Angelo Rossitto

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

1991

Halloween Monster Bash
Movie

Toby (archive footage)

1991

Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook
Movie

Luigi / Indigo (archive footage)

1987

Star Trek: The Next Generation
Tv

Spectator (uncredited)

1985

Amazing Stories
Tv

Vaudevillian

1980

Galaxina
Movie

Monster from Egg

1979

The Dark
Movie

Angie (uncredited)

1975

1974

The Rockford Files
Tv

Dwarf Patient (uncredited)

1973

The Stone Killer
Movie

Little Man in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)

1973

The Clones
Movie

Man at Phone Booth

1972

Kung Fu
Tv

Angelo (uncredited)

1972

The Other
Movie

Sideshow Performer (uncredited)

1971

Dracula vs. Frankenstein
Movie

Grazbo the Evil Dwarf

1971

1970

Pufnstuf
Movie

Seymore Spider / Clang

1969

H.R. Pufnstuf
Tv

Seymore Spider

1967

Doctor Dolittle
Movie

Dwarf (uncredited)

1967

The Trip
Movie

Dwarf in Forest Fantasy (uncredited)

1967

The Perils of Pauline
Movie

Pygmy Leader's Assistant

1964

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Tv

Blind Pencil Seller

1962

Requiem for a Heavyweight
Movie

Midget Wrestler Outside Wrestling Ring (uncredited)

1961

Pocketful of Miracles
Movie

Angie (uncredited)

1959

1959

1957

The Story of Mankind
Movie

Dwarf in Nero's Court

1955

Dementia
Movie

Newsboy (uncredited)

1955

Gunsmoke
Tv

Billy (uncredited)

1955

Jungle Moon Men
Movie

Smallest Moon-Man

1953

Mesa of Lost Women
Movie

Dwarf Lab Assistant

1952

1950

Pygmy Island
Movie

Pygmy in Cave

1950

1944

1943

The Spider Woman
Movie

Obongo - Pygmy (uncredited)

1942

Reunion in France
Movie

Citizen in Bomb Shelter (uncredited)

1941

Hellzapoppin'
Movie

Dwarf Devil (uncredited)

1940

Doomed to Die
Movie

Newsboy #3 in Montage

1939

The Wizard of Oz
Movie

Munchkin Villager (uncredited)

1934

Babes in Toyland
Movie

Elmer - Second Little Pig / 1st Sandman in Cave (uncredited)

1932

Freaks
Movie

Angeleno

1930

The Big House
Movie

Inmate (uncredited)

1929

The Mysterious Island
Movie

Underwater Creature

1928

The Viking
Movie

Viking Little Person (uncredited)

1928

While the City Sleeps
Movie

Member of Skeeter's Gang

1927

Old San Francisco
Movie

Chang Loo - the Dwarf

1927

The Beloved Rogue
Movie

Beppo - the Dwarf

Infos

Full Name
Angelo Rossitto
Gender
Male
Date of Birth
2/18/1908
Date of Death
9/21/1991
Also Known As

Angelo Salvatore Rossitto

Little Angie

Moe