In 1994, the film The Little Rascals introduced a new generation of kids to the beloved characters from the original 1920s-30s shorts.
Among the cast was child actor Blake Jeremy Collins, who played the minor but memorable role of Woim.
With his iconic mullet hairstyle and antagonistic demeanor, Collins brought the mischievous Woim to life on the big screen.
However, while co-stars like Bug Hall and Brittany Ashton Holmes went on to continued acting work, Blake Jeremy Collins seemed to step away from Hollywood after his Little Rascals role.
So what became of the young actor who portrayed the mulleted prankster Woim back in 1994?
Acting Career
Blake Jeremy Collins began acting around the age of five. His journey started when a talent agent scouting his school approached his mother about potential auditions.
Blake’s first two auditions led to commercials, one for Plastix and another for Burger King promoting the movie “Aladdin.”
These early successes propelled him into more acting roles, eventually leading to his role in “The Little Rascals.”
The Little Rascals
“The Little Rascals” is a 1994 American family comedy film directed by Penelope Spheeris. It is a modern adaptation of Hal Roach’s “Our Gang” shorts from the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s.
The film brings to life the misadventures of a group of neighborhood children, capturing the innocence, mischief, and camaraderie that defined the original series.
Set in the fictional town of Greenpoint, the story revolves around the “He-Man Woman Haters Club,” a boys-only club where the members vow to steer clear of girls, especially girlfriends.
However, things take a turn when Alfalfa, one of the club’s key members, falls in love with Darla, leading to a series of comedic events.
The plot thickens with a go-kart race, where the boys compete against a pair of bullies for the prized trophy and the honor of their club.
Blake Jeremy Collins played the role of Woim in the film. Woim is the sidekick to Butch, the primary antagonist.
Together, Butch and Woim serve as the main bullies who constantly antagonize the “He-Man Woman Haters Club” members, especially during the go-kart race.
Collins would star in the movie alongside Travis Tedford, Kevin Jamal Woods, Sam Saletta, Bug Hall and Brittany Ashton Holmes.
Origin of the Character’s Name
Blake shared an interesting tidbit about the origin of his character’s name. Originally, the character was named “Worm.” However, due to the heavy New York accent of the actor who played the character in the original “Our Gang” series, it sounded more like “Woim.”
This pronunciation stuck, and the character was renamed Woim for the 1994 adaptation.
Memorable Filming Moments
One of the standout memories Blake recounted was the filming of a mud scene. The young actors were covered in mud for the scene, and after filming, they needed to clean up.
However, there were no shower facilities on set. The solution? The production team found a new housing track being constructed nearby in either Pasadena or Agua Dulce.
The homes were not yet sold and were empty. The team got permission to use the showers in these houses.
However, there was a catch: the houses didn’t have heating yet. This meant that the young actors had to endure freezing cold showers.
Blake humorously recalled how their mothers were present, taking pictures of them as they showered, capturing the hilarious and unexpected moment.
Connections with Co-Stars
Blake’s time on “The Little Rascals” set allowed him to form bonds with his fellow young actors.
He mentioned that he still keeps in touch with some of them. For instance, Jordan Warkol, who played Froggy, remains a dear friend.
Their families have been close for nearly three decades, with their mothers being best friends who move closer to each other whenever one relocates.
Blake also mentioned occasional interactions with other co-stars, such as Zach Mabry (Porky) and Sam Saletta (Butch).
He recalled a chance meeting with Sam Saletta at a hockey game, where they took a picture together and reminisced about their time on set.
Career After The Little Rascals
After playing the memorable role of Woim in The Little Rascals film in 1994, Blake Jeremy Collins had a few sporadic acting credits over the next several years.
In 1995, he appeared in an episode of the sitcom Minor Adjustments. Collins then played small roles in two additional sitcoms – Men Behaving Badly in 1997 and 7th Heaven in 1999.
Blake stopped acting at 14, seeking a more typical teenage life.
Later, he transitioned to camera work, starting as a camera PA and working his way up. He credits his entry into this field to a cameraman he had worked with on several commercials as a child.
He got his start as a camera trainee on the TV series Terriers in 2010 and then worked his way up to digital loader on shows like Touch and Sons of Anarchy between 2012-2014.
Collins began working as a 2nd assistant camera, including on movies like Grudge Match and Mistresses.
What is Blake Jeremy Collins Doing Now?
(photo)
Blake Collins is still working behind the scenes in the camera and electrical department of filmmaking.
In more recent years, he has continued working as a 1st and 2nd AC on major productions such as The Suicide Squad, Ad Astra, Wonder Woman 1984, Animal Kingdom, Shameless, and the DC series All American.
Currently, Collins is working as a 1st assistant camera on the upcoming sci-fi film Rebel Moon.
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