Harry Earles
Biography
Harry Earles was an actor born in Stolp, Germany, on April 3, 1901, and died on May 4, 1985, at the age of 84. His real name was Kurt, with Kurt Schneider listed as an alternative name, and he used the stage name Harry. He came to the United States around 1915 with his sister Grace, whose real name was Freida. Upon arrival, they worked for a man named Earles and adopted his last name. Their sister Daisy, whose real name was Hilda, joined them in the early 1920s, and another sister, Tiny, whose real name was Elly, arrived in the mid- to late 1920s. The four worked in movies and concurrently for the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus until leaving the movie business around 1930 to work for the circus until the mid-1950s. During that period, they made very few film appearances, most notably as Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz in 1939, alongside a brief shot of Daisy.
Career overview
Harry Earles, whose real name was Kurt Schneider, was born in Stolp, Germany, on April 3, 1901. Around 1915, he came over to the United States with his sister Grace, whose real name was Freida. After their arrival, they worked for a man named Earles, adopting his last name at that time. They were later joined in the United States by their sisters Daisy, whose real name was Hilda, in the early 1920s, and Tiny, whose real name was Elly, in the mid- to late 1920s.
During their career, the four siblings worked in movies while simultaneously working for the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus. Around 1930, they left the movie business in favor of the circus, where they worked until the mid-1950s. While working in the circus, they made very few film appearances, with their most notable role being as Munchkins in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, alongside a brief shot featuring Daisy.
Harry Earles amassed fourteen known credits in acting over the course of his career. He passed away on May 4, 1985, at the age of 84.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- The Wizard of Oz (1939) as Lollipop Guild Member (uncredited)
- Block-Heads (1938) as Midget in the elevator (uncredited)
- A Girl's Best Years (1936) as Phoney Kid (uncredited)
- Freaks (1932) as Hans
- Sealskins (1932) as Midget (uncredited)
- Be Big! (1931) as Midget Performer (uncredited)
- Good News (1930) as Midget in Trash Basket
- The Unholy Three (1930) as Tweedledee aka Willie 'Midget'
- 3-Ring Marriage (1928) as Cubby Snodd
- Their Purple Moment (1928) as Pink Pub Midget Perfomer (uncredited)
- Baby Brother (1927) as Gus, one of Barr's midgets
- Baby Clothes (1926) as Midget
- That's My Baby (1926) as The Baby
- The Unholy Three (1925) as Tweedledee aka Little Willie