BILLIE 'BUCKWHEAT' THOMAS BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:  
 
Billie 'Buckwheat' Thomas was born on March 12th, 1931 in Los Angeles, California with the birth name William Thomas Jr.  He is most well known as a child actor who portrayed the character, 'Buckwheat' in the, "Our Gang" "Little Rascals" film series which ran from 1934 until 1944.    

His experience as an actor first began with appearing in 1935 as the character, "Buckwheat" in "Mama's Little Pirate".  Even though he was a boy the character he played was a female just very tom-boy like.  Later his character did morph into a young boy.    

Some of the films he appeared in were, "The Pincher Singer" (1936) and "General Spanky" (1936).  He was in all but one of the shorts made in the series.  In 1938, the series changed production from Hal Roach Studio's to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, but the films continued.  He was the only cast member who made an appearance in all fifty two MGM, "Our Gang" short films.  At the age of twelve, he appeared in the final Our Gang short film, "Dancing Romeo" (1943).  
 
In 1954, Thomas joined the United States Army and served for two years.  Upon his return to Hollywood, he lacked the desire to continue a career as an actor.  After retiring from the acting industry he worked in Hollywood as a film lab technician for over twenty years.   
 
Thomas married for a short while and had one child, Billy Jr. before divorcing.  He passed away on October 10th, 1980 in Los Angeles, California after suffering from a heart attack.  He is interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California. 
 

Filmography

1945 Colorado Pioneers 
1944 Dancing Romeo 
1944 Tale of a Dog 
1944 Radio Bugs 
1943 Three Smart Guys 
1943 Little Miss Pinkerton 
1943 Election Daze 
1943 Honeymoon Lodge 
1943 Farm Hands 
1943 Heavenly Music 
1943 Calling All Kids 
1943 Family Troubles 
1943 Benjamin Franklin, Jr. 
1942 Whistling in Dixie 
1942 Unexpected Riches 
1942 Mighty Lak a Goat 
1942 Rover's Big Chance 
1942 Doin' Their Bit 
1942 Surprised Parties 
1942 Mokey 
1942 Don't Lie 
1942 Going to Press 
1942 Melodies Old and New 
1941 Wedding Worries 
1941 Come Back, Miss Pipps 
1941 Helping Hands 
1941 Robot Wrecks 
1941 1-2-3 Go! 
1941 Ye Olde Minstrels 
1941 Fightin' Fools 
1941 Baby Blues 
1940 Kiddie Kure 
1940 Goin' Fishin' 
1940 Waldo's Last Stand 
1940 Good Bad Boys 
1940 Bubbling Troubles 
1940 The New Pupil 
1940 All About Hash 
1940 The Big Premiere 
1940 Alfalfa's Double 
1939 Time Out for Lessons 
1939 Dad for a Day 
1939 Captain Spanky's Show Boat 
1939 Auto Antics 
1939 Dog Daze 
1939 Joy Scouts 
1939 Cousin Wilbur 
1939 Clown Princes 
1939 Duel Personalities 
1939 Tiny Troubles 
1939 Alfalfa's Aunt
1938 Practical Jokers 
1938 Football Romeo 
1938 Men in Fright 
1938 Aladdin's Lantern 
1938 Party Fever 
1938 The Little Ranger 
1938 Hide and Shriek 
1938 The Awful Tooth 
1938 Came the Brawn 
1938 Three Men in a Tub 
1938 Bear Facts 
1938 Canned Fishing 
1937 Our Gang Follies of 1938 
1937 Mail and Female 
1937 The Pigskin Palooka 
1937 Framing Youth 
1937 Fishy Tales 
1937 Night 'n' Gales 
1937 Roamin' Holiday 
1937 Three Smart Boys 
1937 Rushin' Ballet 
1937 Hearts Are Thumps 
1937 Glove Taps 
1937 Reunion in Rhythm 
1936 General Spanky 
1936 Spooky Hooky 
1936 Pay As You Exit 
1936 Two Too Young 
1936 Bored of Education 
1936 Arbor Day 
1936 Second Childhood 
1936 The Lucky Corner 
1936 Divot Diggers 
1936 The Pinch Singer 
1935 Our Gang Follies of 1936 
1935 Little Sinner 
1935 Little Papa 
1935 Sprucin' Up 
1935 Teacher's Beau 
1935 Beginner's Luck
1935 Anniversary Trouble 
1934 Shrimps for a Day 
1934 Mama's Little Pirate 
1934 Washee Ironee 
1934 The First Round-Up 
1934 For Pete's Sake