
Billy Curtis
Billy Curtis (June 27, 1909 - November 9, 1988) was an American film and television actor. He was a dwarf who had a 50-year career in a variety of roles. He was born on 27 June 1909 in Springfield, Massachusetts, and died November 9, 1988 in Dayton, Nevada, of a heart attack. According to the IMDb site, his birth name was Luigi Curto, and his height was 4 feet 2 inches (1.27 m). The bulk of his work was in the western and science fiction genres. One of his early jobs was as one of the Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz. He also appeared in Adventures of Superman in the 1950s. Most notably, Curtis worked in westerns, including the Clint Eastwood feature, High Plains Drifter in which he featured as Mordecai, a friendly dwarf sympathetic to Eastwood, he also appeared in the 1938 Musical/Western The Terror of Tiny Town. This film is, as far as is known, the world's only Western with an all-dwarf cast. Many of the actors in Tinytown were part of a performing troupe called Singer's Midgets, who also played Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz, released in 1939. He also had a starring role in American International Pictures' 1973 release, Little Cigars, about a gang of "midgets" on a crime spree.
Known For
Credits
- 1986 ยทFather Guido Sarducci's Vatican Inquirer: The Pope's Touras Monsignor Duffy
- 1985 ยทThe Twilight Zoneas (segment "Personal Demons")
- 1985 ยทHead Officeas Reverend Lynch
- 1984 ยทSnow White and the Seven Dwarfsas Barnaby
- 1982 ยทFaerie Tale Theatreas Barnaby
- 1982 ยทEating Raoulas Little Person
- 1979 ยทKnots Landingas Billy Curtis
- 1979 ยทBuck Rogers in the 25th Centuryas General Yoomak
- 1978 ยทLoose Shoesas Menchkin
- 1976 ยทMonster Squadas The Ringmaster
- 1976 ยทLaverne & Shirleyas
- 1975 ยทThe Wild McCullochsas Charlie P.
- 1975 ยทWhite House Madnessas Secret Service Man
- 1973 ยทLittle Cigarsas Slick Bender
- 1973 ยทHigh Plains Drifteras Mordecai
- 1972 ยทEvil Roy Sladeas Toy Cowboy (uncredited)
- 1971 ยทAphrodisiac: The Love Secretas Man on the Street Interviewee
- 1970 ยทNorwoodas Edmund B. Ratner
- 1969 ยทHello, Dolly!as Little Person (uncredited)
- 1968 ยทHere's Lucyas Herman
- 1968 ยทThe Legend of Lylah Clareas Clown (uncredited)
- 1968 ยทPlanet of the Apesas Child Ape (uncredited)
- 1966 ยทThe Monkeesas Midget
- 1966 ยทStar Trekas Small, copper skinned ambassador (uncredited)
- 1966 ยทOut of Sightas The Man From F.L.U.S.H.
- 1966 ยทBatmanas Midget
- 1965 ยทBob Hope Christmas Showas Self
- 1965 ยทTwo on a Guillotineas Big Mike (uncredited)
- 1964 ยทBewitchedas
- 1964 ยทRobin and the 7 Hoodsas Newsboy
- 1963 ยทThe Greatest Show on Earthas
- 1962 ยทThe Beverly Hillbilliesas
- 1961 ยทBackstage Partyas Self
- 1961 ยท87th Precinctas
- 1959 ยทAdventures in Paradiseas Captain Borcher
- 1959 ยทTightropeas
- 1958 ยท77 Sunset Stripas
- 1958 ยทShirley Temple's Storybookas Boomalakka Wee
- 1958 ยทShirley Temple's Storybookas Dwarf
- 1958 ยทThe Adventures of Super Pupas Super Pup / Bark Bent
- 1957 ยทMan of a Thousand Facesas Harry Earles (uncredited)
- 1957 ยทThe Incredible Shrinking Manas Midget
- 1956 ยทFriendly Persuasionas Midget at County Fair (uncredited)
- 1955 ยทGunsmokeas Arizona
- 1955 ยทJungle Moon Menas Damu
- 1954 ยทPrincess of the Nileas Tut (uncredited)
- 1952 ยทLimelightas Midget in Agent's Office (uncredited)
- 1952 ยทThis Is Your Lifeas Self
- 1952 ยทAdventures of Supermanas
- 1951 ยทSuperman and the Mole Menas Mole-Man (uncredited)
- 1950 ยทPygmy Islandas Makuba
- 1948 ยทHomicide for Threeas Circus Performer
- 1948 ยทApril Showersas Capt. Rudolph L. Nemo
- 1947 ยทBuck Privates Come Homeas
- 1943 ยทThe Hard Wayas Vaudeville Midget (Uncredited)
- 1942 ยทLucky Legsas Newsboy
- 1942 ยทSaboteuras Midget - Circus Troupe
- 1942 ยทDon't Lieas Melinda, the chimp
- 1942 ยทTramp, Tramp, Tramp!as Midget
- 1941 ยทHellzapoppin'as Bodyguard (uncredited)
- 1941 ยทIce-Capadesas George
- 1941 ยทEmergency Landingas Judge
- 1941 ยทMaisie Was a Ladyas Midget (Uncredited)
- 1939 ยทThe Wizard of Ozas Munchkin (uncredited)
- 1939 ยทThree Texas Steersas Hercules - the Midget
- 1938 ยทThe Terror of Tiny Townas The Hero (Buck Lawson)