
Angelo Rossitto
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1908-02-18
Day of Death
1991-09-21 (83 years old)
Place of Birth
Omaha, Nebraska, USA
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
Acting
(2018)
The Other Side of the Wind
as Angelo
(1991)
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook
as Luigi / Indigo (archive footage)
(1987)
From a Whisper to a Scream
as Tinker
(1985)
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
as Master
(1985)
(1983)
Something Wicked This Way Comes
as Little Person #1
(1981)
Smokey Bites the Dust
as Desk Clerk
(1980)
Galaxina
as Monster from Egg
(1979)
The Dark
as Angie (uncredited)
(1978)
Fairy Tales
as Otto
(1977)
Help Woodsy Spread the Word
as Woodsy Owl
(1975)
The Master Gunfighter
as Side show midget
(1975)
I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now?
as Little Pianist
(1973)
The Stone Killer
as Little Man in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
(1973)
The Clones
as Man at Phone Booth
(1973)
Little Cigars
as Angelo
(1972)
The Other
as Sideshow Performer (uncredited)
(1971)
Dracula vs. Frankenstein
as Grazbo the Evil Dwarf
(1971)
Brain of Blood
as Dorro
(1971)
Mongo's Back in Town
as Trembles
(1970)
Alex in Wonderland
as Fellini #1
(1970)
Pufnstuf
as Seymore Spider / Clang
(1967)
Doctor Dolittle
as Dwarf (uncredited)
(1967)
The Trip
as Dwarf in Forest Fantasy (uncredited)
(1967)
The Perils of Pauline
as Pygmy Leader's Assistant
(1962)
(1962)
Requiem for a Heavyweight
as Midget Wrestler Outside Wrestling Ring (uncredited)
(1962)
The Magic Sword
as 2nd Dwarf
(1962)
Confessions of an Opium Eater
as Newspaper Boy
(1961)
Pocketful of Miracles
as Angie (uncredited)
(1959)
The Wild and the Innocent
as Midget (uncredited)
(1958)
(1957)
Invasion of the Saucer-Men
as Saucer Man
(1957)
The Story of Mankind
as Dwarf in Nero's Court
(1955)
Dementia
as Newsboy (uncredited)
(1953)
Mesa of Lost Women
as Dwarf Lab Assistant
(1952)
The Greatest Show on Earth
as Dwarf
(1950)
The Baron of Arizona
as Angie -- Gypsy
(1950)
The Bandit Queen
as Nino
(1947)
Scared to Death
as Indigo
(1943)
The Spider Woman
as Obongo - Pygmy (uncredited)
(1942)
Reunion in France
as Citizen in Bomb Shelter (uncredited)
(1942)
The Corpse Vanishes
as Toby (as Angelo)
(1941)
Hellzapoppin'
as Dwarf Devil (uncredited)
(1941)
Spooks Run Wild
as Luigi
(1940)
Doomed to Die
as Newsboy #3 in Montage
(1939)
The Wizard of Oz
as Munchkin Villager (uncredited)
(1939)
Mr. Wong in Chinatown
as Mute Dwarf
(1938)
Child Bride
as Angelo
(1934)
Babes in Toyland
as Elmer - Second Little Pig / 1st Sandman in Cave (uncredited)
(1934)
I Believed in You
as Greenwich Village Waiter
(1933)
Carnival Lady
as Dwarf
(1932)
Freaks
as Angeleno
(1930)
The Big House
as Inmate (uncredited)
(1929)
The Mysterious Island
as Underwater Creature
(1929)
One Stolen Night
as The Dwarf
(1929)
Seven Footprints to Satan
as The Dwarf
(1928)
While the City Sleeps
as Member of Skeeter's Gang
(1927)
The Beloved Rogue
as Beppo - the Dwarf
(1927)
Old San Francisco
as Chang Loo - the Dwarf