Donald Haines
Encyclopedia
Donald Haines was an American
child actor
who had recurring appearances in the Our Gang
short subjects series from 1929 to 1933.
Haines's first short was Shivering Shakespeare
, which featured the youngster giggling his way through his lines. On the next short The First Seven Years
, he was a main character, playing opposite Jackie Cooper
. After that, he was a recurring character with a few small speaking roles until 1931. At that time he was offered a contract with Paramount
, which would begin with a role in a feature called Skippy
. Jackie Cooper also was offered a role on that feature and a contract. Both Jackie and Donald are missing from the final scenes of the second to last short made in the 1930-31 season, Bargain Day
to begin work at Paramount.
Cooper would remain at Paramount. Haines, on the other hand, would quickly leave Paramount to return to Hal Roach Studios just in time for the 1931-1932 season. At that point, several major characters left the series because children age and grow up. This left a depleted Our Gang of only three regulars and a few recurring characters. Haines would resume his role as a recurring character with an occasional speaking role for the next two seasons.
, and Boys of the City
as "Pee Wee", then That Gang of Mine
, Pride of the Bowery
, Flying Wild
, Bowery Blitzkrieg
and Spooks Run Wild
as "Skinny". Was Jerry, Jr. in "A Tale of Two Cities", 1935; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corporation.
on December 10, 1941, to serve in World War II
. He was killed in action
shortly after entering the service. At the time of his death, his rank was First Lieutenant
. The exact date and place of his death remain unknown.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
child actor
Child actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
who had recurring appearances in the Our Gang
Our Gang
Our Gang, also known as The Little Rascals or Hal Roach's Rascals, was a series of American comedy short films about a group of poor neighborhood children and the adventures they had together. Created by comedy producer Hal Roach, the series is noted for showing children behaving in a relatively...
short subjects series from 1929 to 1933.
Our Gang
Haines's tenure began during the early talkies up through the "Miss Crabtree episodes," when he would leave for feature films at Paramount only to return a few months later. His tenure continued through 1933.Haines's first short was Shivering Shakespeare
Shivering Shakespeare
Shivering Shakespeare is an Our Gang short film directed by Robert A. McGowan under the pseudonym "Anthony Mack". Produced by Hal Roach and released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was the 95th Our Gang short to be released.-Plot:...
, which featured the youngster giggling his way through his lines. On the next short The First Seven Years
The First Seven Years
The First Seven Years is a 1930 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 96th Our Gang short that was released.-Plot:...
, he was a main character, playing opposite Jackie Cooper
Jackie Cooper
Jackie Cooper was an American actor, television director, producer and executive. He was a child actor who managed to make the transition to an adult career. Cooper was the first child actor to receive an Academy Award nomination...
. After that, he was a recurring character with a few small speaking roles until 1931. At that time he was offered a contract with Paramount
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
, which would begin with a role in a feature called Skippy
Skippy
Skippy may refer to:* Skippy , portrayed the character Asta in a 1934 film, The Thin Man* Skippy * Skippy , in computers* Scipionyx samniticus, dinosaurMusicians* Scott "Skippy" Chapman keyboardist, guitar...
. Jackie Cooper also was offered a role on that feature and a contract. Both Jackie and Donald are missing from the final scenes of the second to last short made in the 1930-31 season, Bargain Day
Bargain Day
Bargain Day is a 1931 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 106th Our Gang short that was released.-Plot:...
to begin work at Paramount.
Cooper would remain at Paramount. Haines, on the other hand, would quickly leave Paramount to return to Hal Roach Studios just in time for the 1931-1932 season. At that point, several major characters left the series because children age and grow up. This left a depleted Our Gang of only three regulars and a few recurring characters. Haines would resume his role as a recurring character with an occasional speaking role for the next two seasons.
Later career
Haines left the Our Gang series in 1933, but continued working as an actor at Hal Roach studios on many shorts and features until 1941. This included the East Side Kids films, beginning with East Side KidsEast Side Kids
The East Side Kids were characters in a series of films released by Monogram Pictures from 1940 through 1945. Many of them were originally part of The Dead End Kids and The Little Tough Guys, and several of them later became members of The Bowery Boys....
, and Boys of the City
Boys of the City
Boys of the City is a 1940 black-and-white comedy/thriller film directed by Joseph H. Lewis. It is the second East Side Kids film and the first to star Bobby Jordan, Leo Gorcey, and Ernest Morrison.-The East Side Kids:*Bobby Jordan as Danny Dolan...
as "Pee Wee", then That Gang of Mine
That Gang of Mine
That Gang of Mine is a 1940 film and the third film in the East Side Kids series.-The East Side Kids:*Bobby Jordan as Danny Dolan*Leo Gorcey as Muggs Maloney*Sunshine Sammy as Scruno*David Gorcey as Peewee*Donald Haines as Skinny...
, Pride of the Bowery
Pride of the Bowery
Pride of the Bowery is a black-and-white 1941 film and the fourth installment in the East Side Kids series. It was directed by Joseph H. Lewis and produced by Sam Katzman. It was released by Monogram Pictures on January 31, 1941.-Synopsis:...
, Flying Wild
Flying Wild
Flying Wild is a 1941 film and the fifth installment of the East Side Kids series.-Plot:The gang, except for Muggs, works at an aviation factory where spys are present...
, Bowery Blitzkrieg
Bowery Blitzkrieg
Bowery Blitzkrieg is a 1941 film and the sixth installment of the East Side Kids series.It was released in the United Kingdom under the title Stand and Deliver.-Cast:The East Side Kids:* Muggs McGinnis- Leo Gorcey...
and Spooks Run Wild
Spooks Run Wild
Spooks Run Wild is a 1941 film and the seventh film in the East Side Kids series, starring Bela Lugosi, Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, and Bobby Jordan. Released in 1941, it was directed by Phil Rosen, in his first and only outing in the series, and produced by Sam Katzman . It is based on an original...
as "Skinny". Was Jerry, Jr. in "A Tale of Two Cities", 1935; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corporation.
World War II and death
Haines enlisted as an aviation cadet in the United States Army Air ForcesUnited States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
on December 10, 1941, to serve in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
shortly after entering the service. At the time of his death, his rank was First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
. The exact date and place of his death remain unknown.