Angelo Rossitto

Angelo Rossitto

  • Birthday: 1908-02-18
  • Deathday: 1991-09-21
  • Place of birth: Omaha, Nebraska, USA
  • Also know as: Angelo Salvatore 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.

Filmography

Mesa of Lost Women

1953

As Dwarf Lab Assistant

Scared to Death

1947

As Indigo

The Corpse Vanishes

1942

As Toby (as Angelo)

Seven Footprints to Satan

1929

As The Dwarf

Fairy Tales

1978

As Otto

Brain of Blood

1971

As Dorro

Spooks Run Wild

1941

As Luigi

Child Bride

1938

As Angelo

Mongo's Back in Town

1971

As Trembles

Carnival Lady

1933

As Dwarf

The Beloved Rogue

1927

As Beppo - the Dwarf

Old San Francisco

1927

As Chang Loo - the Dwarf

While the City Sleeps

1928

As Member of Skeeter's Gang

Dracula vs. Frankenstein

1971

As Grazbo the Evil Dwarf

Invasion of the Saucer-Men

1957

As Saucer Man

Mr. Wong in Chinatown

1939

As Mute Dwarf

The Bandit Queen

1950

As Nino

Doomed to Die

1940

As Newsboy #3 in Montage

Little Cigars

1973

As Angelo

Galaxina

1980

As Monster from Egg

Something Wicked This Way Comes

1983

As Little Person #1

The Magic Sword

1962

As 2nd Dwarf

The Clones

1973

As Man at Phone Booth

One Stolen Night

1929

As The Dwarf

The Master Gunfighter

1975

As Side show midget

Dementia

1955

As Newsboy (uncredited)

The Dark

1979

As Angie (uncredited)

The Spider Woman

1943

As Obongo - Pygmy (uncredited)

Hellzapoppin'

1941

As Dwarf Devil (uncredited)

Freaks

1932

As Angeleno

Doctor Dolittle

1967

As Dwarf (uncredited)

Alex in Wonderland

1970

As Fellini #1

Reunion in France

1942

As Citizen in Bomb Shelter (uncredited)

The Baron of Arizona

1950

As Angie -- Gypsy

The Story of Mankind

1957

As Dwarf in Nero's Court

Pocketful of Miracles

1961

As Angie (uncredited)

Galaxina

1980

As

Help Woodsy Spread the Word

1977

As Woodsy Owl

Babes in Toyland

1934

As Elmer - Second Little Pig / 1st Sandman in Cave (uncredited)

The Trip

1967

As Dwarf in Forest Fantasy (uncredited)

The Perils of Pauline

1967

As Pygmy Leader's Assistant

Pufnstuf

1970

As Seymore Spider / Clang

Confessions of an Opium Eater

1962

As Newspaper Boy

Requiem for a Heavyweight

1962

As Midget Wrestler Outside Wrestling Ring (uncredited)

The Other

1972

As Sideshow Performer (uncredited)

The Stone Killer

1973

As Little Man in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)

Smokey Bites the Dust

1981

As Desk Clerk

Horrible Horror

1986

As Luigi in 'Spooks Run Wild'

The Wild and the Innocent

1959

As Midget (uncredited)

Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook

1991

As Luigi / Indigo (archive footage)

The Wizard of Oz

1939

As Munchkin Villager (uncredited)

The Big House

1930

As Inmate (uncredited)

I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now?

1975

As Little Pianist

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