Angelo Rossitto

Birthday: 1908-02-18
Deathday: 1991-09-21
Birthplace: Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Gender: Male
Owned By: Unowned

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.

Credits

Year Title Character
2018-11-02 The Other Side of the Wind Angelo
1987-09-25 From a Whisper to a Scream Tinker
1986-01-01 Horrible Horror Luigi in 'Spooks Run Wild'
1985-06-29 Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome Master
1983-04-29 Something Wicked This Way Comes Little Person #1
1981-10-01 Smokey Bites the Dust Desk Clerk
1980-06-06 Galaxina Monster from Egg
1980-06-06 Galaxina
1979-04-27 The Dark Angie (uncredited)
1978-08-01 Fairy Tales Otto
1977-01-01 Help Woodsy Spread the Word Woodsy Owl
1975-12-01 I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now? Little Pianist
1975-10-03 The Master Gunfighter Side show midget
1973-08-08 The Stone Killer Little Man in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
1973-08-01 The Clones Man at Phone Booth
1973-06-22 Little Cigars Angelo
1972-05-24 The Other Sideshow Performer (uncredited)
1971-12-10 Mongo's Back in Town Trembles
1971-09-20 Dracula vs. Frankenstein Grazbo the Evil Dwarf
1971-08-01 Brain of Blood Dorro
1970-12-17 Alex in Wonderland Fellini #1
1970-05-13 Pufnstuf Seymore Spider / Clang
1967-12-05 Doctor Dolittle Dwarf (uncredited)
1967-08-23 The Trip Dwarf in Forest Fantasy (uncredited)
1967-08-02 The Perils of Pauline Pygmy Leader's Assistant
1962-10-16 Requiem for a Heavyweight Midget Wrestler Outside Wrestling Ring (uncredited)
1962-08-07 The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm Dwarf
1962-06-20 Confessions of an Opium Eater Newspaper Boy
1962-04-01 The Magic Sword 2nd Dwarf
1961-12-18 Pocketful of Miracles Angie (uncredited)
1959-05-27 The Wild and the Innocent Midget (uncredited)
1958-01-01 The Adventures of Super Pup
1957-11-08 The Story of Mankind Dwarf in Nero's Court
1957-06-01 Invasion of the Saucer-Men Saucer Man
1955-12-22 Dementia Newsboy (uncredited)
1953-06-17 Mesa of Lost Women Dwarf Lab Assistant
1952-02-16 The Greatest Show on Earth Dwarf
1950-12-22 The Bandit Queen Nino
1950-03-04 The Baron of Arizona Angie -- Gypsy
1947-02-01 Scared to Death Indigo
1943-12-24 The Spider Woman Obongo - Pygmy (uncredited)
1942-12-25 Reunion in France Citizen in Bomb Shelter (uncredited)
1942-05-08 The Corpse Vanishes Toby (as Angelo)
1941-12-25 Hellzapoppin' Dwarf Devil (uncredited)
1941-10-24 Spooks Run Wild Luigi
1940-08-12 Doomed to Die Newsboy #3 in Montage
1939-08-15 The Wizard of Oz Munchkin Villager (uncredited)
1939-08-01 Mr. Wong in Chinatown Mute Dwarf
1938-03-02 Child Bride Angelo
1934-12-14 Babes in Toyland Elmer - Second Little Pig / 1st Sandman in Cave (uncredited)
1933-11-11 Carnival Lady Dwarf
1932-01-01 Freaks Angeleno
1930-06-14 The Big House Inmate (uncredited)
1929-03-15 One Stolen Night The Dwarf
1929-01-27 Seven Footprints to Satan The Dwarf
1928-02-15 While the City Sleeps Member of Skeeter's Gang
1927-09-04 Old San Francisco Chang Loo - the Dwarf
1927-03-12 The Beloved Rogue Beppo - the Dwarf