Norman Chaney, affectionately known as "Chubby" from Our Gang (also known as Little Rascals and Hal Roach’s Rascals), charmed audiences with his affable personality and comedic flair during the dawn of the sound era in film. However, behind the laughter, Chaney battled significant weight issues that ultimately contributed to his untimely death at the young age of 21. His story serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers of rapid weight loss and the importance of prioritizing health and well-being.
From Baltimore to Hollywood: Chaney's Rise to Fame
Born on October 18, 1914, in Cambridge, Maryland, Norman Chaney's journey to stardom began unexpectedly. In the fall of 1928, Hal Roach and director Robert F. McGowan, the producers of Our Gang, sought a replacement for Joe Cobb, who was outgrowing his role as "Chubby." They launched a nationwide casting call, and Chaney, a then 3' 11" and 113-pound boy from Baltimore, won the two-year contract in early 1929, beating out approximately 2,000 other boys.
McGowan said of Chaney, "He adapted gracefully, and we all liked him, he was a nice fellow." Chaney's easygoing personality and expressive face allowed him to seamlessly blend into the role. Character actor and comedian Edgar Kennedy even taught him his trademark “slow burn” technique, a slow series of exaggerated facial expressions that signaled exasperation.
Chaney made his debut in Railroadin', the second Our Gang short to incorporate sound. He appeared in 19 Our Gang films over two years, including shorts such as Boxing Gloves and Teacher's Pet. Notably, Chaney and Cobb appeared in three shorts together, easing viewers into the transition of their characters. Love Business is considered one of the series’ all-time classics, where Chaney attempts to woo his teacher Miss Crabtree, uttering the immortal line, "Don't call me Norman, call me "Chubby-Ubsy."
Weight Gain and Health Problems
Despite regular exercise and a normal diet since childhood, Chaney's weight continued to increase. By spring 1931, Chaney was getting taller and increasingly heavier, eventually topping 300 lb (140 kg), though he never grew beyond 4 ft 7 in (1.4 m). His weight gain raised eyebrows, and it was eventually discovered that he suffered from a glandular ailment.
Read also: Achieving Health Goals in Norman
The Dangers of Rapid Weight Loss
As Chaney moved into adolescence, his boyish looks changed, and his weight increased. He finished out the 1930-31 season without being offered another contract. The producers believed he had lost his "expressiveness." In 1935, Chaney sought treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital. There, he underwent treatment for his glandular disorder, which led to a dramatic weight loss. He went from 300 pounds to 140, and as the process continued, he reduced to 110 pounds.
Chaney's body, weakened by the extreme weight loss, could not withstand the strain. He became seriously ill from the stress on his body that the rapid weight loss caused and he died from myocarditis on May 29, 1936, at age 21, according to his death certificate. At the time of his death, Chaney weighed 110 lb (50 kg).
Chaney’s tragic story teaches us several important lessons:
- Rapid weight loss can be detrimental to your health.
- Extreme weight loss methods can put immense stress on your body, leading to serious health complications.
- Consult healthcare professionals before making significant weight loss attempts.
- Gradual, balanced weight loss is the recommended approach.
- Underlying health conditions should be investigated.
- Physical and mental health are closely connected.
Life After Our Gang and Untimely Death
After leaving the series in spring 1931, Chaney and his parents decided he would not pursue acting. He returned to his native Baltimore and attended public school, where he excelled in his studies.
Around the time of his demise, the "Little Hollywood" column of The Salt Lake Tribune released a heartwarming tribute. It was a letter from Chaney, and it revealed how much he yearned to be "just like other boys." In the letter, Chaney wished he could ride a horse and play baseball, but he also seemed to have resigned himself to the fate of being too heavy to do either of those things.
Read also: Lawrence Chaney on Body Image
An Unmarked Grave and a Fan's Dedication
Chaney was buried in Baltimore Cemetery in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. However, his grave remained unmarked for 76 years because his mother was not able to afford a marker for him or herself. Even though he was paid a weekly salary for his movie appearances, he never received any royalties or residuals for the films' subsequent uses.
Detroit rock musician MIKAL discovered Chaney's tragic story while researching the show online and thought it was heartbreaking for someone with such impact to be buried without recognition. MIKAL launched an online fundraising drive to purchase headstones for Chaney and his mother Carolyn Myers. After an article about it was published by The Baltimore Sun, donations as much as a hundred dollars started pouring in. Heather Brown-Simons from Baltimore's Hubbard Funeral Home helped arrange for the righteous campaign to work hand in hand with the W.S.Tegeler Monument Co. in Woodlawn. A total of $4,500 was eventually raised, mostly by Baltimore folks, and it was just barely enough to cover the cost of both headstones.
"I think they were taking care of their hometown, son," Mikal said just before the headstones were unveiled. "It's really Baltimore that made this happen."
The stones are reportedly etched in black granite, 28 inches wide and 16 inches tall. Chaney's headstone has his full birth details and a photo of his Chubby face making it easy for those who were touched by his acting to find him, should they wish to.
Read also: Weight Loss Guide Andalusia, AL