Lee was born in Fort Worth, Texas, as Eugene Lee, and was adopted. Lee got his break in motion pictures in 1935, after producer Hal Roach noted how much the 18-month-old toddler resembled Our Gang star George McFarland, also from Texas. The Lee family traveled from Texas to Culver City, California, and Eugene Lee, nicknamed "Porky" by the studio, joined the cast as Spanky's little brother. Porky appeared in 42 Our Gang comedies over four years. Lee, McFarland, and Our Gang co-stars Carl Switzer, Billie Thomas and Darla Hood constituted what is today the most familiar incarnation of Our Gang.