Acting · Omaha, Nebraska, USA · Born February 18, 1908
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.
MovieThe Other Side of the Wind
2018
as Angelo
MovieHalloween Monster Bash
1991
as Toby (archive footage)
MovieDracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook
1991
as Luigi / Indigo (archive footage)
TVStar Trek: The Next Generation
1987
as Spectator (uncredited)
MovieFrom a Whisper to a Scream
1987
as Tinker
TVAmazing Stories
1985
as Vaudevillian
MovieMad Max Beyond Thunderdome
1985
as Master
MovieThe Making of 'Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome'
1985
as Self
MovieSomething Wicked This Way Comes
1983
as Little Person #1
MovieSmokey Bites the Dust
1981
as Desk Clerk
MovieGalaxina
1980
as Monster from Egg
MovieThe Dark
1979
as Angie (uncredited)
TVJason of Star Command
1978
as Bork
MovieFairy Tales
1978
as Otto
TVThe Incredible Hulk
1977
as Tom Thumb (uncredited)
TVThe Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries
1977
Help Woodsy Spread the Word
1977
as Woodsy Owl
MovieI Wonder Who's Killing Her Now?
1975
as Little Pianist
MovieThe Master Gunfighter
1975
as Side show midget
TVStarsky & Hutch
1975
as Big Ben
TVBaretta
1975
TVThe Rockford Files
1974
as Dwarf Patient (uncredited)
TVThe Snoop Sisters
1973
as Little Igor
MovieThe Stone Killer
1973
as Little Man in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
MovieThe Clones
1973
as Man at Phone Booth
MovieLittle Cigars
1973
as Angelo
TVKung Fu
1972
as Angelo (uncredited)
MovieThe Other
1972
as Sideshow Performer (uncredited)
MovieMongo's Back in Town
1971
as Trembles
MovieDracula vs. Frankenstein
1971
as Grazbo the Evil Dwarf
TVLidsville
1971
as Mr. Big
MovieBrain of Blood
1971
as Dorro
MovieAlex in Wonderland
1970
as Fellini #1
MoviePufnstuf
1970
as Seymore Spider / Clang
TVH.R. Pufnstuf
1969
as Seymore Spider
MovieDoctor Dolittle
1967
as Dwarf (uncredited)
MovieThe Trip
1967
as Dwarf in Forest Fantasy (uncredited)
MovieThe Perils of Pauline
1967
as Pygmy Leader's Assistant
TVT.H.E. Cat
1966
as Circus Dwarf (uncredited)
TVBranded
1965
as Shooting Gallery Man (uncredited)
TVThe Man from U.N.C.L.E.
1964
as Blind Pencil Seller
MovieRequiem for a Heavyweight
1962
as Midget Wrestler Outside Wrestling Ring (uncredited)
MovieThe Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm
1962
as Dwarf
MovieConfessions of an Opium Eater
1962
as Newspaper Boy
MovieThe Magic Sword
1962
as 2nd Dwarf
MoviePocketful of Miracles
1961
as Angie (uncredited)
TVThe Rebel
1959
as Godfrey
MovieThe Wild and the Innocent
1959
as Midget (uncredited)
TVShirley Temple's Storybook
1958
as Mouse
MovieThe Story of Mankind
1957
as Dwarf in Nero's Court
MovieInvasion of the Saucer Men
1957
as Saucer Man
MovieDementia
1955
as Newsboy (uncredited)
TVGunsmoke
1955
as Billy (uncredited)
MovieJungle Moon Men
1955
as Smallest Moon-Man
MovieMesa of Lost Women
1953
as Dwarf Lab Assistant
MovieThe Greatest Show on Earth
1952
as Dwarf (uncredited)
MovieThe Bandit Queen
1950
as Nino
MoviePygmy Island
1950
as Pygmy in Cave
MovieThe Baron of Arizona
1950
as Angie -- Gypsy
MovieScared to Death
1947
as Indigo
MovieAli Baba and the Forty Thieves
1944
as Arab Dwarf (uncredited)
MovieThe Spider Woman
1943
as Obongo - Pygmy (uncredited)
MovieReunion in France
1942
as Citizen in Bomb Shelter (uncredited)
MovieThe Corpse Vanishes
1942
as Toby
MovieHellzapoppin'
1941
as Dwarf Devil (uncredited)
MovieSpooks Run Wild
1941
as Luigi
MovieDoomed to Die
1940
as Newsboy #3 in Montage
MovieThe Wizard of Oz
1939
as Munchkin Villager (uncredited)
MovieMr. Wong in Chinatown
1939
as Mute Dwarf
MovieChild Bride
1938
as Angelo
MovieBabes in Toyland
1934
as Elmer - Second Little Pig / 1st Sandman in Cave (uncredited)
MovieI Believed in You
1934
as Greenwich Village Waiter
MovieCarnival Lady
1933
as Dwarf
MovieFreaks
1932
as Angeleno
MovieThe Big House
1930
as Inmate (uncredited)
MovieThe Mysterious Island
1929
as Underwater Creature
MovieOne Stolen Night
1929
as The Dwarf
MovieSeven Footprints to Satan
1929
as The Dwarf
MovieThe Viking
1928
as Viking Little Person (uncredited)
MovieWhile the City Sleeps
1928
as Member of Skeeter's Gang
MovieOld San Francisco
1927
as Chang Loo - the Dwarf
MovieThe Beloved Rogue
1927
as Beppo - the Dwarf
