Blake Collins, known for his role as Woim in the 1994 film "The Little Rascals," recently shared his experiences working at a McDonald's located inside a Walmart during his teenage years, despite his prior child-star fame.
Collins, now 41, recounted the awkwardness of being recognized by customers while working the cash register. "It was in a Walmart," Collins told People. "All my friends worked there in high school. It was fun, but it’s very awkward to be working a cash register at McDonald’s; you’re 15 years old, someone going like, ‘Can I get a number one, please? Wait, I know you from somewhere. Were you in ‘The Little Rascals?’ And I’m like, ‘Yes.’ And they’re like, ‘Now you work at McDonald’s?’ I’m like, ‘Yes.’"
He noted that his experience highlights that child actors often do not earn as much as the public might assume. This sentiment was further explored on his podcast, "The Not So Little Rascals," which he hosts with former "Little Rascals" co-star Jordan Warkol, who played Froggy. In one episode, they interviewed other former child actors about their financial experiences, which yielded "wildly mixed" responses, ranging from parents mismanaging or stealing earnings to diligent financial stewardship.
Collins explained his decision to step away from acting as a teenager was driven by a desire for a more normal life and to reset his relationship with his mother, who had been his manager. He sought to participate in typical high school activities, such as playing sports and socializing with friends. He described the child acting career as a demanding "grind," involving long days of travel for auditions and filming, often returning home late.
Warkol, who now works in business development, has also spoken about their shared past. Another "Little Rascals" co-star, Bug Hall, who played Alfalfa, has opted for a significantly different post-Hollywood path, reportedly living off the grid with his family in Arkansas in a camper van after taking a "vow of poverty."