Angelo Rossitto
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.
Known For
Seymore Spider / Clang
Pufnstuf
Little Man in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
The Stone Killer
Dwarf Lab Assistant
Mesa of Lost Women
Indigo
Scared to Death
Toby (as Angelo)
The Corpse Vanishes
The Dwarf
Seven Footprints to Satan
Master
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
Otto
Fairy Tales
Dorro
Brain of Blood
Luigi
Spooks Run Wild
Desk Clerk
Smokey Bites the Dust
Newspaper Boy
Confessions of an Opium Eater
Angelo
Child Bride
Midget (uncredited)
The Wild and the Innocent
Luigi / Indigo (archive footage)
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook
Trembles
Mongo's Back in Town
Dwarf
Carnival Lady
Nino
The Bandit Queen
Beppo - the Dwarf
The Beloved Rogue
Dwarf
The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm
Chang Loo - the Dwarf
Old San Francisco
Midget Wrestler Outside Wrestling Ring (uncredited)
Requiem for a Heavyweight
Sideshow Performer (uncredited)
The Other
Member of Skeeter's Gang
While the City Sleeps
Grazbo the Evil Dwarf
Dracula vs. Frankenstein
Saucer Man
Invasion of the Saucer-Men
Inmate (uncredited)
The Big House
Munchkin Villager (uncredited)
The Wizard of Oz
Mute Dwarf
Mr. Wong in Chinatown
Little Pianist
I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now?
The Adventures of Super Pup
Self
The Making of 'Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome'
Newsboy #3 in Montage
Doomed to Die
Monster from Egg
Galaxina
Angelo
Little Cigars
Little Person #1
Something Wicked This Way Comes
2nd Dwarf
The Magic Sword
Man at Phone Booth
The Clones
The Dwarf
One Stolen Night
Side show midget
The Master Gunfighter
Tinker
From a Whisper to a Scream
Newsboy (uncredited)
Dementia
Angie (uncredited)
The Dark
Obongo - Pygmy (uncredited)
The Spider Woman
Angelo
The Other Side of the Wind
Dwarf
The Greatest Show on Earth
Dwarf Devil (uncredited)
Hellzapoppin'
Angeleno
Freaks
Dwarf (uncredited)
Doctor Dolittle
Fellini #1
Alex in Wonderland
Citizen in Bomb Shelter (uncredited)
Reunion in France
Angie -- Gypsy
The Baron of Arizona
Dwarf in Nero's Court
The Story of Mankind
Angie (uncredited)
Pocketful of Miracles
Woodsy Owl
Help Woodsy Spread the Word
Elmer - Second Little Pig / 1st Sandman in Cave (uncredited)
Babes in Toyland
Dwarf in Forest Fantasy (uncredited)
The Trip
Pygmy Leader's Assistant
The Perils of Pauline
Underwater Creature
The Mysterious Island
Greenwich Village Waiter
I Believed in You
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
60
Gender
Male
Birthday
1908-02-18
Place of Birth
Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Also Known As
Angelo Salvatore Rossitto