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

Help Woodsy Spread the Word

1977

As Woodsy Owl

Brain of Blood

1971

As Dorro

The Corpse Vanishes

1942

As Toby (as Angelo)

Old San Francisco

1927

As Chang Loo - the Dwarf

Seven Footprints to Satan

1929

As The Dwarf

The Beloved Rogue

1927

As Beppo - the Dwarf

Scared to Death

1947

As Indigo

Child Bride

1938

As Angelo

Mongo's Back in Town

1971

As Trembles

The Bandit Queen

1950

As Nino

One Stolen Night

1929

As The Dwarf

Freaks

1932

As Angeleno

Galaxina

1980

As Monster from Egg

Pufnstuf

1970

As Seymore Spider / Clang

Confessions of an Opium Eater

1962

As Newspaper Boy

Dracula vs. Frankenstein

1971

As Grazbo the Evil Dwarf

Spooks Run Wild

1941

As Luigi

The Clones

1973

As Man at Phone Booth

Babes in Toyland

1934

As Straw-house Pig Elmer

Fairy Tales

1978

As Otto

Little Cigars

1973

As Angelo

The Spider Woman

1943

As Obongo - Pygmy (uncredited)

The Baron of Arizona

1950

As Angie -- Gypsy

I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now?

1975

As Little Pianist

Carnival Lady

1933

As Dwarf

Dementia

1955

As Newsboy (uncredited)

Something Wicked This Way Comes

1983

As Little Person #1

The Master Gunfighter

1975

As Side show midget

Galaxina

1980

As

The Other

1972

As Sideshow Performer (uncredited)

Mr. Wong in Chinatown

1939

As Mute Dwarf

Doomed to Die

1940

As Newsboy #3 in Montage

Mesa of Lost Women

1953

As Dwarf Lab Assistant

While the City Sleeps

1928

As Member of Skeeter's Gang

Alex in Wonderland

1970

As Fellini #1

The Perils of Pauline

1967

As Pygmy Leader's Assistant

The Big House

1930

As Inmate (uncredited)

The Magic Sword

1962

As 2nd Dwarf

Smokey Bites the Dust

1981

As Desk Clerk

The Wild and the Innocent

1959

As Midget (uncredited)

Invasion of the Saucer-Men

1957

As Saucer Man

The Dark

1979

As Angie (uncredited)

The Wizard of Oz

1939

As Munchkin Villager (uncredited)

The Trip

1967

As Dwarf in Forest Fantasy (uncredited)

Doctor Dolittle

1967

As Dwarf (uncredited)

Requiem for a Heavyweight

1962

As Midget Wrestler Outside Wrestling Ring (uncredited)

The Story of Mankind

1957

As Dwarf in Nero's Court

The Stone Killer

1973

As Little Man in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)

Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook

1991

As Luigi / Indigo (archive footage)

Hellzapoppin'

1941

As Dwarf Devil (uncredited)

Reunion in France

1942

As Citizen in Bomb Shelter (uncredited)

Horrible Horror

1986

As Luigi in 'Spooks Run Wild'

Pocketful of Miracles

1961

As Angie (uncredited)

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