Person
Angelo Rossitto
Omaha, Nebraska, USA
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 Litt…
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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.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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2018
The Other Side of the Wind
Movie Angelo
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1991
Halloween Monster Bash
Movie Toby (archive footage)
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1991
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook
Movie Luigi / Indigo (archive footage)
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1987
Star Trek: The Next Generation
TV show Spectator (uncredited)
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1987
From a Whisper to a Scream
Movie Tinker
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1985
Amazing Stories
TV show Vaudevillian
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1985
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
Movie Master
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1985
The Making of 'Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome'
Movie Self
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1983
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Movie Little Person #1
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1981
Smokey Bites the Dust
Movie Desk Clerk
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1980
Galaxina
Movie Monster from Egg
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1979
The Dark
Movie Angie (uncredited)
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1978
Jason of Star Command
TV show Bork
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1978
Fairy Tales
Movie Otto
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1977
The Incredible Hulk
TV show Tom Thumb (uncredited)
- 1977
More credits
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1977
Help Woodsy Spread the Word
Movie Woodsy Owl
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1975
I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now?
Movie Little Pianist
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1975
The Master Gunfighter
Movie Side show midget
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1975
Starsky & Hutch
TV show Big Ben
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1975
Baretta
TV show
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1974
The Rockford Files
TV show Dwarf Patient (uncredited)
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1973
The Snoop Sisters
TV show Little Igor
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1973
The Stone Killer
Movie Little Man in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
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1973
The Clones
Movie Man at Phone Booth
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1973
Little Cigars
Movie Angelo
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1972
Kung Fu
TV show Angelo (uncredited)
-
1972
The Other
Movie Sideshow Performer (uncredited)
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1971
Mongo's Back in Town
Movie Trembles
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1971
Dracula vs. Frankenstein
Movie Grazbo the Evil Dwarf
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1971
Lidsville
TV show Mr. Big
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1971
Brain of Blood
Movie Dorro
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1970
Alex in Wonderland
Movie Fellini #1
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1970
Pufnstuf
Movie Seymore Spider / Clang
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1969
H.R. Pufnstuf
TV show Seymore Spider
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1967
Doctor Dolittle
Movie Dwarf (uncredited)
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1967
The Trip
Movie Dwarf in Forest Fantasy (uncredited)
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1967
The Perils of Pauline
Movie Pygmy Leader's Assistant
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1966
T.H.E. Cat
TV show Circus Dwarf (uncredited)
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1965
Branded
TV show Shooting Gallery Man (uncredited)
