Angelo Rossitto
Born
February 18, 1908
Died
September 21, 1991 (83 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
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 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.
Known For
The Other Side of the Wind
Angelo
2018
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook
Luigi / Indigo (archive footage)
1991
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Spectator (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1987
From a Whisper to a Scream
Tinker
1987
Amazing Stories
Vaudevillian · (1 episode)
1985
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
Master
1985
The Making of 'Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome'
Self
1985
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Little Person #1
1983
Smokey Bites the Dust
Desk Clerk
1981
Galaxina
Monster from Egg
1980
The Dark
Angie (uncredited)
1979
Jason of Star Command
Bork · (2 episodes)
1978
Fairy Tales
Otto
1978
The Incredible Hulk
Tom Thumb (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1977
The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries
(2 episodes)
1977
Help Woodsy Spread the Word
Woodsy Owl
1977
I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now?
Little Pianist
1975
The Master Gunfighter
Side show midget
1975
Starsky & Hutch
Big Ben · (1 episode)
1975
Baretta
(3 episodes)
1975
The Rockford Files
Dwarf Patient (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1974
The Snoop Sisters
Little Igor · (1 episode)
1973
The Stone Killer
Little Man in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
1973
The Clones
Man at Phone Booth
1973
Little Cigars
Angelo
1973
Kung Fu
Angelo (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1972
The Other
Sideshow Performer (uncredited)
1972
Mongo's Back in Town
Trembles
1971
Dracula vs. Frankenstein
Grazbo the Evil Dwarf
1971
Lidsville
Mr. Big · (17 episodes)
1971
Brain of Blood
Dorro
1971
Alex in Wonderland
Fellini #1
1970
Pufnstuf
Seymore Spider / Clang
1970
H.R. Pufnstuf
Seymore Spider · (17 episodes)
1969
Doctor Dolittle
Dwarf (uncredited)
1967
The Trip
Dwarf in Forest Fantasy (uncredited)
1967
The Perils of Pauline
Pygmy Leader's Assistant
1967
T.H.E. Cat
Circus Dwarf (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1966
Branded
Shooting Gallery Man (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1965
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Blind Pencil Seller · (1 episode)
1964
Requiem for a Heavyweight
Midget Wrestler Outside Wrestling Ring (uncredited)
1962
The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm
Dwarf
1962
Confessions of an Opium Eater
Newspaper Boy
1962
The Magic Sword
2nd Dwarf
1962
Pocketful of Miracles
Angie (uncredited)
1961
The Rebel
Godfrey · (1 episode)
1959
The Wild and the Innocent
Midget (uncredited)
1959
Shirley Temple's Storybook
Mouse · (1 episode)
1958
Shirley Temple's Storybook
Dwarf · (1 episode)
1958
The Adventures of Super Pup
1958
The Story of Mankind
Dwarf in Nero's Court
1957
Invasion of the Saucer-Men
Saucer Man
1957
Dementia
Newsboy (uncredited)
1955
Gunsmoke
Billy (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1955
Mesa of Lost Women
Dwarf Lab Assistant
1953
The Greatest Show on Earth
Dwarf
1952
The Bandit Queen
Nino
1950
The Baron of Arizona
Angie -- Gypsy
1950
Scared to Death
Indigo
1947
The Spider Woman
Obongo - Pygmy (uncredited)
1943
Reunion in France
Citizen in Bomb Shelter (uncredited)
1942
The Corpse Vanishes
Toby (as Angelo)
1942
Hellzapoppin'
Dwarf Devil (uncredited)
1941
Spooks Run Wild
Luigi
1941
Doomed to Die
Newsboy #3 in Montage
1940
The Wizard of Oz
Munchkin Villager (uncredited)
1939
Mr. Wong in Chinatown
Mute Dwarf
1939
Child Bride
Angelo
1938
Babes in Toyland
Elmer - Second Little Pig / 1st Sandman in Cave (uncredited)
1934
I Believed in You
Greenwich Village Waiter
1934
Carnival Lady
Dwarf
1933
Freaks
Angeleno
1932
The Big House
Inmate (uncredited)
1930
The Mysterious Island
Underwater Creature
1929
One Stolen Night
The Dwarf
1929
Seven Footprints to Satan
The Dwarf
1929
The Viking
Viking Little Person (uncredited)
1928
While the City Sleeps
Member of Skeeter's Gang
1928
Old San Francisco
Chang Loo - the Dwarf
1927
The Beloved Rogue
Beppo - the Dwarf
1927