Sidney Kibrick, the child actor who played Woim, the sidekick to bully Butch in Our Gang—later known as The Little Rascals—died in January 2026 at 97. Published accounts disagree on whether he died January 2 or January 3, and the reports cited here do not establish a cause of death.
Who was Sidney Kibrick?
Born July 2, 1928, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Kibrick began appearing in films when he was five. He became familiar to generations of viewers as Woim, Butch’s loyal sidekick in the Our Gang comedy shorts. The character’s name reflects a Brooklyn pronunciation of “worm,” according to Kibrick’s 2023 interview with Nick Thomas in The Best of Times.
Kibrick said he was discovered after a family outing to a movie theater. In Thomas’s interview, he described the parts he and Butch played in the shorts: “I was Butch’s sidekick and we were the bad guys always taking on Spanky, Alfalfa, and Darla (Hood).” He appeared in more than two dozen Our Gang shorts, according to that 2023 profile.
When did Sidney Kibrick die, and how old was he?
Kibrick died in January 2026 at age 97. The precise day is unsettled in the published accounts: Legacy’s obituary, published May 6, gives January 2 and says he died at a Los Angeles hospital. Parade’s January 6 report, citing confirmation from his daughter Jane Lipsic to The Hollywood Reporter, gives January 3 and identifies a Northridge hospital. The accounts do not establish a cause of death.
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What did Kibrick do after acting?
Kibrick eventually left acting, attended the University of Southern California, and built a career in real estate development. In the 2023 interview, he recalled earning “$750 a week in ‘Our Gang’” and described that as a great deal at the time, particularly during the Depression; the amount is his recollection, not independently audited compensation data. He told Thomas: “I later attended college and became a real estate developer. So I had a very successful post-Hollywood career.”
What was it like working on Our Gang?
Kibrick recalled a demanding schedule that combined schooling and long workdays: “We’d have 2 hours of schooling in the morning and then work anywhere from 6 to 16 hours until we finished,” he told Thomas. He also credited director Gordon Douglas with helping the young cast deliver: “There was a lot of work, no question about it, but our director Gordon Douglas was a terrific guy and he was really able to get a lot out of each kid.”
Thomas’s 2023 profile describes Our Gang as a series of some 220 short films featuring about 40 regular child actors over its run. Those are figures reported in the interview article. Kibrick stayed connected to former castmates through reunions and friendships, including a lifelong friendship with George “Spanky” McFarland.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How did Kibrick remember the series?
In remarks quoted by Parade, Kibrick reflected on why the shorts continued to resonate: “I think people, even today, could identify with being a child and being mischievous when life was simple.” He added: “It was fun, and it made people laugh. … I was living the studio life. Those are memories I will never forget. It was a wonderful experience.”
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A 2023 interview also noted a centennial exhibit at the Hollywood Museum and a Blu-ray release connected with the anniversary. That mention does not establish the current availability or contents of any edition.
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