Upon being discovered at age three, he instantly became a key member of the "Our Gang" children's comedy movie series and one of Hollywood's stars. His earliest films show him as an outspoken toddler, grumpily going along with the rest of the gang. His scene-stealing abilities brought him more attention, and by 1935 he was the "de facto" leader of the gang, often paired with Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer, and always the enterprising "idea man". Switzer's character became as much of a scene-stealer as the young McFarland was, and the two boys' fathers fought constantly over screen time and star billing for their children.