The Resume

(May 12, 1932-July 28, 2001)
Born in Los Angeles, California
Birth name was Robert LeRoy Overacker
Best known for appearing opposite W.C. Fields in the films ‘Tillie and Gus’ (1933), ‘The Old Fashioned Way’ (1934) and ‘It’s a Gift’ (1935)
Also appeared in ‘A Bedtime Story’ (1932), ‘Miss Fane’s Baby Is Stolen’ (1934), ‘The Lemon Drop Kid’ (1934) and ‘It’s a Great Life’ (1935)

Why he might be annoying:

His contract with Paramount Pictures had to be signed by his grandfather since his 16-year-old mother was underage.
He was a Hollywood has-been before reaching his fifth birthday.
He attempted a comeback at age eight in ‘The Biscuit Eater,’ but had to be replaced when he lost his voice after falling into a lake twice during the first day of filming.
He later noted, ‘When I was in grammar school, I got into many a fight over being called ‘baby.’’

Why he might not be annoying:

At sixteen months, he became the youngest person to receive star billing in a film.
Fields once spiked his formula with gin to keep him from crying while on the set.
Fields’ apparent hostility towards him inspired Leo Rosten’s famed tribute to Fields, ‘Any man who hates dogs and babies can’t be all bad.’
He became a merchant seaman as an adult.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 61]
• Child Stars [1930s]
• I Died in 2001 (Ranked: 69)
• I Was a Child Star
• Known By a Middle Name
• Profiles 37501-37750 (Ranked: 37749)
• Seamen

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying