Spear made his first appearance in the
158:Notable for appearing in a total of 31
264:series at the age of five in the film
138:. He was notable for appearing in the
7:
1023:The Little Rascals Christmas Special
711:"Bonner, Harry Sherman, YNC | TWS"
204:Before joining the wildly popular
14:
1170:American people of German descent
1135:20th-century American male actors
633:. September 20, 1930. p. 20.
1165:American people of Irish descent
1120:Deaths from cancer in California
1110:American male silent film actors
1046:
1045:
681:. December 26, 1933. p. 15.
1004:The Little Rascals Save the Day
756:The Strange Tale of Harry Spear
114:
171:Born on December 16, 1921, on
1:
802:Our Gang / The Little Rascals
615:. April 19, 1930. p. 12.
147:series from 1927 to 1929 and
697:The Little Rascals Proboards
651:. April 11, 1932. p. 5
631:Los Angeles Evening Express
629:. Los Angeles, California:
627:Los Angeles Evening Express
1186:
1105:American male child actors
383:. He was 84 years of age.
379:on September 22, 2006, in
1083:
1072:
1064:
1041:
809:
28:
1140:Hal Roach Studios actors
956:Our Gang Follies of 1936
509:Lame Brains and Lunatics
355:in the U.S. Navy during
649:Richmond Times Dispatch
173:Los Angeles, California
153:Los Angeles, California
55:Los Angeles, California
460:"Harry Sherman Bonner"
276:Allen "Farina" Hoskins
257:
201:
611:. Racine, Wisconsin:
381:San Diego, California
249:
195:
73:San Diego, California
900:Mama's Little Pirate
314:Waynesboro, Virginia
214:Educational Pictures
149:Educational Pictures
124:Harry Sherman Bonner
908:Anniversary Trouble
844:When the Wind Blows
699:. November 1, 2006.
353:Chief Petty Officer
234:The Flying Horseman
216:comedias, like the
188:Early acting career
1031:The Little Rascals
996:The Little Rascals
868:The First Round-Up
715:Together We served
511:. BearManor Media.
258:
220:, and in a couple
202:
130:, was an American
65:September 22, 2006
1093:
1092:
1084:Succeeded by
1059:
1058:
988:Feed 'em and Weep
613:The Journal Times
609:The Journal Times
226:Malcolm Sebastian
210:Juvenile Comedies
121:
120:
102:Years active
87:Hard-Boiled Harry
51:December 16, 1921
1177:
1065:Preceded by
1062:
1049:
1048:
972:Second Childhood
964:The Lucky Corner
860:For Pete's Sake!
794:
787:
780:
771:
725:
724:
722:
721:
707:
701:
700:
689:
683:
682:
679:Nashville Banner
675:Nashville Banner
671:
665:
664:
658:
656:
641:
635:
634:
623:
617:
616:
605:
599:
598:
591:
585:
568:
559:
542:
536:
519:
513:
512:
504:
498:
497:
495:
494:
480:
474:
473:
471:
470:
456:
450:
447:
441:
440:
438:
437:
421:
116:
80:Other names
68:
50:
48:
33:
19:
1185:
1184:
1180:
1179:
1178:
1176:
1175:
1174:
1095:
1094:
1089:
1080:
1070:
1060:
1055:
1037:
1010:
916:Beginner's Luck
823:
805:
798:
734:
729:
728:
719:
717:
709:
708:
704:
691:
690:
686:
673:
672:
668:
654:
652:
643:
642:
638:
625:
624:
620:
607:
606:
602:
595:The Parsons Sun
593:
592:
588:
571:Maltin, Leonard
569:
562:
545:Maltin, Leonard
543:
539:
522:Maltin, Leonard
520:
516:
506:
505:
501:
492:
490:
482:
481:
477:
468:
466:
458:
457:
453:
448:
444:
435:
433:
423:
422:
418:
413:
398:
389:
373:
333:
302:
293:Bouncing Babies
244:
218:Tuxedo Comedies
190:
185:
169:
86:
84:
75:
70:
66:
57:
52:
46:
44:
36:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1183:
1181:
1173:
1172:
1167:
1162:
1157:
1152:
1147:
1142:
1137:
1132:
1127:
1122:
1117:
1112:
1107:
1097:
1096:
1091:
1090:
1085:
1082:
1071:
1066:
1057:
1056:
1054:
1053:
1042:
1039:
1038:
1036:
1035:
1027:
1018:
1016:
1012:
1011:
1009:
1008:
1000:
992:
984:
980:General Spanky
976:
968:
960:
952:
944:
936:
928:
924:Teacher's Beau
920:
912:
904:
896:
888:
880:
872:
864:
856:
848:
840:
831:
829:
825:
824:
822:
821:
816:
810:
807:
806:
799:
797:
796:
789:
782:
774:
768:
767:
758:
753:
744:
733:
732:External links
730:
727:
726:
702:
684:
666:
661:Newspapers.com
636:
618:
600:
586:
560:
537:
514:
507:Massa, Steve.
499:
488:TheLuckyCorner
475:
451:
442:
415:
414:
412:
409:
408:
407:
397:
394:
388:
385:
375:Spear died of
372:
369:
332:
326:
301:
298:
290:film would be
253:The Old Wallop
243:
238:
189:
186:
184:
181:
168:
165:
145:short subjects
119:
118:
113:Thelma Spear (
111:
107:
106:
103:
99:
98:
93:
89:
88:
81:
77:
76:
71:
69:(aged 84)
63:
59:
58:
53:
42:
38:
37:
34:
26:
25:
22:
16:American actor
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1182:
1171:
1168:
1166:
1163:
1161:
1158:
1156:
1153:
1151:
1148:
1146:
1143:
1141:
1138:
1136:
1133:
1131:
1128:
1126:
1123:
1121:
1118:
1116:
1113:
1111:
1108:
1106:
1103:
1102:
1100:
1088:
1087:Jackie Cooper
1079:
1078:
1077:
1069:
1068:Scooter Lowry
1063:
1052:
1044:
1043:
1040:
1033:
1032:
1028:
1025:
1024:
1020:
1019:
1017:
1013:
1006:
1005:
1001:
998:
997:
993:
990:
989:
985:
982:
981:
977:
974:
973:
969:
966:
965:
961:
958:
957:
953:
950:
949:
948:Little Sinner
945:
942:
941:
937:
934:
933:
929:
926:
925:
921:
918:
917:
913:
910:
909:
905:
902:
901:
897:
894:
893:
892:Washee Ironee
889:
886:
885:
881:
878:
877:
873:
870:
869:
865:
862:
861:
857:
854:
853:
852:Hi'-Neighbor!
849:
846:
845:
841:
838:
837:
833:
832:
830:
826:
820:
817:
815:
812:
811:
808:
804:
803:
795:
790:
788:
783:
781:
776:
775:
772:
766:
762:
759:
757:
754:
752:
748:
745:
743:
739:
736:
735:
731:
716:
712:
706:
703:
698:
694:
693:"Harry Spear"
688:
685:
680:
676:
670:
667:
662:
650:
646:
640:
637:
632:
628:
622:
619:
614:
610:
604:
601:
596:
590:
587:
584:
583:0-517-58325-9
580:
576:
572:
567:
565:
561:
558:
557:0-517-58325-9
554:
550:
546:
541:
538:
535:
534:0-517-58325-9
531:
527:
523:
518:
515:
510:
503:
500:
489:
485:
484:"Harry Spear"
479:
476:
465:
461:
455:
452:
446:
443:
432:
431:
426:
420:
417:
410:
406:
404:
400:
399:
395:
393:
387:Personal life
386:
384:
382:
378:
377:kidney cancer
370:
368:
366:
362:
358:
354:
350:
346:
342:
338:
331:
327:
325:
323:
319:
318:Horatio Alger
315:
311:
307:
299:
297:
295:
294:
289:
285:
284:Jackie Cooper
281:
277:
273:
272:Scooter Lowry
269:
268:
263:
255:
254:
248:
242:
239:
237:
235:
231:
227:
223:
219:
215:
211:
207:
199:
194:
187:
183:Acting career
182:
180:
176:
174:
166:
164:
161:
156:
154:
150:
146:
143:
142:
137:
133:
129:
125:
112:
108:
104:
100:
97:
94:
90:
82:
78:
74:
64:
60:
56:
43:
39:
35:Spear in 1927
32:
27:
20:
1074:
1073:
1029:
1021:
1002:
994:
986:
978:
970:
962:
954:
946:
938:
930:
922:
914:
906:
898:
890:
882:
876:Honky Donkey
874:
866:
858:
850:
842:
834:
800:
765:Find a Grave
718:. Retrieved
714:
705:
696:
687:
674:
669:
659:– via
653:. Retrieved
648:
639:
626:
621:
608:
603:
594:
589:
574:
548:
540:
525:
517:
508:
502:
491:. Retrieved
487:
478:
467:. Retrieved
464:FamilySearch
463:
454:
445:
434:. Retrieved
428:
419:
402:
390:
374:
357:World War II
348:
336:
334:
329:
321:
310:Roy Randolph
303:
291:
287:
267:Chicken Feed
265:
261:
259:
251:
240:
222:Smith Family
221:
217:
209:
205:
203:
198:Raisin' Cain
197:
177:
170:
159:
157:
139:
136:vaudevillian
127:
123:
122:
67:(2006-09-22)
1130:2006 deaths
1125:1921 births
1034:(1982–1984)
940:Little Papa
932:Sprucin' Up
884:Mike Fright
814:Filmography
761:Harry Spear
747:Harry Spear
738:Harry Spear
365:Vietnam War
132:child actor
128:Harry Spear
96:Child actor
23:Harry Spear
1099:Categories
1081:1927–1929
1015:Television
720:2023-06-06
493:2023-06-06
469:2023-05-27
436:2023-04-15
411:References
361:Korean War
345:California
306:vaudeville
300:Vaudeville
280:bowler hat
230:Buck Jones
167:Early life
117:1957-2006)
92:Occupation
47:1921-12-16
819:Personnel
430:Pinterest
405:personnel
341:San Diego
250:Spear in
196:Spear in
105:1927–1929
1145:Our Gang
1076:Our Gang
1051:Category
836:Our Gang
751:AllMovie
403:Our Gang
396:See also
349:Our Gang
337:Our Gang
324:alumni.
322:Our Gang
288:Our Gang
262:Our Gang
241:Our Gang
206:Our Gang
160:Our Gang
141:Our Gang
85:Freckles
655:June 7,
256:(1927).
200:(1926).
1026:(1979)
1007:(2014)
999:(1994)
991:(1938)
983:(1936)
975:(1936)
967:(1936)
959:(1935)
951:(1935)
943:(1935)
935:(1935)
927:(1935)
919:(1935)
911:(1935)
903:(1934)
895:(1934)
887:(1934)
879:(1934)
871:(1934)
863:(1934)
855:(1934)
847:(1930)
839:(1922)
581:
555:
532:
359:, the
330:Rascal
110:Spouse
83:Ginger
828:Films
371:Death
328:Lost
742:IMDb
657:2023
579:ISBN
553:ISBN
530:ISBN
363:and
134:and
62:Died
41:Born
763:at
749:at
740:at
1101::
713:.
695:.
677:.
647:.
563:^
486:.
462:.
427:.
367:.
343:,
296:.
236:.
155:.
793:e
786:t
779:v
723:.
663:.
496:.
472:.
439:.
115:m
49:)
45:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.