Jackie Searl, a renowned child actor of the 1930s, may not have achieved the same level of fame as Jackie Cooper or Freddie Bartholomew, yet he still garnered a notable film following during his youth.
Born in Anaheim, California in 1921, Searl's acting career began at the tender age of three with his debut on L.A. radio in "The Children's Hour". By the end of the 1920s, he made the transition to the big screen, initially playing the role of mean little Sid Sawyer in the classic Mark Twain film adaptation of Tom Sawyer (1930).
Paramount Pictures subsequently signed Searl to a contract, and he went on to star in a string of films, including Finn and Hattie (1931),Huckleberry Finn (1931),Skippy (1931),Topaze (1933),and as Dormouse in Alice in Wonderland (1933). He became notorious for his portrayal of spoiled brats, squealers, and sandbox bullies, earning the nickname "The Kid Everybody Wants to Spank" on the Paramount sets.
Searl continued to appear in secondary roles throughout his teenage years, with parts in films such as Ginger (1935),Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936),That Certain Age (1938),and Small Town Deb (1941). He served in World War II and attempted to revive his acting career upon his discharge, although he struggled to regain his footing.
In the 1960s, Searl transitioned to character roles, often playing minor heavies in films such as The Couch (1962) and Shotgun Wedding (1963),as well as TV dramas. He eventually retired in the 1970s and passed away in 1991.
