1908-02-18 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.
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The Other Side of the Wind | Angelo | 2018-11-02 |
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Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook | Luigi / Indigo (archive footage) | 1991-01-01 |
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From a Whisper to a Scream | Tinker | 1987-09-25 |
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The Making of 'Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome' | Self | 1985-06-25 |
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Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome | Master | 1985-06-29 |
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Something Wicked This Way Comes | Little Person #1 | 1983-04-29 |
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Smokey Bites the Dust | Desk Clerk | 1981-10-01 |
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Galaxina | Monster from Egg | 1980-06-06 |
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The Dark | Angie (uncredited) | 1979-04-27 |
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Fairy Tales | Otto | 1978-08-01 |
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Help Woodsy Spread the Word | Woodsy Owl | 1977-01-01 |
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The Master Gunfighter | Side show midget | 1975-10-03 |
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I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now? | Little Pianist | 1975-12-01 |
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Little Cigars | Angelo | 1973-06-22 |
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The Clones | Man at Phone Booth | 1973-08-01 |
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The Stone Killer | Little Man in Hotel Lobby (uncredited) | 1973-08-08 |
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The Other | Sideshow Performer (uncredited) | 1972-05-24 |
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Dracula vs. Frankenstein | Grazbo the Evil Dwarf | 1971-09-20 |
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Brain of Blood | Dorro | 1971-08-01 |
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Mongo's Back in Town | Trembles | 1971-12-10 |
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Pufnstuf | Seymore Spider / Clang | 1970-05-13 |
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Alex in Wonderland | Fellini #1 | 1970-12-17 |
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The Trip | Dwarf in Forest Fantasy (uncredited) | 1967-08-23 |
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The Perils of Pauline | Pygmy Leader's Assistant | 1967-08-02 |
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Doctor Dolittle | Dwarf (uncredited) | 1967-12-05 |
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Confessions of an Opium Eater | Newspaper Boy | 1962-06-20 |
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The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm | Dwarf | 1962-08-07 |
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The Magic Sword | 2nd Dwarf | 1962-04-01 |
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Requiem for a Heavyweight | Midget Wrestler Outside Wrestling Ring (uncredited) | 1962-10-16 |
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Pocketful of Miracles | Angie (uncredited) | 1961-12-18 |
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The Wild and the Innocent | Midget (uncredited) | 1959-05-27 |
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The Adventures of Super Pup | 1958-01-01 | |
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The Story of Mankind | Dwarf in Nero's Court | 1957-11-08 |
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Invasion of the Saucer-Men | Saucer Man | 1957-06-01 |
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Dementia | Newsboy (uncredited) | 1955-12-22 |
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Mesa of Lost Women | Dwarf Lab Assistant | 1953-06-17 |
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The Greatest Show on Earth | Dwarf | 1952-02-16 |
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The Bandit Queen | Nino | 1950-12-22 |
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The Baron of Arizona | Angie -- Gypsy | 1950-03-04 |
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Scared to Death | Indigo | 1947-02-01 |
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The Spider Woman | Obongo - Pygmy (uncredited) | 1943-12-24 |
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Reunion in France | Citizen in Bomb Shelter (uncredited) | 1942-12-25 |
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The Corpse Vanishes | Toby (as Angelo) | 1942-05-08 |
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Spooks Run Wild | Luigi | 1941-10-24 |
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Hellzapoppin' | Dwarf Devil (uncredited) | 1941-12-25 |
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Doomed to Die | Newsboy #3 in Montage | 1940-08-12 |
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Mr. Wong in Chinatown | Mute Dwarf | 1939-08-01 |
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The Wizard of Oz | Munchkin Villager (uncredited) | 1939-08-15 |
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Child Bride | Angelo | 1938-03-02 |
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Babes in Toyland | Elmer - Second Little Pig / 1st Sandman in Cave (uncredited) | 1934-12-14 |
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Carnival Lady | Dwarf | 1933-11-11 |
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Freaks | Angeleno | 1932-01-01 |
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The Big House | Inmate (uncredited) | 1930-06-14 |
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The Mysterious Island | Underwater Creature | 1929-10-05 |
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One Stolen Night | The Dwarf | 1929-03-15 |
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Seven Footprints to Satan | The Dwarf | 1929-01-27 |
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While the City Sleeps | Member of Skeeter's Gang | 1928-02-15 |
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Old San Francisco | Chang Loo - the Dwarf | 1927-09-04 |
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The Beloved Rogue | Beppo - the Dwarf | 1927-03-12 |
