When you think of a bully, you usually think of a lone wolf. Someone big, mean, and looming. But in the world of Our Gang, things worked a little differently. If you grew up watching the 1994 film or the classic black-and-white shorts, you know that Butch was never truly Butch without his right-hand man. We’re talking about Woim from The Little Rascals, the character whose name is literally just a thick Brooklyn-accented version of "Worm."
He was the hype man. The coat-holder. The guy who would stand there looking menacing just to make the main bully look even scarier. Honestly, without Woim, Butch was just a kid with a mean streak; with Woim, he was the leader of a neighborhood syndicate.
Who Exactly Was Woim?
Basically, Woim was the ultimate "second-in-command." In the original Our Gang shorts (which later became known as The Little Rascals on TV), he was played by Sidney Kibrick. Kibrick didn't start out as the iconic sidekick. He actually popped up in various minor roles before the creators realized he had the perfect face for a mischievous tough kid.
It’s kinda fascinating because his older brother, Leonard Kibrick, was actually the original bully in the series before Tommy Bond (the most famous Butch) took over. Showbiz was a family affair back then. Sidney eventually settled into the role of Woim, appearing in about two dozen shorts between 1935 and 1939.
The name "Woim" is a perfect example of 1930s Hollywood logic. Since the character was supposed to be a tough street kid, they gave him a "Brooklyn" pronunciation of Worm. It stuck. Every time Butch had a problem with Spanky or Alfalfa, Woim was right there, probably sneering and looking like he was ready to cause trouble, even if he rarely did the actual fighting.
The 1994 Reboot and Blake Jeremy Collins
Most people today probably recognize Woim from The Little Rascals because of the 1994 Universal Pictures movie. In that version, the role was taken over by Blake Jeremy Collins.
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He nailed it.
The chemistry between Collins and Sam Saletta (who played Butch) was one of the highlights of the movie. They were like a miniature version of a classic noir duo. One of the best tidbits about that production? Blake Jeremy Collins and Bug Hall—the actor who played Alfalfa—were actually best friends in real life. Imagine that. They spent the whole movie trying to sabotage each other’s soapbox derby dreams, but once the cameras stopped rolling, they were just two kids hanging out.
If you’re wondering where Blake Jeremy Collins is now, he didn't follow the typical "child star" path into obscurity or scandal. Instead, he stayed in the industry but moved behind the lens. He’s had a very successful career as a camera operator. You’ve probably seen his work without realizing it; he’s worked on massive projects like Shameless, The Suicide Squad, and Army of the Dead.
The Passing of a Legend: Sidney Kibrick
We actually lost a piece of history very recently. Sidney Kibrick, the original Woim, passed away on January 2, 2026, at the age of 97.
He was actually the last surviving regular from the original Our Gang cast. Think about that for a second. He was the final link to a style of filmmaking that literally doesn't exist anymore. Kibrick was always very open about his time on the set, describing it as a "grind" but a rewarding one.
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The kids worked hard. We’re talking six to sixteen hours a day.
They had a couple of hours of schooling in the morning and then it was straight to the backlot.
Kibrick eventually walked away from acting when he was just 11 or 12 years old. He told his parents he was finished, and he meant it. He went on to attend USC and became a highly successful real estate developer in Southern California. He’s a rare example of a child star who made a clean break and lived a long, happy, "normal" life.
Why the Character Still Works
Why do we still care about a sidekick character from nearly a century ago? It’s because Woim from The Little Rascals represents a very specific archetype. He’s the loyal friend who might be backing the wrong horse, but he’s backing him 100%.
- He provided the "muscle" (or the illusion of it).
- He gave the bully a sounding board for his ridiculous plans.
- He added a layer of comedy to the "villainy" of the show.
In the original shorts like Glove Taps (1937) or Rushin' Ballet (1937), Woim is essential for setting the stakes. When Butch and Woim show up, the audience knows the Rascals are in trouble. It’s a classic dynamic that influenced everything from The Simpsons (think Nelson Muntz and his cronies) to basically every high school movie in the 80s.
Life on the Hal Roach Set
Working on The Little Rascals wasn't all sunshine and lollipops. Sidney Kibrick once mentioned that while the director Gordon Douglas was a "terrific guy," the environment was intense. The kids were essentially professionals doing an adult's job.
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Interestingly, Kibrick mentioned that Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer was actually a bit of a terror in real life. While the world loved Alfalfa for his off-key singing and cowlick, Kibrick recalled that he was a difficult kid who was often mean to the extras. It just goes to show that the on-screen dynamics weren't always a reflection of what was happening when the director yelled "cut."
Finding Woim Today
If you want to revisit the character, you’ve got two main paths. You can dive into the classic shorts on streaming services that specialize in vintage cinema, or you can go the nostalgia route with the 1994 film.
The character of Woim teaches us a weirdly practical lesson about loyalty and the roles we play in a group. He wasn't the leader, but he was indispensable. He was the guy who made the "bad guys" feel like a team.
To really appreciate the history of Woim from The Little Rascals, you should look into the following:
- Watch "Glove Taps" (1937): This is one of the best showcases of the Butch and Woim dynamic. It captures that 1930s neighborhood vibe perfectly.
- Look up Sidney Kibrick’s later interviews: Before he passed, he gave some great interviews about the transition from Hollywood star to real estate mogul. It’s an inspiring story of life after fame.
- Check the credits: Next time you watch a big-budget action movie, keep an eye out for Blake Collins in the camera department. It’s a cool way to see how the legacy of the Rascals continues in modern Hollywood.
There’s something timeless about those kids. Whether it’s 1935 or 2026, the idea of a bunch of neighborhood kids—bullies and rascals alike—just trying to navigate their world is something everyone gets. Woim was a huge part of that magic. He wasn't just a sidekick; he was the glue that made the neighborhood feel real.
Now that you know the history, take a moment to look up some of the old production photos from the 1930s. Seeing Sidney Kibrick and Tommy Bond in full costume, looking like they own the streets of Los Angeles, is a trip. It’s a reminder of a time when movie magic was built on simple gags and big personalities.