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Angelo Rossitto

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Angelo Rossitto
Rossitto in Freaks (1932)
Born
Angelo Salvatore Rossitto

(1908-02-18)February 18, 1908
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
DiedSeptember 21, 1991(1991-09-21) (aged 83)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationsActor, voice artist
Years active1927–1987
Height2 ft 11 in (89 cm)
Angelo Rossitto acting in selected scenes from the 1927 film Old San Francisco

Angelo Salvatore Rossitto (February 18, 1908 – September 21, 1991)[1] was an American actor and voice artist. He had dwarfism and was 2 ft 11 in (89 cm) tall, and was often billed as Little Angie or Moe.[2] 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.

Early life

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Angelo Salvatore Rossitto was born on February 18, 1908, in Omaha, Nebraska. Rossitto had dwarfism and grew to an adult height of 2 ft 11 in (89 cm).[2]

Career

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At the age of 19, in 1927, Rossitto was discovered by actor John Barrymore, who cast him opposite himself in The Beloved Rogue (1927), marking Rossitto's screen debut. Later that year, still aged 19, he also appeared in Old San Francisco.

During the late silent film era and the transition to sound, he continued appearing in motion pictures.[2] During the Great Depression, Rossitto, aged 24, appeared as Angeleno in Tod Browning's Freaks (1932).[2] Six years later, in 1938, aged 30, he appeared in Child Bride, another controversial film.[2] During and after the Second World War, Rossitto appeared in several Poverty Row films starring actor Bela Lugosi.[2] During the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, he continued acting in film and television, appearing in Alex in Wonderland (1970), Brain of Blood (1971), Dracula vs. Frankenstein (1971), Little Cigars (1973), and Fairy Tales (1978).[2] He also made frequent television appearances, including roles in the police drama Baretta.[2]

In 1985, at the age of 77, Rossitto portrayed Master opposite actor Mel Gibson in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.[3][4]

Rossitto remained active until 1987. His screen career spanned six decades and more than 70 films.[2]

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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

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See also

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References

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  1. ↑ James Robert Parish (2002). The Hollywood Book of Death. McGraw-Hill. p. 375.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Angelo Rossitto". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2013. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  3. ↑ Maslin, Janet (July 10, 1985). "FILM: GIBSON IN A 'MAD MAX' SEQUEL". The New York Times.
  4. ↑ Dixon, Stephen. "Angelo Rossitto". The Irish Times. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
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