ReelRifter
Angelo Rossitto

Angelo Rossitto

Acting

Born February 18, 1908 — Died September 21, 1991 Omaha, Nebraska, USA

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.

TV Shows(18)

Movies(64)

The Other Side of the Wind

The Other Side of the Wind

Angelo

2018

Halloween Monster Bash

Halloween Monster Bash

Toby (archive footage)

1991

Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook

Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook

Luigi / Indigo (archive footage)

1991

From a Whisper to a Scream

From a Whisper to a Scream

Tinker

1987

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome

Master

1985

The Making of 'Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome'

The Making of 'Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome'

Self

1985

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Little Person #1

1983

Smokey Bites the Dust

Smokey Bites the Dust

Desk Clerk

1981

Galaxina

Galaxina

Monster from Egg

1980

The Dark

The Dark

Angie (uncredited)

1979

Fairy Tales

Fairy Tales

Otto

1978

Help Woodsy Spread the Word

Help Woodsy Spread the Word

Woodsy Owl

1977

I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now?

I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now?

Little Pianist

1975

The Master Gunfighter

The Master Gunfighter

Side show midget

1975

The Stone Killer

The Stone Killer

Little Man in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)

1973

The Clones

The Clones

Man at Phone Booth

1973

Little Cigars

Little Cigars

Angelo

1973

The Other

The Other

Sideshow Performer (uncredited)

1972

Mongo's Back in Town

Mongo's Back in Town

Trembles

1971

Dracula vs. Frankenstein

Dracula vs. Frankenstein

Grazbo the Evil Dwarf

1971

Brain of Blood

Brain of Blood

Dorro

1971

Alex in Wonderland

Alex in Wonderland

Fellini #1

1970

Pufnstuf

Pufnstuf

Seymore Spider / Clang

1970

Doctor Dolittle

Doctor Dolittle

Dwarf (uncredited)

1967

The Trip

The Trip

Dwarf in Forest Fantasy (uncredited)

1967

The Perils of Pauline

The Perils of Pauline

Pygmy Leader's Assistant

1967

Requiem for a Heavyweight

Requiem for a Heavyweight

Midget Wrestler Outside Wrestling Ring (uncredited)

1962

The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm

The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm

Dwarf

1962

Confessions of an Opium Eater

Confessions of an Opium Eater

Newspaper Boy

1962

The Magic Sword

The Magic Sword

2nd Dwarf

1962

Pocketful of Miracles

Pocketful of Miracles

Angie (uncredited)

1961

The Wild and the Innocent

The Wild and the Innocent

Midget (uncredited)

1959

The Story of Mankind

The Story of Mankind

Dwarf in Nero's Court

1957

Invasion of the Saucer Men

Invasion of the Saucer Men

Saucer Man

1957

Dementia

Dementia

Newsboy (uncredited)

1955

Jungle Moon Men

Jungle Moon Men

Smallest Moon-Man

1955

Mesa of Lost Women

Mesa of Lost Women

Dwarf Lab Assistant

1953

The Greatest Show on Earth

The Greatest Show on Earth

Dwarf

1952

The Bandit Queen

The Bandit Queen

Nino

1950

Pygmy Island

Pygmy Island

Pygmy in Cave

1950

The Baron of Arizona

The Baron of Arizona

Angie -- Gypsy

1950

Scared to Death

Scared to Death

Indigo

1947

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

Arab Dwarf (uncredited)

1944

The Spider Woman

The Spider Woman

Obongo - Pygmy (uncredited)

1943

Reunion in France

Reunion in France

Citizen in Bomb Shelter (uncredited)

1942

The Corpse Vanishes

The Corpse Vanishes

Toby

1942

Hellzapoppin'

Hellzapoppin'

Dwarf Devil (uncredited)

1941

Spooks Run Wild

Spooks Run Wild

Luigi

1941

Doomed to Die

Doomed to Die

Newsboy #3 in Montage

1940

The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz

Munchkin Villager (uncredited)

1939

Mr. Wong in Chinatown

Mr. Wong in Chinatown

Mute Dwarf

1939

Child Bride

Child Bride

Angelo

1938

Babes in Toyland

Babes in Toyland

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

1934

I Believed in You

I Believed in You

Greenwich Village Waiter

1934

Carnival Lady

Carnival Lady

Dwarf

1933

Freaks

Freaks

Angeleno

1932

The Big House

The Big House

Inmate (uncredited)

1930

The Mysterious Island

The Mysterious Island

Underwater Creature

1929

One Stolen Night

One Stolen Night

The Dwarf

1929

Seven Footprints to Satan

Seven Footprints to Satan

The Dwarf

1929

The Viking

The Viking

Viking Little Person (uncredited)

1928

While the City Sleeps

While the City Sleeps

Member of Skeeter's Gang

1928

Old San Francisco

Old San Francisco

Chang Loo - the Dwarf

1927

The Beloved Rogue

The Beloved Rogue

Beppo - the Dwarf

1927

Angelo Rossitto — ReelRifter