David Louis Leland, a talented Italian-born American child actor, entered this world on January 6, 1932, in the picturesque coastal town of Alassio, Italy. His paternal lineage can be traced back to Rome, where his father, Louis Leland, was born in 1879 to a paternal ancestor of American descent and a maternal ancestor of Italian origin. Meanwhile, his maternal side of the family hails from London, where his mother, Helena Leland, took her first breath around 1901 or 1902.
As a young individual, David's life was marked by a significant relocation to the United States, a move that took place in the early 1940s. This pivotal moment in his life laid the groundwork for his future endeavors, as he soon found himself embarking on a journey within the realm of acting. David's early foray into the world of show business was characterized by a series of appearances in various Hollywood films, a trend that continued throughout the 1940s. One of the most notable roles of his burgeoning career was his collaboration with the illustrious comedy duo Laurel and Hardy, in their later film, Nothing But Trouble.
David's life was tragically abbreviated, his mortality beset by the cruel hand of fate when he succumbed to the ravages of sepsis at the tender age of sixteen on November 7, 1948, in the City of Angels, Los Angeles, California.
