Biography
When Scotty Beckett was three years old, his father was hospitalized in Los Angeles. During a visit, Beckett entertained his convalescing dad by singing several songs. A Hollywood casting director overheard the boy and suggested to his parents that Beckett had movie potential. The wide-eyed, tousle-haired youngster made his screen debut opposite
Ann Harding and
Clive Brook in 1933's
Gallant Lady. In 1934, he was signed by
Hal Roach for the
Our Gang series; in the 13 two-reelers produced between 1934 and 1935, Beckett appeared as the best pal and severest critic of rotund
Gang star Spanky McFarland. This stint led to such choice feature-film assignments as
Anthony Adverse (1936) (in which Beckett played the out-of-wedlock son of
Fredric March and
Olivia de Havilland),
Marie Antoinette (1938) (as the Dauphin) and
My Favorite Wife (1940) (as one of the two kids of
Cary Grant and his long-lost wife
Irene Dunne). In 1939, Beckett briefly returned to the
Our Gang fold, playing "Alfalfa" Switzer's brainy Cousin Wilbur in a brace of one-reelers. Beckett was frequently called upon for "the leading man as a child" roles, playing youthful versions of
Louis Hayward in My Son, My Son (1940),
Don Ameche in
Heaven Can Wait (1943), and
Jon Hall in
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (1940). As he matured, Beckett was often cast as obnoxious younger brothers, notably in the 1943 Broadway play Slightly Married and the 1948
Jane Powell vehicle
A Date with Judy (playing the sibling of none other than
Elizabeth Taylor). On radio, Beckett played Junior Riley in the popular
William Bendix sitcom
The Life of Riley, and on television he was seen as Cadet Winky in the early sci-fi series Rocky Jones, Space Ranger. Scotty Beckett's last film was 1956's
Three For Jamie Dawn. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide