Billy Barty

A gleeful, often rascally presence in features and on television for over six decades, actor Billy Barty was unquestionably one of the most recognizable dwarf performers in Hollywood, thanks to countless screen appearances in everything from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (1935) to "Foul Play" (1978), "Legend" (1985) and "Masters of the Universe" (1987). He began his career essaying infants and toddlers in impossible scenarios, like the mischievous tot who bit Fredric March on the leg in the screwball classic "Nothing Sacred" (1937). After a long stint in vaudeville, Barty joined Spike Jones' City Slickers. In the 1950s and 1960s, he was frequently cast in "traditional" little person roles, including circus clowns and henchmen, but his wise-guy delivery also made him ideal for parts with genuine grit that were usually afforded to actors of normal size. His best turn in this regard was undoubtedly Abe Kusich, the brassy actor in "Day of the Locust" (1975), which would remain his most substantial screen role. In later years, he bounced between comic turns and fantasy figures in "Willow" (1987) while maintaining his non-profit organization, Little People of America, which benefited individuals with conditions similar to his own. His tireless campaign for equal treatment for those with dwarfism and similar conditions made him their unofficial spokesperson from the late '50s until his death in 2000. Billy Barty's long career and unbridled screen energy made him one of the entertainment industry's best-loved performers.