Billy Barty
Biography
Billy Barty was an American actor and activist born William John Bertanzetti on October 25, 1924, in Millsboro, Pennsylvania. In adult life, he stood 3 feet, 9 inches tall due to cartilage-hair hypoplasia dwarfism. Because of his short stature, he was frequently cast in movies opposite taller performers for comic effect and specialized in outspoken or wisecracking characters. During the 1950s, he became a television star and appeared regularly in the Spike Jones ensemble. His career included 170 known acting credits across movies and television shows. He passed away on December 23, 2000, at the age of 76.
Career overview
Billy Barty was an American actor and activist born William John Bertanzetti on October 25, 1924, in Millsboro, Pennsylvania. In adult life, he stood 3 feet, 9 inches tall due to cartilage-hair hypoplasia dwarfism. Because of his short stature, he was often cast in movies opposite taller performers for comic effect and specialized in playing outspoken or wisecracking characters.
During the 1950s, he became a television star by appearing regularly in the Spike Jones ensemble. Over the course of his career, he accumulated 170 known acting credits across movies and television shows.
Barty passed away on December 23, 2000, at the age of 76.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- The Hollywood Shorties (2016)
- Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films (2014) as Gwildor (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Gold Diggers: FDR'S New Deal... Broadway Bound (2006) as Self (archive footage)
- Creating a Myth... the Memories of 'Legend' (2002) as Himself
- The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave (2000) as Funeral Eulogist
- L.A. Heat (1999)
- Television: The First Fifty Years (1999) as Self
- An Alan Smithee Film: Burn, Hollywood, Burn (1998) as Self
- The New Batman Adventures (1997) as Hips McManus (voice)
- Vaudeville (1997) as Self
- Stand Tall (1997) as Self
- E! True Hollywood Story (1996)
- MADtv (1995) as Self
- Outlaws: The Legend of O.B. Taggart (1995) as Prospector Pike
- Radioland Murders (1994) as Billy Barty
- Frasier (1993) as Chris (voice)
- Jack's Place (1992)
- The Naked Truth (1992) as The Bell Boy
- Life Stinks (1991) as Willy
- Runaway Ralph (1991) as Uncle Lester (Voice)
- Free the Horses: A Self-Esteem Adventure (1991) as Jerome the Gnome
- Nasty Boys (1990)
- Wishful Thinking (1990) as Gypsy
- The Rescuers Down Under (1990) as Baitmouse (voice)
- Lobster Man from Mars (1990) as Mr. Throckmorton
- Diggin' Up Business (1990) as Crosby
- UHF (1989) as Noodles MacIntosh
- Where Does Time Fly? (1989) as Figment (voice)
- What's an Abra Without a Cadabra? (1989) as Figment (voice)
- Reading Magic with Figment and Peter Pan (1989) as Figment (voice)
- Writing Magic with Figment and Alice in Wonderland (1989) as Figment (voice)
- Willow (1988) as High Aldwin
- What Can You See by Looking? (1988) as Figment (voice)
- Would You Eat a Blue Potato? (1988) as Figment (voice)
- Do Dragons Dream? (1988) as Figment (voice)
- How Does It Feel to Be an Elephant? (1988) as Figment (voice)
- How Does It Feel to Fly? (1988) as Figment (voice)
- How Does Sound Sound? (1988) as Figment (voice)
- DuckTales (1987) as King Brian (voice)
- Masters of the Universe (1987) as Gwildor
- Snow White (1987) as Iddy
- Rumpelstiltskin (1987) as Rumpelstiltskin
- Off the Mark (1987) as The Little Russian
- Wildfire (1986)
- Tough Guys (1986) as Philly
- The Mouse and the Motorcycle (1986) as Uncle Lester (voice)
- Body Slam (1986) as Tim McClusky
- The Golden Girls (1985) as Edgar Lindstrom
- Moonlighting (1985) as Billy Barty (uncredited)
- Legend (1985) as Screwball
- Star Fairies (1985) as Troll (voice)
- Night Patrol (1984) as Captain Lewis
- Ace Crawford, Private Eye (1983) as Inch
- EPCOT Center: A Souvenir Program (1983) as Figment (voice) (archive sound)
- Under the Rainbow (1981) as Otto Kriegling
- Being Different (1981) as Self
- Hardly Working (1980) as Sammy
- Hart to Hart (1979)
- Supertrain (1979) as Mick
- Skatetown, U.S.A. (1979) as Jimmy
- Firepower (1979) as Dominic Carbone
- The Lord of the Rings (1978) as Character Actor (voice)
- Foul Play (1978) as J.J. MacKuen
- Rabbit Test (1978) as Lester
- The Bay City Rollers Meet the Saturday Superstars (1978) as Self
- The Love Boat (1977) as Ralph Warren
- CHiPs (1977)
- Man from Atlantis (1977) as Moxie
- The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington (1977) as Little Man
- Great Day (1977) as Billy
- Charlie's Angels (1976) as News Vendor
- Dr. Shrinker (1976)
- The Amazing Dobermans (1976) as Samson
- Joys (1976) as Self
- Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976) as Assistant Director
- W.C. Fields and Me (1976) as Ludwig
- Twin Detectives (1976) as Bartender
- The Paul Lynde Halloween Special (1976) as Gallows
- Barney Miller (1975) as Mr. Resnick
- Demon, Demon (1975) as Max
- Sixpack Annie (1975) as Pie Vendor (uncredited)
- The Day of the Locust (1975) as Abe Kusich
- Little House on the Prairie (1974) as Owen
- Chico and the Man (1974)
- Punch and Jody (1974) as Stilts
- Sigmund and the Sea Monsters (1973) as Sigmund Ooze
- The Godmothers (1973) as The Hawk
- The World of Sid & Marty Krofft at the Hollywood Bowl (1973) as Cleaning Lady / Sparky the Firefly / Witchiepoo's Assistant
- The Waltons (1972)
- Fol-de-Rol (1972) as Artist / Costumed Characters
- The Bugaloos (1970) as Sparky
- Pufnstuf (1970) as Googy Gopher / Orville Pelican
- Love, American Style (1969) as Mechanical Elf
- Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968) as Self (uncredited)
- The Perils of Pauline (1967) as Pygmy Leader
- Jericho (1966)
- Clown Alley (1966) as Little Clown Jumping Out of Firehouse
- Get Smart (1965) as Upper Gemini
- Get Smart (1965) as Marco
- Harum Scarum (1965) as Baba
- Roustabout (1964) as Billy (uncredited)
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Barker
- The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (1962) as The Court Jester (segment "The Dancing Princess") (uncredited)
- Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962) as Joey The Circus Clown
- Thriller (1960) as Sam
- Rawhide (1959)
- Mr. Lucky (1959)
- Peter Gunn (1958)
- Shirley Temple's Storybook (1958) as Dwarf
- The Undead (1957) as The Imp
- Circus Boy (1956)
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as George
- The Spike Jones Show (1954)
- George Tackles the Land (1954) as Mr. N
- Fireman Save My Child (1954) as Clarinetist Inside Tuba
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Second Clown
- The Clown (1953) as Billy (uncredited)
- This Is Your Life (1952) as Self
- The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950) as Self
- Pygmy Island (1950) as Kimba
- Three Wise Fools (1946) as Bit
- Mickey the Great (1945) as Billy McGuire
- Nothing Sacred (1937) as Boy Biting Wally's Ankle (uncredited)
- Bride of Frankenstein (1935) as Baby (uncredited)
- A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935) as Mustard-Seed
- Mickey's Medicine Man (1934) as Billy McGuire
- The Hollywood Gad-About (1934) as Brat (uncredited)
- Gift of Gab (1934) as The Baby
- Mickey's Rescue (1934) as Billy McGuire
- Mickey's Minstrels (1934) as Billy McGuire
- Footlight Parade (1933) as Mouse (uncredited)
- Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933) as Baby in "Pettin' in the Park" Number (uncredited)
- Alice in Wonderland (1933) as White Pawn / The Baby (uncredited)
- Out All Night (1933) as Child
- Roman Scandals (1933) as Little Eddie (uncredited)
- Mickey's Touchdown (1933) as Billy
- Mickey's Covered Wagon (1933) as Billy McGuire
- Mickey's Race (1933) as Billy McGuire - Mickey's brother
- Mickey's Ape Man (1933) as Billy McGuire
- Mickey's Tent Show (1933) as Billy McGuire
- Mickey's Disguises (1933) as Billy McGuire
- Mickey's Busy Day (1932) as Billy McGuire
- Mickey's Big Business (1932) as Billy McGuire
- In Conference (1931) as Milton Horowitz
- Goldie (1931) as Child
- Second Hand Kisses (1931) as Orphan boy
- Daddy Long Legs (1931) as Billy - Orphan (uncredited)
- Over the Hill (1931) as Shelby Boy (uncredited)
- Mickey's Wildcats (1931) as Mickey's brother
- Mickey's Thrill Hunters (1931) as Mickey's brother
- Mickey's Rebellion (1931) as Mickey's brother
- Mickey's Helping Hand (1931) as Billy McGuire
- Who's Who in the Zoo (1931) as Arthur
- Mickey's Stampede (1931) as Mickey's Brother
- A Hollywood Theme Song (1930) as Little Boy (uncredited)
- Mickey's Whirlwinds (1930) as Mickey's Brother
- Soup to Nuts (1930) as Junior (uncredited)
- Mickey's Luck (1930) as Billy McGuire
- Mickey's Warriors (1930) as Billy McGuire - Mickey's Brother
- Mickey's Champs (1930) as Billy McGuire
- Half a Hero (1930) as The Baby
- Mickey's Mix-Up (1929) as Mickey's Brother
- Mickey's Big Moment (1929) as Mickey's Brother
- Mickey's Midnite Follies (1929) as Mickey's Brother
- No Kidding (1928)
- Mickey the Detective (1928) as Mickey's Brother
- Mickey's Big Game Hunt (1928) as Mickey's brother
- Mickey in School (1928) as Baby (unconfirmed)
- Mickey's Eleven (1927) as Baby(unconfirmed)
- Mickey's Pals (1927) as The Baby