Angelo Rossitto
Angelo Salvatore Rossitto (February 18, 1908 – September 21, 1991) was an American actor and voice artist. He had dwarfism and was 2'11" (89 cm) tall, and was often billed as Little Angie or Moe. Angelo first appeared in silent films opposite Lon Chaney and John Barrymore. On-screen, he portrayed everything from dwarfs, midgets, gnomes, and pygmies as well as monsters, villains, and aliens, with appearances in more than 70 films.
Rossitto was born in Omaha, Nebraska to Salvatore Rossitto and Carmela Caniglia, both born in Carlentini, Province of Siracusa, Sicily, Italy, and had a sister, Josephine Rossitto.
He was discovered by John Barrymore and made his screen debut opposite Barrymore in The Beloved Rogue (1927). That same year he appeared in Warner Brother's Old San Francisco. He appeared in the controversial 1932 film Freaks directed by Tod Browning, and another controversial film, 1938's Child Bride. During the 1940s, he appeared in several poverty row movies starring Bela Lugosi. He appeared frequently in television series and mini-series, particularly best known for the police drama Baretta, and his later film roles included appearances in Alex in Wonderland (1970), Brain of Blood (1971), Dracula vs. Frankenstein (1971), Little Cigars (1973), and Fairy Tales (1978). His last major role was as "Master" opposite Mel Gibson in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985).
Rossitto appears alongside singer/songwriter Tom Waits and Lee Kolima on the cover art of Waits' 1983 album Swordfishtrombones, which pays homage to his performance in Freaks. He also appears on the cover of Bob Dylan's album The Basement Tapes.
Acting
Movie
The Wizard of Oz
as Munchkin Villager (uncredited)
1939
Movie
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
as Master
1985
TV
Star Trek: The Next Generation
as Spectator (uncredited)
1987
Movie
Freaks
as Angeleno
1932
TV
The Incredible Hulk
as Tom Thumb (uncredited)
1977
Movie
The Greatest Show on Earth
as Dwarf (uncredited)
1952
TV
Kung Fu
as Angelo (uncredited)
1972
Movie
The Other Side of the Wind
as Angelo
2018
TV
Amazing Stories
as Vaudevillian
1985
Movie
Something Wicked This Way Comes
as Little Person #1
1983
Movie
Doctor Dolittle
as Dwarf (uncredited)
1967
TV
Starsky & Hutch
as Big Ben
1975
Movie
Pocketful of Miracles
as Angie (uncredited)
1961
Movie
Babes in Toyland
as Elmer - Second Little Pig / 1st Sandman in Cave (uncredited)
1934
Movie
The Other
as Sideshow Performer (uncredited)
1972
TV
The Rockford Files
as Dwarf Patient (uncredited)
1974
TV
Gunsmoke
as Billy (uncredited)
1955
Movie
Hellzapoppin'
as Dwarf Devil (uncredited)
1941
Movie
The Trip
as Dwarf in Forest Fantasy (uncredited)
1967
Movie
The Spider Woman
as Obongo - Pygmy (uncredited)
1943
Movie
From a Whisper to a Scream
as Tinker
1987
Movie
The Stone Killer
as Little Man in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
1973
Movie
Galaxina
as Monster from Egg
1980
Movie
Dementia
as Newsboy (uncredited)
1955