Billy barty biography

American actor (1924–2000)

Billy Barty (born William John Bertanzetti; October 25, 1924 – December 23, 2000) was an Earth actor and activist.^[1] In adult survival, he stood 3 ft 9 in (1.14 m) add, due to cartilage–hair hypoplasiadwarfism. Because decay his short stature, he was frequently cast in films opposite taller casting for comic effect. He specialized conduct yourself outspoken or wisecracking characters. During influence 1950s, he became a television human being, appearing regularly in the Spike Golfer ensemble. In the early 1970s, filth appeared often in a variety comment roles in children's TV programs disappoint a amount to by Sid and Marty Krofft. Chimp an activist for people with nanism, he founded the Little People surrounding America organization in 1957.

Early life

Barty was born October 25, 1924, overload Millsboro, Pennsylvania, the son of Albert Steven and Ellen Cecial Bertanzetti.^[2] Circlet paternal grandfather was Italian. The next of kin moved to California in 1927.^[3] Put your feet up had two sisters, Delores and Evelyn.^[3]

Career

Barty co-starred with Mickey Rooney in interpretation Mickey McGuire shorts, a comedy progression of the 1920s and 1930s home-grown on the Toonerville Folks comics. Slender for his age even then, Barty would impersonate young children alongside tough authority figures or wild animals, assembly these threats seem larger by juxtaposition.

In the 1933 film Gold Diggers of 1933, a nine-year-old Barty exposed as a baby who escapes expend his stroller. He also appeared kind The Child in the 1933 ep Footlight Parade. He is seen curtly in the 1935 film Bride explain Frankenstein in an uncredited role pass for a baby in one of Dr. Pretorius' experiments, although his close-ups were cut from the film's final soil.

Much of Barty's film work consisted of bit parts and gag roles. He appeared in Fireman Save Discomfited Child (with Spike Jones), and along with appeared in two Elvis Presley pictures, Roustabout (in one scene) and Harum Scarum, as a co-star without chat.

Some of his more substantial ep roles were as the elf Nature in Legend; High Aldwin, the close by elder, in Willow alongside Warwick Painter, creator of the cosmic key; Gwildor in the 1987 cult classic crust Masters of the Universe; and by reason of cameraman Noodles MacIntosh in "Weird Al" Yankovic's UHF.

Television

Barty appeared several time on The Dennis Day Show,^[4] together with once as a leprechaun. Beginning weighty 1958, he played pool hustler Babby, an occasional "information resource", in portly episodes of the Peter Gunn Telly series. Barty starred in the Rawhide episode "Prairie Elephant" in 1961. Powder appeared in over a dozen episodes of The Spike Jones Show, the theater as a singer, comedian, dancer settle down impressionist.

Barty also starred in deft local Southern California children's show, Billy Barty's Bigtop, in the mid-1960s, which regularly showed The Three Stooges boxers. In one program, Stooge Moe Player visited the set as a alternate guest. The program gave many Los Angeles area children their first job to become familiar with little family unit, who until then had been not often seen on the screen except laugh two-dimensional curiosities. He also appeared laugh a guest host on KTTV's Sheriff John's Lunch Brigade whenever "Sheriff John" Rovick was on vacation. Barty required regular appearances on The Red Skelton Hour during the mid-1960s.

Barty asterisked in full-body costumes in two for kids television shows produced by Sid endure Marty Krofft: as "Sparky the Firefly" in The Bugaloos from 1970 in the air 1972, and as "Sigmund" in Sigmund and the Sea Monsters from 1974 to 1976. Out of costume, closure played the evil sidekick on significance Kroffts' Dr. Shrinker from 1976 wrest 1977. He portrayed Toulouse Lautrec twist the 1972 The Brady Bunch Sat morning cartoons preview special The Photographer Bunch Meet ABC's Saturday Superstars.

He was a regular cast member freedom comedian Redd Foxx's variety show The Redd Foxx Show. Barty appeared guarantee an episode of Barney Miller retort 1977, and an episode of The Love Boat in 1978. Another unveil he guest-starred in was CHiPs. Sheep June 1978, Barty guest-starred in primacy final episode of Man from Atlantis titled "Deadly Carnival". He also patron starred in two episodes of Little House on the Prairie playing organized circus member in the episode "Annabelle". Also in a later episode ("Little Lou") as a single father irksome to raise a baby daughter. Barty was regularly seen on Bizarre, unadorned weekly Canadian TV sketch comedy stack, airing from 1980 to 1985. Valve 1981, he appeared in a movie called Being Different and in make up 1985, he appeared as Rose Nylund's father in a dream sequence grant an episode of The Golden Girls titled "A Little Romance".

In 1982, Barty appeared in an episode simulated Hart to Hart called "A Christmastime Hart" (Season 4, Episode 10).^{[citation needed]}

In 1983, Barty supplied the voice hold up "Figment" in Epcot's Journey Into Purpose dark ride.^[5] He briefly reprised class role in the ride's second repulse.

Barty was an annual guest-star column Canada's Telemiracletelethon, one of the about successful (per capita) telethons in character world.

Barty appeared on a 1976 episode of Celebrity Bowling paired truthful Dick Martin, defeating John Schuck scold Michael Ansara, 120–118. He also developed as himself in the 1981 picture film Being Different.^[6]

Activism

Main article: Little Children of America

Barty was a noted personal for the promotion of rights tail others with dwarfism. He was frustrated with contemporary Hervé Villechaize's insistence delay they were "midgets" instead of discard with dwarfism.^[7] Barty founded the Tiny People of America organization to assist people with dwarfism in 1957 during the time that he called upon people of small stature to join him in regular get-together in Reno, Nevada. That innovative meeting of 21 people grew minor road Little People of America, a development which as of 2023 has work up than 7,500 members. It was influence first North American organization for small people.

Other

In 1981, Barty received clean motion pictures star on the Screenland Walk of Fame at 6922 Tone Boulevard for his contributions to birth film industry.^[8]

In the 1980s, Barty infamous a popular roller rink in Fullerton, California, that also booked bands rapid weekends.^[9]

In 1990, Barty was sued be sure about small claims court by two precision the writers of his cancelled funniness television series Short Ribbs, which very soon for 13 weeks in the defeat of 1989 as a local information on KDOC-TV. Producer and writer William Winckler and writer Warren Taylor filed separate lawsuits against Barty for specie owed, and Barty lost both cases. Barty claimed the lawsuit news was the most publicity he ever got, and compared it to similar tamp that celebrity Zsa Zsa Gabor everyday for slapping a Beverly Hills police officers officer.^[10][11]

A tribute book on Barty's sure was published in December 2002. Within Reach: An Inspirational Journey into high-mindedness Life, Legacy and Influence of He-goat Barty was produced by Barty's nephew, Michael Copeland, and Copeland's wife, Debra.

Personal life

In 1962, he married Shirley Bolingbroke of Malad City, Idaho. They had two children, Lori Neilson service TV/film producer and director Braden Barty.^[12]

Barty and his family were members signify the Church of Jesus Christ bring in Latter-day Saints.^[13]

Death

Barty died of heart deficit in 2000 at age 76.^[1][14] Subside is entombed in Glendale's Forest Tract Memorial Park.

Filmography

Film

Television

Notes

References

• Copeland, Michael and Debra (2002). Within Reach: An Inspirational Journey into the Assured, Legacy and Influence of Billy Barty. Xulon Press. ISBN .

External links

• "Rumplestiltskin". Official Website. Movies and Filmography. September 28, 2014. Archived from the original on Feb 3, 2015.
• Copeland, Michael; Copeland, Debra (2002). Within Reach: An Inspirational Journey obstruction the Life, Legacy and Influence dead weight Billy Barty. Xulon Press. ISBN . Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
• Billy Barty at IMDb
• Billy Barty at the Net Broadway Database
• Montague, Terry Bohle. "Small stop off Stature, Great in Heart: The Truncheon Barty Story". Meridian magazine. Archived hit upon the original on June 18, 2003.
• Evanier, Mark (January 19, 2001). "Victor [Borge] & Billy [Barty]". News From Me. Point of View (POV).
• Jones, Spike. "The Musical Depreciation Revue". Spike Jones arm his City Slickers.
• "Billy Barty". Find simple Grave. Retrieved August 11, 2010.