Norman Myers Chaney October 18, 1914, Cambridge, MD - May 29, 1936, Baltimore, MD.
In the fall of 1928, Our Gang producer Hal Roach and director Robert F. McGowan began to look for an overweight child actor to replace Joe Cobb in the popular film series. Cobb was twelve years old, and the series was about to transition to sound. Roach and McGowan held a nationwide contest to find a replacement for Cobb. Chaney won this contest in early 1929 and was offered a two-year contract. His stay with the series was brief, but he made a memorable impression on generations of fans.
At the time, Chaney was only 3' 11" and weighed about 113 pounds (119 cm and 51 kg respectively). He was nicknamed "Chubby" for the series, and he appeared in 19 Our Gang films over a period of two years. Norman Chaney and Joe Cobb appeared in three shorts together. Chubby's meatiest moments are in "Love Business", in which he competed with Jackie Cooper for the affections of their teacher, Miss Crabtree (bringing her flowers and candy, he coyly proposes, "Don't call me Norman; Call me 'Chubsy-Ubsy'").
By spring 1931, Chaney was getting taller and increasingly heavier. He finished out the 1930–31 season without being offered another contract. Both Chaney and his parents decided he would not pursue acting following his final Our Gang short, "Fly My Kite". Chaney's departure occurred during a period of great cast turnover, as Allen Hoskins (a member of the original 1922 cast), Jackie Cooper and Mary Ann Jackson had outgrown the series as well.
Chaney returned to his native Baltimore and attended public school, where he excelled in his studies. In spite of having a normal diet and regular exercise since childhood, he continued to gain weight and eventually topped 300 lb. (140 kg), though he never grew beyond 4 ft 7 in (1.4 m). His weight continued to increase, and it was discovered that he had a glandular ailment. In 1935, Chaney underwent treatment for the ailment at Johns Hopkins Hospital; his weight then dropped from over 300 lb (140 kg) to less than 140 lb (64 kg).
Chaney 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). He was the first of the regular Our Gang alumni to die.
