Phil Fondacaro
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Phil Fondacaro (b. November 8, 1958) is an American actor with dwarfism. One of the foremost, but not necessarily most well-known, dwarf actors, Fondacaro began acting in 1981, with the film Under the Rainbow. Standing 3 feet, 6 inches, he has acted in numerous films, ranging from horror films to light-hearted comedies. Due to his height, he has had an eclectic range of roles. Despite the sometimes less-than-desirable circumstances under which Fondcaro has acted, his enthusiasm for the trade remains high, as reflected in the quote, "it's not the size of the man in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the man."
Fondacaro appeared in 1983's Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, the third Star Wars film, as an Ewok, the only one to have a death scene. In 1987, he portrayed "Sir Nigel Pennyweight" in the cult horror film Ghoulies II. His performance is frequently praised, and he has been called the best actor in the film.[1] In the same year, he appeared as "Greaser Greg" in The Garbage Pail Kids Movie, a theatrical adaptation of the popular trading cards, and in "Encounter at Farpoint", the pilot episode of the second Star Trek television series, Star Trek: The Next Generation. In 1988's Willow, he appeared alongside Warwick Davis, one of his Jedi co-stars, who, thanks in large part to his Willow role, became one of the most famous dwarf actors in the film industry.
Other prominent roles of Fondacaro's include "Hooded dwarf" in Phantasm II, Cousin Itt in Addams Family Reunion, and a dramatic turn as a dwarf with a regular-sized son in "A Clown's Prayer", an episode of Touched by an Angel. Coincidentally, he played a dwarf with a regular-sized daughter in the CSI episode, "A Little Murder". He also had a reoccuring role on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch as "Roland".
Fondacaro is married to Elena Bertagnolli, manager of another famous dwarf actor, Verne Troyer. He is represented by the company Bertagnolli works for, Fonolli Management. Fondacaro's brother Sal is also an actor, having appeared in Under the Rainbow, Return of the Jedi, and Invaders from Mars, all with his brother Phil.
