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 Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney (April 1, 1883 – August 26, 1930) was an American actor. He is regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful actors of cinema, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and affli ...

and

John Barrymore John Barrymore (born John Sidney Blyth; February 14 or 15, 1882 – May 29, 1942) was an American actor on stage, screen and radio. A member of the Drew and Barrymore theatrical families, he initially tried to avoid the stage, and briefly att ...

. 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.

Biography

Rossitto was born in

Omaha, Nebraska Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest cit ...

to Salvatore Rossitto and Carmela Caniglia, both born in Carlentini,

Province of Siracusa The Province of Syracuse ( it, provincia di Siracusa; scn, pruvincia di Sarausa) was a province in the autonomous island region of Sicily in Italy. Its capital was the city of Syracuse, a town established by Greek colonists arriving from Corinth ...

Sicily (man) it, Siciliana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Ethnicity , demographics1_footnotes = , demographi ...

, Italy and had a sister, Josephine Rossitto. He was discovered by

and made his screen debut opposite Barrymore in ''

The Beloved Rogue ''The Beloved Rogue'' is a 1927 American silent romantic adventure film, loosely based on the life of the 15th century French poet, François Villon. The film was directed by Alan Crosland for United Artists. François Villon is played by J ...

'' (1927). That same year he appeared in Warner Brother's ''

Old San Francisco ''Old San Francisco'' is a 1927 American silent historical drama film starring Dolores Costello and featuring Warner Oland. The film, which was produced and distributed by Warner Bros., was directed by Alan Crosland. Plot Chris Buckwell, cruel ...

''. He appeared in the controversial 1932 film ''

Freaks Freak has several meanings: a person who is physically deformed or suffers from an extraordinary disease and condition, a genetic mutation in a plant or animal, etc. Freak, freaks or The Freak may also refer to: Fictional characters * Freak (Ima ...

'' directed by

Tod Browning Tod Browning (born Charles Albert Browning Jr.; July 12, 1880 – October 6, 1962) was an American film director, film actor, screenwriter, vaudeville performer, and carnival sideshow and circus entertainer. He directed a number of films of vari ...

, and another controversial film, 1938's '' Child Bride''. During the 1940s, he appeared in several

poverty row Poverty Row is a slang term used to refer to Hollywood films produced from the 1920s to the 1950s by small (and mostly short-lived) B movie studios. Although many of them were based on (or near) today's Gower Street in Hollywood, the term did ...

movies starring

Bela Lugosi Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó (; October 20, 1882 – August 16, 1956), known professionally as Bela Lugosi (; ), was a Hungarian and American actor best remembered for portraying Count Dracula in the 1931 horror classic ''Dracula'', Ygor in ''S ...

. He appeared frequently in television series and mini-series, particularly best known for the police drama ''

Baretta ''Baretta'' is an American detective television series which ran on ABC from 1975 to 1978. The show was a revised and milder version of a 1973–1974 ABC series, '' Toma'', starring Tony Musante as chameleon-like, real-life New Jersey pol ...

'', and his later film roles included appearances in ''

Alex in Wonderland ''Alex in Wonderland'' is a 1970 American comedy-drama film directed by Paul Mazursky, written with his partner Larry Tucker, starring Donald Sutherland and Ellen Burstyn. Sutherland plays Alex Morrison, a director agonizing over the choice of ...

'' (1970), ''

Brain of Blood ''Brain of Blood'' (also known as ''The Creature's Revenge'', ''The Oozing Skull'', and ''The Undying Brain'') is a 1971 American horror film directed by Al Adamson and starring Grant Williams, Kent Taylor and Reed Hadley. Angelo Rossitto and Jo ...

'' (1971), '' Dracula vs. Frankenstein'' (1971), ''

Little Cigars ''Little Cigars'' is a film released in 1973 by American International Pictures and was directed by Chris Christenberry. The film was also released in the United States as ''The Little Cigars Mob''. Plot A gang of dwarves team up with a gang ...

'' (1973), and '' Fairy Tales'' (1978). His last major role was as "Master" opposite

Mel Gibson Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson (born January 3, 1956) is an American actor, film director, and producer. He is best known for his action hero roles, particularly his breakout role as Max Rockatansky in the first three films of the post-apoca ...

in ''

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome ''Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome'' is a 1985 Australian post-apocalyptic dystopian action film directed by George Miller and George Ogilvie and written by Miller and Terry Hayes. It stars Mel Gibson and Tina Turner in a story of a lone roving warr ...

'' (1985).

Popular culture

Rossitto appears alongside singer/songwriter

Tom Waits Thomas Alan Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American musician, composer, songwriter, and actor. His lyrics often focus on the underbelly of society and are delivered in his trademark deep, gravelly voice. He worked primarily in jazz during ...

and Lee Kolima on the cover art of Waits' 1983 album ''

Swordfishtrombones ''Swordfishtrombones'' is the eighth studio album by singer and songwriter Tom Waits, released in 1983 on Island Records. It was the first album that Waits produced himself. Stylistically different from his previous albums, ''Swordfishtrombones'' ...

'', which pays homage to his performance in ''Freaks''. He also appears on the cover of

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...

's album ''

The Basement Tapes ''The Basement Tapes'' is the sixteenth album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan and his second with the Band. It was released on June 26, 1975, by Columbia Records. Two-thirds of the album's 24 tracks feature Dylan on lead vocals backed b ...

''.

Filmography

*''

'' (1927) as Beppo - the Dwarf (film debut) *''

'' (1927) as Chang Loo - the Dwarf *''

While the City Sleeps While the City Sleeps may refer to: * ''While the City Sleeps'' (1928 film), an American silent film starring Lon Chaney * ''While the City Sleeps'' (1950 film), a Swedish drama scripted by Ingmar Bergman * ''While the City Sleeps'' (1956 film), ...

'' (1928) as Member of Skeeter's Gang (uncredited) *'' The Viking'' (1928) as Viking Dwarf (uncredited) *'' Seven Footprints to Satan'' (1929) as The Dwarf *''One Stolen Night'' (1929) as The Dwarf *''

The Mysterious Island ''The Mysterious Island'' (french: L'Île mystérieuse) is a novel by Jules Verne, published in 1875. The original edition, published by Hetzel, contains a number of illustrations by Jules Férat. The novel is a crossover sequel to Verne's f ...

'' (1929) as Underwater Creature (uncredited) *'' The Big House'' (1930) as Inmate (uncredited) *''

The Phantom of Paris ''The Phantom of Paris'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by John S. Robertson and written by Bess Meredyth, Edwin Justus Mayer and John Meehan. The film stars John Gilbert and Leila Hyams, and is based on the 1913 novel ''Ché ...

'' (1931) as Prisoner (uncredited) *''

'' (1932) as Angeleno *'' The Sign of the Cross'' (1932) as Impaled Pygmy (uncredited) * ''Meet the Champ'' (1933, Short) as Midget *''Carnival Lady'' (1933) as Dwarf (uncredited) *''

I Believed in You ''I Believed in You'' is a 1934 American pre-Code drama film directed by Irving Cummings and written by William M. Conselman. The film stars Rosemary Ames, John Boles, Victor Jory, Gertrude Michael, George Meeker and Leslie Fenton. The film was ...

'' (1934) as Greenwich Village Waiter (uncredited) *'' Babes in Toyland'' (1934) as Elmer - Second Little Pig/1st Sandman in Cave (uncredited) *''

Dante's Inferno ''Inferno'' (; Italian for "Hell") is the first part of Italian writer Dante Alighieri's 14th-century epic poem ''Divine Comedy''. It is followed by ''Purgatorio'' and '' Paradiso''. The ''Inferno'' describes Dante's journey through Hell, gui ...

'' (1935) as Passenger in Boiler Room (uncredited) *'' A Midsummer Night's Dream'' (1935) as Gnome (uncredited) *'' Stand-In'' (1937) as Little Person Entering Studio Gate (uncredited) *'' Child Bride'' (1938) as Angelo *'' Mr. Wong in Chinatown'' (1939) as Mute Dwarf (uncredited) *'' Doomed to Die'' (1940) as Newsboy #3 in Montage (uncredited) *''

Spooks Run Wild ''Spooks Run Wild'' is a 1941 American horror comedy film and the seventh film in the East Side Kids series. It stars Bela Lugosi with Leo Gorcey, Bobby Jordan and Huntz Hall. It is directed by Phil Rosen, in his first and only outing in the se ...

'' (1941) as Luigi *'' Hellzapoppin''' (1941) as Dwarf Devil (uncredited) *''

The Corpse Vanishes ''The Corpse Vanishes'' is a 1942 American mystery horror film starring Bela Lugosi, directed by Wallace Fox, and written by Harvey Gates. Lugosi portrays a mad scientist who injects his aging wife (played by Elizabeth Russell) with fluids fr ...

'' (1942) as Toby *''

The Spider Woman ''The Spider Woman'' (alternatively titled ''Sherlock Holmes and the Spider Woman'' and ''Spider Woman'') is a 1943 mystery film starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson, the seventh of fourteen such films the p ...

'' (1944) as Obongo - Pygmy (uncredited) *''

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" ( ar, علي بابا والأربعون لصا) is a folk tale from the '' One Thousand and One Nights''. It was added to the collection in the 18th century by its French translator Antoine Galland, who hear ...

'' (1944) as Arab Dwarf (uncredited) *''

Lady in the Dark ''Lady in the Dark'' is a musical with music by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ira Gershwin and book and direction by Moss Hart. It was produced by Sam Harris. The protagonist, Liza Elliott, is the unhappy female editor of a fictional fashion magazine ...

'' (1944) as Bunny, Midget (uncredited) *'' Two Smart People'' (1946) as Street Musician (uncredited) *'' Scared to Death'' (1947) as Indigo *''

The Sin of Harold Diddlebock ''The Sin of Harold Diddlebock'' is a 1947 comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges, starring the silent film comic icon Harold Lloyd, and featuring a supporting cast including female protagonist Frances Ramsden, Jimmy Conlin, Raym ...

'' (1947) as Midget (uncredited) *''

Samson and Delilah Samson and Delilah are Biblical figures. Samson and Delilah may also refer to: In music * ''Samson and Delilah'' (opera), an opera by Camille Saint-Saëns * ''Samson & Delilah'' (album), released in 2013 by V V Brown * "Samson and Delilah" (t ...

'' (1949) - Midget at Arena (uncredited) *''

The Baron of Arizona ''The Baron of Arizona'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Samuel Fuller and starring Vincent Price and Ellen Drew. The film concerns a master forger's attempted use of false documents to lay claim to the territory of Arizona late in ...

'' (1950) as Angie - Gypsy *'' Pygmy Island'' (1950) as Pygmy in Cave (uncredited) *'' The Bandit Queen'' (1950) as Nino *'' The Greatest Show on Earth'' (1952) as Midget (uncredited) *''

Mesa of Lost Women ''Mesa of Lost Women'' is a 1953 American low-budget black-and-white science fiction film directed by Herbert Tevos and Ron Ormond from a screenplay by Tevos and Orville H. Hampton who is given on-screen credit only for dialogue supervision. P ...

'' (1953) as Dwarf Lab Assistant (uncredited) *''

Jungle Moon Men ''Jungle Moon Men'' (1955) is the fifteenth Jungle Jim film produced by Columbia Pictures. It features Johnny Weissmuller in his second performance as the protagonist adventurer Johnny Weissmuller. The film was directed by Charles S. Gould and wri ...

'' (1955) -as Smallest Moon-Man (uncredited) *''

Dementia Dementia is a disorder which manifests as a set of related symptoms, which usually surfaces when the brain is damaged by injury or disease. The symptoms involve progressive impairments in memory, thinking, and behavior, which negatively affe ...

'' (1955) as Newsboy (uncredited) *'' Carousel'' (1956) as Midget (uncredited) *''

Invasion of the Saucer Men ''Invasion of the Saucer Men'' (U.K. title: ''Invasion of the Hell Creatures''; working title: ''Spacemen Saturday Night''), is a 1957 black-and-white comic science fiction/horror film produced by James H. Nicholson for release by American Int ...

'' (1957) as Saucer Man *''

The Story of Mankind ''The Story of Mankind'' is a book written and illustrated by Dutch-American journalist, professor, and author Hendrik Willem van Loon. It was published in 1921. In 1922, it was awarded the Newbery Medal for an outstanding contribution to children ...

'' (1957) as Dwarf in Nero's Court (uncredited) *''

The Wild and the Innocent ''The Wild and the Innocent'' is a 1959 American CinemaScope Western film directed by Jack Sher and starring Audie Murphy and Sandra Dee as two inexperienced young people who get into trouble when they visit a town for the very first time. The ...

'' (1959) as Midget (uncredited) *''

Pocketful of Miracles ''Pocketful of Miracles'' is a 1961 American comedy film starring Glenn Ford and Bette Davis, produced and directed by Frank Capra, filmed in Panavision. The screenplay by Hal Kanter and Harry Tugend was based on Robert Riskin's screenplay for ...

'' (1961) as Angie (uncredited) *'' The Magic Sword'' (1962) as 2nd Dwarf (uncredited) *''

Confessions of an Opium Eater ''Confessions of an Opium Eater'' also known as Souls for Sale and Evils of Chinatown is a 1962 American crime film produced and directed by Albert Zugsmith. It is loosely based on the 1822 autobiographical novel ''Confessions of an English Opium ...

'' (1962) as Newspaper Boy (uncredited) *''

The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm ''The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm'' is a 1962 American fantasy film directed by Henry Levin and George Pal. The latter was the producer and also in charge of the stop motion animation. The film was one of the highest-grossing films of ...

'' (1962) as Dwarf (uncredited) *''

Requiem for a Heavyweight "Requiem for a Heavyweight" is a teleplay written by Rod Serling and produced for the live television show ''Playhouse 90'' on 11 October 1956. Six years later, it was adapted as a 1962 feature film starring Anthony Quinn, Jackie Gleason, Mickey R ...

'' (1962) as Midget Wrestler Outside Wrestling Ring (uncredited) *''Terrified'' (1963) as Midget (uncredited) *'' The Perils of Pauline'' (1967) as Pygmy Leader's Assistant (uncredited) *'' The Trip'' (1967) as Dwarf in Forest Fantasy (uncredited) *''

Doctor Dolittle Doctor John Dolittle is the central character of a series of children's books by Hugh Lofting starting with the 1920 '' The Story of Doctor Dolittle''. He is a physician who shuns human patients in favour of animals, with whom he can speak in th ...

'' (1967) as Dwarf (uncredited) *'' Pufnstuf'' (1970) as Seymore Spider / Clang *''

'' (1970) as Fellini #1 *''

'' (1971) as Dorro *'' Dracula vs. Frankenstein'' (1971) as Grazbo *''

'' (1973) as Angelo *''The Clones'' (1973) as Man at Phone Booth *''

The Master Gunfighter ''The Master Gunfighter'' is a film released in 1975 in Panavision, written and produced by Tom Laughlin, who also played the lead as Finley. ''The Master Gunfighter'' is mainly a remake of the 1969 Japanese film '' Goyokin'', although the story r ...

'' (1975) as Side show midget *''

I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now? ''I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now?'' (original USA theatrical name ''Kill My Wife, Please'') is a 1975 black comedy movie directed by Steven Hilliard Stern, and starring Bob Dishy and Joanna Barnes. Originally Peter Sellers was to be cast as the le ...

'' (1975) as Little Pianist/Newsboy *'' Fairy Tales'' (1978) as Otto *''

The Lord of the Rings ''The Lord of the Rings'' is an epic high-fantasy novel by English author and scholar J. R. R. Tolkien. Set in Middle-earth, intended to be Earth at some time in the distant past, the story began as a sequel to Tolkien's 1937 children's b ...

'' (1978) as Character Actor (voice) *''The Dark'' (1979) as Angie (uncredited) *''

Galaxina ''Galaxina'' is a low-budget 1980 American science fantasy-comedy film written and directed by William Sachs. The film stars 1980 ''Playboy'' Playmate of the Year Dorothy Stratten, who was murdered by her husband shortly after the film's rel ...

'' (1980) as Monster from Egg *''

Can't Stop the Music ''Can't Stop the Music'' is a 1980 American musical comedy film directed by Nancy Walker. Written by Allan Carr and Bronté Woodard, the film is a pseudo-biography of the 1970s disco group the Village People loosely based on the actual story ...

'' (1980) as Fruit seller (uncredited) *''

Smokey Bites the Dust ''Smokey Bites the Dust'' is a 1981 car chase film from New World Pictures directed by Charles B. Griffith. Despite the title, the film is not connected to the ''Smokey and the Bandit'' series. Plot The stock plot deals with Roscoe Wilton (Jimmy ...

'' (1981) as Desk Clerk *'' Something Wicked This Way Comes'' (1983) as Little Person #1 *''

'' (1985) as The Master *'' From a Whisper to a Scream'' (1987) as Tinker *'' The Other Side of the Wind'' (2018) as himself (final film role, released posthumously)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rossitto, Angelo 1908 births 1991 deaths 20th-century American male actors Actors with dwarfism American people of Italian descent Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) Male actors from Omaha, Nebraska

Biography

Popular culture

Filmography

See also

References

External links