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Angelo Rossitto

Angelo Rossitto

Born on February 18th, 1908

Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Died on September 21st, 1991

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

The Other Side of the Wind

2018

Angelo

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Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook

1991

Luigi / Indigo (archive footage)

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From a Whisper to a Scream

1987

Tinker

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Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome

1985

Master

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The Making of 'Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome'

1985

Self

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Something Wicked This Way Comes

1983

Little Person #1

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Smokey Bites the Dust

1981

Desk Clerk

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Galaxina

1980

Monster from Egg

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The Dark

1979

Angie (uncredited)

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Fairy Tales

1978

Otto

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Help Woodsy Spread the Word

1977

Woodsy Owl

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I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now?

1975

Little Pianist

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The Master Gunfighter

1975

Side show midget

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The Stone Killer

1973

Little Man in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)

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The Clones

1973

Man at Phone Booth

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Little Cigars

1973

Angelo

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The Other

1972

Sideshow Performer (uncredited)

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Mongo's Back in Town

1971

Trembles

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Dracula vs. Frankenstein

1971

Grazbo the Evil Dwarf

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Brain of Blood

1971

Dorro

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Alex in Wonderland

1970

Fellini #1

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Pufnstuf

1970

Seymore Spider / Clang

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Doctor Dolittle

1967

Dwarf (uncredited)

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The Trip

1967

Dwarf in Forest Fantasy (uncredited)

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The Perils of Pauline

1967

Pygmy Leader's Assistant

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Requiem for a Heavyweight

1962

Midget Wrestler Outside Wrestling Ring (uncredited)

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The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm

1962

Dwarf

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Confessions of an Opium Eater

1962

Newspaper Boy

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The Magic Sword

1962

2nd Dwarf

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Pocketful of Miracles

1961

Angie (uncredited)

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The Wild and the Innocent

1959

Midget (uncredited)

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The Adventures of Super Pup

1958

Character TBA

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The Story of Mankind

1957

Dwarf in Nero's Court

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Invasion of the Saucer-Men

1957

Saucer Man

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Dementia

1955

Newsboy (uncredited)

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Mesa of Lost Women

1953

Dwarf Lab Assistant

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The Greatest Show on Earth

1952

Dwarf

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The Bandit Queen

1950

Nino

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The Baron of Arizona

1950

Angie -- Gypsy

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Scared to Death

1947

Indigo

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The Spider Woman

1943

Obongo - Pygmy (uncredited)

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Reunion in France

1942

Citizen in Bomb Shelter (uncredited)

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The Corpse Vanishes

1942

Toby (as Angelo)

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Hellzapoppin'

1941

Dwarf Devil (uncredited)

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Spooks Run Wild

1941

Luigi

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Doomed to Die

1940

Newsboy #3 in Montage

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The Wizard of Oz

1939

Munchkin Villager (uncredited)

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Mr. Wong in Chinatown

1939

Mute Dwarf

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Child Bride

1938

Angelo

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Babes in Toyland

1934

Elmer - Second Little Pig / 1st Sandman in Cave

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Carnival Lady

1933

Dwarf

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Freaks

1932

Angeleno

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The Big House

1930

Inmate (uncredited)

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The Mysterious Island

1929

Underwater Creature

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One Stolen Night

1929

The Dwarf

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Seven Footprints to Satan

1929

The Dwarf

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While the City Sleeps

1928

Member of Skeeter's Gang

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Old San Francisco

1927

Chang Loo - the Dwarf

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The Beloved Rogue

1927

Beppo - the Dwarf

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