Pat Bilon

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Michael Patrick (Pat) Bilon (August 29, 1947 - January 27, 1983) was an American actor best known for his performances in Under the Rainbow and E.T. At no taller than two feet and 10 inches, Bilon was considered one of the smallest adult dwarfs in the country, but he never characterized himself as disabled. Throughout much of his adult life, he was an active member of Little People of America.[1]

Bilon was born in the mid-sized industrial town Youngstown, Ohio, not far from the Pennsylvania border. He was a third-generation Ukrainian American and was active in St. Anne's Ukrainian Catholic Church in nearby Austintown, Ohio.[2] Bilon studied acting formally and appeared in various television commercials and was hired for promotional events. He often described himself as a "starving actor".[3] Dedicated to acting, he was no less passionate about his ethnic heritage, and once hosted a Ukrainian Radio Hour on WKTL-FM, based in nearby Struthers, Ohio.[4]

In 1979, while attending a LPA convention, Bilon was spotted by talent scouts and was cast to appear in the slapstick comedy, Under the Rainbow[5], an appearance he described as a "sub-major role".[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Pat Bilon, "E.T." Star, Dies", The Ukrainian Weekly, January 30, 1983.
  2. ^ The Ukrainian Weekly, January 30, 1983.
  3. ^ The Ukrainian Weekly, January 30, 1983.
  4. ^ The Ukrainian Weekly, January 30, 1983.
  5. ^ The Ukrainian Weekly, January 30, 1983.
  6. ^ The Ukrainian Weekly, January 30, 1983.
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