Angelo Rossitto
Acting
Biography
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.
Born: February 18, 1908
Place of Birth: Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Known For
Filmography
as Angelo
as Luigi / Indigo (archive footage)
as Spectator (uncredited)
as Tinker
as Vaudevillian
as Master
as Little Person #1
as Desk Clerk
as Monster from Egg
as Angie (uncredited)
as Bork
as Otto
as Tom Thumb (uncredited)
as Little Pianist
as Side show midget
as Big Ben
as Dwarf Patient (uncredited)
as Little Igor
as Little Man in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
as Man at Phone Booth
as Angelo
as Angelo (uncredited)
as Sideshow Performer (uncredited)
as Trembles
as Grazbo the Evil Dwarf
as Mr. Big
as Dorro
as Fellini #1
as Seymore Spider / Clang
as Seymore Spider
as Dwarf (uncredited)
as Dwarf in Forest Fantasy (uncredited)
as Pygmy Leader's Assistant
as Circus Dwarf (uncredited)
as Shooting Gallery Man (uncredited)
as Blind Pencil Seller
as Midget Wrestler Outside Wrestling Ring (uncredited)
as Newspaper Boy
as 2nd Dwarf
as Angie (uncredited)
as Godfrey
as Midget (uncredited)
as Mouse
as Dwarf
as Dwarf in Nero's Court
as Saucer Man
as Newsboy (uncredited)
as Billy (uncredited)
as Dwarf Lab Assistant
as Dwarf
as Nino
as Angie -- Gypsy
as Indigo
as Arab Dwarf (uncredited)
as Obongo - Pygmy (uncredited)
as Citizen in Bomb Shelter (uncredited)
as Toby
as Dwarf Devil (uncredited)
as Luigi
as Newsboy #3 in Montage
as Munchkin Villager (uncredited)
as Mute Dwarf
as Angelo
as Elmer - Second Little Pig / 1st Sandman in Cave (uncredited)
as Greenwich Village Waiter
as Dwarf
as Angeleno
as Inmate (uncredited)
as Underwater Creature
as The Dwarf
as The Dwarf
as Viking Little Person (uncredited)
as Member of Skeeter's Gang
as Chang Loo - the Dwarf
as Beppo - the Dwarf