Jay R. Smith
Jay R. Smith (August 29, 1915 – October 5, 2002) was an American child actor and comedian who had a brief career appearing the Our Gang film short series during the silent Pathé era, from 1925 to 1929. He racked up appearances in 36 shorts, where he was billed as the skinny freckle-faced character "Specks". This series was syndicated to television as The Little Rascals. Career Smith's first film in the Our Gang series was Boys Will Be Joys in 1925. He rivalled the retiring Mickey Daniels as the freckle-faced kid in the gang and continued until the silent era ended. He also appeared as himself in 45 Minutes from Hollywood (1926). Bowing to pressure from the studio, Smith appeared in the sixth Our Gang talkie titled Moan and Groan, Inc. (1929), his only talkie. He was dissatisfied with his performance in the film and feared he would not have a successful career in talkies, he quit acting overall. He came back to appear in The Boy Friends' episode Blood and Thunder, where he was seen throwing water. Personal life Jay R. Smith, the son of a labourer, was one of 5 siblings. His younger brother, Donnie "Beezer" Smith, appeared