Angelo Salvatore Rossitto (February 18, 1908 – September 21, 1991) 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. 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.
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Early life
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).
Career
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. During the Great Depression, Rossitto, aged 24, appeared as Angeleno in Tod Browning's Freaks (1932). Six years later, in 1938, aged 30, he appeared in Child Bride, another controversial film.
During and after the Second World War, Rossitto appeared in several Poverty Row films starring actor Bela Lugosi. 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). He also made frequent television appearances, including roles in the police drama Baretta.
