Top 20 Most Famous Little People in the World

Some of these little people are famous for their accomplishments, and others are because they’re little people. You should get to know them if you don’t know who they are. They might inspire you to become a laser-toting CEO, a professional gamer – or maybe even someday the first woman president.

This post will provide about the 15 most famous little people in the world! These little people will give you the courage and motivation to live your life like no one else.

1. Michael J. Anderson – American Actor 

Michael J Anderson	Information
Full Name	Michael J. Anderson – American Actor
Birthdate	October 31, 1953 (age 69)
Known For	Twin Peaks, Carnivàle
Height	3 ft 7 in (109 cm)
Occupation	Retired Actor
Genetic Disorder	Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Notable Roles	The Man from Another Place (Twin Peaks), Samson Leonhart (Carnivàle)
Previous Career	Computer Technician for Martin Marietta and NASA’s Space Shuttle support system
Documentary Appearance	“Little Mike: A Videoportrait of Michael Anderson”
Phonetically Reversed Speaking	Used as a secret language and incorporated in Twin Peaks
Appearance in Mulholland Drive	Portrayed a man of average height using a prosthetic body
Retirement	Has retired from the acting industry

Michael J. Anderson was born in 1953. He is an American actor, director, and writer best known for playing the 6′ tall actor “Lurch” on the TV show The Addams Family. Additionally, he is credited with creating and helming the 1990 film Trick or Treat (which starred a pre-Hannibal Lecter, Mads Mikkelsen).

If you’re interested in learning about other famous actors, check out this list of the 50 Most Famous 90s Actors of All Time. Many of these stars rose to fame during the iconic decade and continue to work in the entertainment industry today. From Tom Cruise to Julia Roberts, this list has it all!

2. Michael Dunn

Michael Dunn	Information
Full Name	Michael Dunn
Birthdate	October 20, 1934
Birthplace	Shattuck, Oklahoma, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Actor, Singer
Height	1.17 m (3 ft 10 in)
Condition	Medical dwarfism
Genetic Disorder	Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia (SED)
Education	University of Michigan
Notable Roles	Dr. Miguelito Loveless in “The Wild Wild West” television series
Awards	New York Critics’ Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor (1963)
Philanthropy	Dedicated philanthropist for children with dwarfism

Michael Dunn was born in 1934. American actor and singer Michael Dunn had dwarfism. He served as an inspiration for some performers who were substantially shorter and smaller than average (those who had dwarfism), such as Zelda Rubinstein, Eric the Actor, and Mark Povinelli.

3. Kenny Baker – English Actor

Kenny Baker	Information
Full Name	Kenny Baker – English Actor
Birthdate	August 24, 1934
Birthplace	Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
Profession	Actor, comedian, musician
Known For	Portraying R2-D2 in the Star Wars franchise
Height	1.12 m (3 ft 8 in)
Notable Films	The Elephant Man, Time Bandits, Willow, Flash Gordon,
Early Career	Joined John Lester’s theatrical troupe of dwarfs and
Star Wars Journey	Operated R2-D2 in six episodic theatrical Star Wars
Other Roles	Appeared in Casualty, The Chronicles of Narnia, and
Published Biography	“From Tiny Acorns: The Kenny Baker Story” (2009)
Personal Life	Married to actress Eileen Baker
Residence	Preston, Lancashire, England
Death	August 13, 2016
Funeral	Park Cemetery and Crematorium in Lytham St Annes

Kenneth George Baker was born in 1934. Baker was one of the best-known dwarf actors in the United Kingdom and the United States. He was 3′ 8″ (112 cm) tall. He began his movie career in 1968 as “R2-D2” in the first Star Wars movie: Episode IV, A New Hope.

Kenny Baker died on 13 August 2016 at Bath, Somerset, at age 81.

4. Herve Villechaize – French American Actor and Painter

Herve Villechaize	Information
Full Name	Herve Villechaize – French American Actor and Painter
Birthdate	April 23, 1943
Birthplace	Paris, France
Nationality	French-American
Occupation	Actor, Painter
Known For	– Evil henchman Nick Nack in The Man with the Golden Gun
Notable Work	– Nick Nack in The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
Television	Fantasy Island
Height	3 ft 11 in (119 cm)
Spouse(s)	– Anne Sadowski (married 1970, divorced 1979)
Death	September 4, 1993 (aged 50)
Cause of Death	Suicide
Resting Place	Ashes scattered into the Pacific Ocean
Education	– Self-taught English by watching television
Notable Appearances	– Oscar the Grouch’s legs on Sesame Street
Additional Projects	– Single “Why” with Children of the World (1980)
Legacy	Subject of the film “My Dinner with Hervé” (2018) starring Peter Dinklage

Herve Villechaize was born in 1943. Villechaize was a French actor and painter who was born with dwarfism. The Man with the Golden Gun, Fantasy Island’s “Tattoo,” and The Man with the Golden Gun are most known for playing the evil henchman Nick Nack in television and film.

5. Daisy Earles – German-born Actress

Daisy Earles	Information
Full Name	Daisy Earles – German-born Actress
Birthdate	April 29, 1907
Birthplace	Stolpen, Germany
Nationality	German
Migration to the US	Migrated to the United States in the early 1920s
Occupation	Actress and circus performer
Notable Films	Freaks (1932), The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Physical Appearance	Blonde, pretty, and tall compared to her sisters, with a well-proportioned figure
Circus Acts	Primarily known for her role as a “parade performer” with her siblings in circus companies
Retirement	Retired from film acting in 1952; continued working as a parade performer with her siblings until 1958
Death	Passed away on March 15, 1980, at the age of 72 in Sarasota, Florida, United States
Documentaries	Freaks Uncensored! (1999), Ce nain que je ne saurais voir! (2015), Schlitzie: One of Us (2015)
Personal Life	Married to her husband, who worked as a chauffeur and security person for her family
Additional	Mentioned in a documentary that Franz Taibosh had a crush on her, but she was already married and not interested

Daisy Earles was born in 1907. She was a stage actress, writer, and producer. She is often cited as a mother of the Little People. Her most notable performance was in the 1939 American picture Here Comes Mr. Jordan. She wrote the script and took home the Best Original Story Oscar (with Paul Yawitz).

6. Felix Silla – Italian Actor 

Felix Silla	Information
Full Name	Felix Anthony Silla – Italian Actor
Birthdate	January 11, 1937
Birthplace	Roccacasale, Abruzzo, Italy
Nationality	Italian
Occupation	Character actor, circus performer, voice artist, movie stuntman
Known For	Cousin Itt in “The Addams Family” Ewok in “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” Twiki in “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century”
Years Active	1955–2021
Height	1.19 m (3 ft 11 in)
Voice Work	Mortimer Goth in “The Sims 2” video game
Notable Roles	Cousin Itt in “The Addams Family” Twiki in “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century”
Significant Projects	“The Addams Family” “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century”
Cause of Death	Pancreatic cancer
Date of Death	April 16, 2021
Place of Death	Las Vegas, Nevada

Felix Silla was born in 1937. Italian actor and director Felix Silla was born with dwarfism. His most notable performance was as “Fips” in the Italian movie The Little Buddha (1962). Silla began his professional life as a circus performer, but he is most known for playing It for Cousin on the television series The Addams Family. Cousin It is a costumed character explicitly created for the TV show and was not included in Charles Addams’ original comic series.

7. David Rappaport – English Actor 

David Rappaport	Information
Full Name	David Rappaport – English Actor
Birthdate	November 23, 1951
Birthplace	London, England
Height	3′ 11″ (1.19 m)
Occupation	Actor, musician, writer, director, teacher
Known For	Time Bandits (1981), Robin of Sherwood (1986), L.A. Law, The Wizard, Captain Planet and the Planeteers
Education	Studied psychology at the University of Bristol
Career Highlights	Prominent role in the film Time Bandits, appearances in TV series such as L.A. Law and The Wizard
Personal Life	Married to Jane, had a son named Joe
Residence	Frestonia, London
Tragic Incident	Attempted suicide during the filming of Star Trek: The Next Generation and tragically took his own life on May 2, 1990

David Stephen Rappaport was born in 1951. He was a British actor who performed in some of the most acclaimed films of his time. He was also an activist who backed several nonprofits. Rappaport had dwarfism. In April 2000, he died of a heart attack at age 48 while vacationing in Turkey with his wife and daughter.

8. Billy Barty – American Actor and Activist.

Billy Barty	Information
Full Name	Billy Barty – American Actor and Activist
Born	October 25, 1924, Millsboro, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	December 23, 2000, Glendale, California, U.S.
Occupations	Actor, Activist
Years Active	1927–2000
Height	3 ft 9 in (1.14 m)
Spouse	Shirley Bolingbroke (m. 1962)
Children	Lori Neilson, Braden Barty (TV/film producer and director)
Notable Roles	Co-starred with Mickey Rooney in the Mickey McGuire shorts
Activism	Founded the Little People of America organization in 1957
Hollywood Walk of Fame	Received a motion pictures star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1981
Personal Life	Married Shirley Bolingbroke in 1962
Legacy	Noted for his contributions to the film industry

Billy Barty was born in 1924. He was an American actor and activist. His performance as “Twist” in the 1982 movie The World’s Greatest Athlete made him most famous. Barty, who had dwarfism, was often called “The World’s Tallest Man”.

9. Angelo Rossitto – American Actor

Little Angie Moe	Information
Full Name	Angelo Salvatore Rossitto
Nicknames	Little Angie, Moe
Birthdate	February 18, 1908
Birthplace	Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	Italian
Height	2 ft 11 in (89 cm)
Occupation	Actor, Voice Artist
Notable Films	Freaks, Child Bride, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
Notable Collaborations	Lon Chaney, John Barrymore, Bela Lugosi
Recognition	Featured on the cover art of Tom Waits’ album Swordfishtrombones
Last Major Role	Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

Angelo Rossitto was born in 1908. He was 2’11” (89 cm) tall, had dwarfism, and was frequently referred to as Little Angie or Moe. In silent movies, Angelo made his cinematic debut alongside Lon Chaney and John Barrymore. He played various characters, including monsters, villains, aliens, dwarfs, little people, gnomes, and pygmies, in more than 70 films.

10. Jason Acuna – American Stunt Performer

Wee Man	Information
Full Name	Jason Shannon Acuña
Stage Name	Wee Man
Birthdate	May 16, 1973
Birthplace	Pisa, Italy
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	Mexican and German
Condition	Achondroplasia (a form of dwarfism)
Education	North High School
Occupation(s)	Stunt performer, television personality, professional skateboarder, actor
Famous For	Co-starring in Jackass and hosting Fox Sports Net’s skateboarding show 54321

Jason Shannon Acuña was born in 1973. Acuña is an American stunt performer who has dwarfism. He is an American actor, professional skateboarder, television personality, and stunt performer. He is a Jackass cast member and hosts the skateboarding program 54321 on Fox Sports Net. 

11. Verne Troyer – American Actor

Verne Troyer	Information
Full Name	Verne Jay Troyer – American Actor
Birthdate	January 1, 1969
Birthplace	Sturgis, Michigan, U.S.
Height	2 ft 8 in (81 cm)
Condition	Cartilage-hair hypoplasia
Claim to Fame	Portraying Mini-Me in the Austin Powers film series
Film Career	Stunt double for “Baby Bink” in Baby’s Day Out
Television Appearances	The Surreal Life
Other Notable Events	Leaked private home video
Resting Place	Leonidas Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan, U.S.

Verne J. Troyer was born in 1969. He was an American actor and stunt performer who stood only 2’8″ (81 cm) tall and worked in much taller roles. His most well-known role is as Mini-Me in the Austin Powers film trilogy.

With a diverse career in film and television, Verne Troyer made a name for himself as one of the most notable little people in the entertainment industry. Check out our list of pure ugliest celebrities to see some of the other well-known faces.

12. Zelda Rubinstein – American Actress

Zelda Rubinstein	Information
Full Name	Zelda May Rubinstein
Birthdate	May 28, 1933
Birthplace	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Death	January 27, 2010 (aged 76) in Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, Human Rights Activist
Notable Role	Tangina Barrons in the Poltergeist film series
TV Series	Regular role in Picket Fences
Height	4 feet 3 inches (1.30 m)
Education	University of Pittsburgh, University of California, Berkeley
First Major Film Role	Poltergeist (1982)
Filmography	Sixteen Candles, Under the Rainbow, Cages, Teen Witch, and more
TV Appearances	Hey Arnold!, The Flintstones, Caroline in the City, and more
Voice Work	Narrator of Scariest Places on Earth, Skittles commercials
Activism	Advocate for little people and HIV/AIDS awareness
HIV/AIDS Activism	Supported AIDS awareness campaigns, attended AIDS Project Los Angeles AIDS Walk
Cause of Death	Health complications following a mild heart attack
Funeral	No funeral held as per her request

Zelda Rubinstein was born in 1933. She had dwarfism. Her greatest talents are as a singer and dancer, with roles in movies such as “The Wizard of Oz”, “The Little Princess”, and “Meet Me in St. Louis”.

13. Tony Cox – American Actor 

Tony Cox	Information
Full Name	Tony Cox – American Actor
Date of Birth	March 31, 1958
Birthplace	Uniontown, Alabama, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years Active	1980–present
Height	107 cm (3 ft 6 in)
Notable Works	– “Bad Santa” as Marcus

Tony Cox was born in 1958. He has appeared in several movies, plays, and TV series. He is a prolific character actor. He is commonly cast as a man of few words. He appeared in “Tremors” and “Tremors 2”. He is also well-known for his roles in George Lucas’s Willow, Return of the Jedi, as an Ewok, and Beetlejuice with Tim Burton. Cox had many music video appearances as well.

If you’re a fan of Tony Cox and want to discover more exceptional comedy actors in Hollywood, don’t miss out on our list of the Top 50 Best Comedy Actors Of All Time. From Jim Carrey to Leslie Nielsen, our rankings cover the funniest talents that have ever graced our screens.

14. Warwick Davis – English actor

Warwick Davis	Information
Full Name	Warwick Davis – English actor
Birthdate	February 3, 1970
Birthplace	Epsom, Surrey, England
Occupations	Actor, Television Presenter
Years Active	1979–present
Television	Life’s Too Short, Celebrity Squares, Tenable
Height	3 ft 6 in
Spouse	Samantha Burroughs
Children	3 (including Annabelle Davis)
Known For	Willow, Star Wars, Harry Potter
Notable Characters	Wicket the Ewok, Professor Flitwick, Griphook
Dwarfism Condition	Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita
Autobiography	Size Matters Not: The Extraordinary Life and Career of Warwick Davis
Agency	Co-founder of Willow Management (representing actors of short stature)
Other Ventures	Reduced Height Theatre Company, Producing the musical “Eugenius!”
TV Appearances	Who Do You Think You Are?, Perspectives: “Warwick Davis – The Seven Dwarfs of Auschwitz”
Star Wars Films	Willow, The Phantom Menace, The Force Awakens, Rogue One, The Last Jedi, Solo, The Rise of Skywalker
Harry Potter Films	The Philosopher’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Deathly Hallows – Part 1, Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Other Notable Films	Leprechaun, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Warwick Ashley Davis was born in 1970. An English actor and businessman, he is best known for playing the title characters in the “Leprechaun” horror film series, Walden in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”, Professor Filius Flitwick in the same film series, and Wicket W. Warrick in “and “. Davis has dwarfism.

If you are looking for some inspiring dark-skinned celebrities, check out our list of 50 beloved dark-skinned celebrities. From actors to musicians, these stars have broken down barriers and paved the way for more diversity in the entertainment industry.

15. Peter Dinklage – American actor

Peter Dinklage	Information
Full Name	Peter Dinklage – American actor
Birthdate	June 11, 1969
Birthplace	Jersey Shore, New Jersey, U.S.
Nationality	American
Height	4 ft 5 in (1.35 m)
Occupation	Actor, producer
Years Active	1993–present
Notable Role	Tyrion Lannister in “Game of Thrones”
Notable Awards	Primetime Emmy Awards (4) Golden Globe Award (1) Screen Actors Guild Award (1)
Achondroplasia	Common form of dwarfism
Social Awareness	Raises awareness about dwarfs
Theater Performances	Richard III, A Month in the Country, Cyrano
Film Debut	Living in Oblivion
Breakthrough Role	The Station Agent
Other Ventures	Co-founder of Rhinoceros Theater Festival

Peter Dinklage was born in 1969. He is an American actor who has dwarfism. Dinklage first came to mainstream notice through his performances in films such as “The Station Agent” and “”, but his breakthrough role was Tyrion Lannister on the HBO fantasy/science fiction/romance series “Game of Thrones”.

If you’re a fan of Peter Dinklage and his incredible acting ability, you may also be interested in learning about other famous actors and actresses from New Jersey. From Meryl Streep to Jack Nicholson and everything in between, New Jersey has produced some pretty talented individuals.

16. Danny Woodburn – American actor, comedian

Danny Woodburn	Information
Full Name	Danny Woodburn – American actor, comedian
Birthdate	July 26, 1964
Occupations	Actor, comedian, activist
Notable Role	Mickey Abbott on the sitcom Seinfeld
Education	Graduate of Abington Senior High School and Temple University School of Communications and Theater
Stage Productions	The Indian Wants the Bronx, Scapino, Revenge of the Space Pandas, Viet Rock, The Soda Jerk
Stand-up Comedy	Over 20 years of nationwide performances at renowned comedy clubs
Television Appearances	Seinfeld, Conan the Adventurer, Passions, The Bold and the Beautiful, Tracey Takes On…, Baywatch, Early Edition, Murder She Wrote, Charmed, Becker, Bones, Hunter, Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, The Pretender, Angel, CSI, Veronica’s Closet, 8 Simple Rules, Monk, Jane the Virgin, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, iCarly, Cory in the House, Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn, Bizaardvark, Crash & Bernstein, Star vs. the Forces of Evil
Film Appearances	Jingle All the Way, Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, Death to Smoochy, Employee of the Month, Watchmen, Mirror Mirror, The Identical, Santa Buddies, The Search for Santa Paws, Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (motion capture for Splinter)
Advocacy Work	Advocate for disabled and little people issues, serves on the Screen Actors Guild “Performers with Disabilities Committee,” awarded the DREAM Award by the Disability Rights Legal Center in 2009, received the 2010 Screen Actors Guild Harold Russell Award, keynote speaker at various conferences and events promoting inclusivity and disability rights
Spouse	Amy Buchwald (actress, writer, and comedian)

Danny Woodburn was born in 1964. His most well-known roles include Mickey Abbot on the sitcom Seinfeld and Mickey Rubin on the comedy/drama series “Rescue Me”. He is a dwarf and has been with dwarfism since birth. 

17. Linda Hunt – American actress

Linda Hunt	Information
Full Name	Linda Hunt – American actress
Birthdate	April 2, 1945
Birthplace	Morristown, New Jersey, U.S.
Education	Art Institute of Chicago (BFA)
Occupation	Actress
Years Active	1972–present
Height	145 cm (4 ft 9 in)
Spouse	Karen Kline (m. 2008)
Awards	Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (1983)
Film Debut	Mrs. Oxheart in Popeye (1980)
Notable Roles	Billy Kwan in The Year of Living Dangerously (1982)
Television Appearances	Judge Zoey Hiller on The Practice
Voice-over Work	Narrator for the God of War video game series
Other Accomplishments	Tony Award nomination for End of the World
Personal Life	Married to Karen Kline since 2008

Linda Hunt was born in 1945. She is an American actress and singer. She made her acting debut in Popeye as Mrs. Oxheart (1980). In The Year of Living Dangerously (1982), Hunt played the male character Billy Kwan, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Hunt was the first person to receive this honor for playing a character of the opposite sex.

Linda Hunt is an American actress who first gained recognition for her role as Billy Kwan in the 1982 film ‘The Year of Living Dangerously.’ Despite her small stature, Hunt has portrayed a wide range of characters throughout her career. Check out this list of aged celebrities who are over 57 years old and still going strong in their careers.

18. Tony Cox – American actor

Tony Cox	Information
Full Name	Tony Cox – American actor
Born	Joseph Anthony Cox (March 31, 1958)
Birthplace	Uniontown, Alabama, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years Active	1980–present
Height	107 cm (3 ft 6 in)
Known For	Bad Santa, Friday, Me, Myself & Irene, Date Movie, Epic Movie, Disaster Movie, Leprechaun 2
Notable Roles	Willow (George Lucas’s film), Ewok in Return of the Jedi, Preacher in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice
Music Videos	Appeared in various music videos
Family Background	Parents: Henrietta Cox-Penn and Joe Cox, Grandparents: Lottie and Henry Jones
Education	Alabama State University (initially planned to study music)
Relationship	Married Otelia in 1981
Acting Journey	Moved to Los Angeles at age 18, Studied at Merrick Studio School of Acting, Worked in commercials, film, and television roles
Other Films	Bad Santa 2 (reprised role as Marcus, released in 2016)
Music Career	Avid drummer during childhood

Tony Cox was born in 1954. He is an American actor and comedian has dwarfism. He is a prolific character actor. He appeared as himself in ” and as one of the titular characters’ stepfathers in “My Name Is Earl”.

19. Peter Dinklage – American actor

Peter Dinklage	Information
Full Name	Peter Dinklage – American actor
Birthdate	June 11, 1969
Birthplace	Jersey Shore, New Jersey, U.S.
Form of Dwarfism	Achondroplasia
Height	4 ft 5 in (1.35 m)
Alma Mater	Bennington College
Occupation	Film, television, and stage actor
Known For	Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones
Awards	Primetime Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Award,
Notable Films	The Station Agent, Elf, Three Billboards
Notable Stage Roles	Richard III, A Month in the Country,
Social Advocacy	Raising social awareness about dwarfs
Spouse	Erica Schmidt
Children	2

Peter Dinklage was born in 1969. He is an American actor who has dwarfism. Dinklage first came to mainstream notice through his performances in films such as “The Station Agent” and “”, but his breakthrough role was Tyrion Lannister on the HBO fantasy/science fiction/romance series “Game of Thrones”.

20. Deep Roy 

Deep Roy	Information
Full Name	Deep Roy
Birthdate	December 1, 1957
Birthplace	Nairobi, Kenya Colony
Other Names	Gurdeep
Occupations	Actor, puppeteer, stuntman
Years Active	1976–present
Height	4 ft 4 in (132 cm)
Spouse	Millie Farris
Notable Characters	Teeny Weeny in The NeverEnding Story
Film Collaborations	Tim Burton’s films: Big Fish, Corpse Bride, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Other TV Appearances	The X-Files, Flash Gordon, Return to Oz, The Dark Crystal, Howling VI: The Freaks, Eastbound & Down
Additional Skills	Extensive training in dance, yoga, and minor instrument playing

Deep Roy was born in 1961. He is an American voice actor who has played numerous roles in television, film, and theater. He was the voice of The Joker on Zack Snyder’s 2008 superhero film Watchmen.