Joe Cobb
Joe Frank Cobb (November 7, 1916 – May 21, 2002) was an American child actor, most notable for appearing as the original "fat boy" in the "Our Gang" comedies from 1922 to 1929. Early life and career. Born in Shawnee, Oklahoma on November 7, 1916, Cobb auditioned for producer Hal Roach's "Our Gang" comedy series at the age of five in 1921. He first worked with the series in 1922, appearing in "The Champeen" (1923) and "The Big Show" (1923). Cobb appeared in the "Our Gang" series' last silent film, "Saturday's Lesson", and its first talking short , "Small Talk", both in 1929. His penultimate episode as a regular cast member was "Boxing Gloves" (1929) when he was 12. Joining him in that film (a remake of "The Champeen") is 'Chubby' (15-year-old Norman Chaney), Cobb's successor as the 'fat kid', and Jackie Cooper in his film debut. Cobb's final regular "Our Gang" appearance was in the "Lazy Days" episode (released Aug. 4, 1929). He appeared in 86 "Our Gang" films during the seven years from 1922 to 1929. He also made three cameo appearances during the 1930s, in "Fish Hooky" (1933), "Pay as You  Exit" (1936), and "Reunion in Rhythm" (1937). After his acting career ended in the early 1940s, Cobb became an assembler for North American Aviation, a division of Rockwell International in Downey, California. He retired in 1981 at age 65. In 1986, decades after his last film role, he appeared in "Classic Comedy Teams", a 1986 documentary that looked at the "Our Gang" actors and other screen comedians. Death. Cobb died of natural causes on May 21, 2002, in Santa Ana, California.