On this Christmas Eve Father Geek brings you sad news, Billy Barty died on the 23rd of December out in his hometown of Los Angeles after appearing in motion pictures throughout 7 decades. A giant of the entertainment world at only 3’9” tall, Billy Barty looked up AT most of his fellow actors, but most of them looked up TO him. Billy Barty began performing at three, and began making motion pictures in 1927. He played Mickey Rooney's little brother in the "Mickey McGuire" comedy shorts series. He appeared as a child actor in numerous classic films, including Alice in Wonderland, A Midsummer Nights’s Dream, Daddy Long Legs, Footlight Parade, Roman Scandals, and Golddiggers of 1933.
When his showbiz family decided to give lighthearted performing a rest during the World War II years, Barty enrolled in Los Angeles City College, where he majored in journalism. While at college he lettered in football, and played a little basketball, this in spite of his size.
In 1953, Barty joined the madcap bandleader Spike Jones and his City Slickers and spent eight years touring around the world with the popular band and comedy show. In 1957 he made the time to appear as an imp in the the horror thriller The Undead. In 1960, he returned to the U.S. to host Billy Barty’s Big Show, a syndicated TV show which ran coast to coast for four years. After that he appeared in a couple of Elvis flicks; Harum Scarum (1965) and Roustabout (1964). Children that came of age in the ‘70s should easily recognize him as “Sparky” on the kids TV show The Bugaloos, and he was a regular on several other children’s shows of the period too, including Sigmund and the Sea Monsters and H. R. Pufnstuf. He was equally adept in both comedy and drama, and generally gave an added zest to any production he was associated with. He made over a dozen movies during the 70's in addition to his fulltime TV career.
He was 3 times nominated for a Golden Razzie Award. In 1982 he was nominated for the Razzie Award as Worst Supporting Actor
for: Under the Rainbow (1981); in 1988 it was the Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor for: Masters of the Universe (1987); and in 1989 he was honored again as Worst Supporting Actor for: Willow (1988). His over the top performances had caught the eye of the world and once again during this decade he would make over a dozen feature films.
When he was not acting, Barty was an energetic campaigner for the rights of "little people." He founded the Little People of America in 1957, and the Billy Barty Foundation in 1975. He continued to work with rights groups and make films into the year 2000. We'll all miss his Bigger than life personality and leadership.
In a recent interview in the Onion, Billy said, "One of the greatest entertainers, to me, is Mickey Rooney. He does comedy, he does musicals, he can direct, he can write, he can do a little bit of everything. Mickey and I were in movies together back to 1929. Mick always pulls this line, he says, "Billy and I almost grew up together." Ba-da-bum!" For the entire interview Just Click Here.
Here's some of Billy's Films:
In 1953, Barty joined the madcap bandleader Spike Jones and his City Slickers and spent eight years touring around the world with the popular band and comedy show. In 1957 he made the time to appear as an imp in the the horror thriller The Undead. In 1960, he returned to the U.S. to host Billy Barty’s Big Show, a syndicated TV show which ran coast to coast for four years. After that he appeared in a couple of Elvis flicks; Harum Scarum (1965) and Roustabout (1964). Children that came of age in the ‘70s should easily recognize him as “Sparky” on the kids TV show The Bugaloos, and he was a regular on several other children’s shows of the period too, including Sigmund and the Sea Monsters and H. R. Pufnstuf. He was equally adept in both comedy and drama, and generally gave an added zest to any production he was associated with. He made over a dozen movies during the 70's in addition to his fulltime TV career.
He was 3 times nominated for a Golden Razzie Award. In 1982 he was nominated for the Razzie Award as Worst Supporting Actor
for: Under the Rainbow (1981); in 1988 it was the Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor for: Masters of the Universe (1987); and in 1989 he was honored again as Worst Supporting Actor for: Willow (1988). His over the top performances had caught the eye of the world and once again during this decade he would make over a dozen feature films.
When he was not acting, Barty was an energetic campaigner for the rights of "little people." He founded the Little People of America in 1957, and the Billy Barty Foundation in 1975. He continued to work with rights groups and make films into the year 2000. We'll all miss his Bigger than life personality and leadership.
In a recent interview in the Onion, Billy said, "One of the greatest entertainers, to me, is Mickey Rooney. He does comedy, he does musicals, he can direct, he can write, he can do a little bit of everything. Mickey and I were in movies together back to 1929. Mick always pulls this line, he says, "Billy and I almost grew up together." Ba-da-bum!" For the entire interview Just Click Here.
Here's some of Billy's Films:
When he was not acting, Barty was an energetic campaigner for the rights of "little people." He founded the Little People of America in 1957, and the Billy Barty Foundation in 1975. He continued to work with rights groups and make films into the year 2000. We'll all miss his Bigger than life personality and leadership.
In a recent interview in the Onion, Billy said, "One of the greatest entertainers, to me, is Mickey Rooney. He does comedy, he does musicals, he can direct, he can write, he can do a little bit of everything. Mickey and I were in movies together back to 1929. Mick always pulls this line, he says, "Billy and I almost grew up together." Ba-da-bum!" For the entire interview Just Click Here.
Here's some of Billy's Films:
Here's some of Billy's Films:
Extreme Adventures of Super Dave, The (2000) ... Funeral Eulogist
I/O Error (1998) .... Custodian
Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn, An (1997) ... Himself
'Weird Al' Yankovic: The Videos (1996) ... Noodles MacIntosh (UHF)
Radioland Murders (1994) ... Himself
Naked Truth, The (1992) ... The Bell Boy
Life Stinks (1991) ... Willy
Diggin' Up Business (1990) ... Crosby
Wishful Thinking (1990)
Rescuers Down Under, The (1990) (voice actor) ... Bellmouse (At the Potcher's Trap)
UHF (1989) ... Noodles MacIntosh
Lobster Man from Mars (1989) ... Mr. Throckmorton
Willow (1988) ... High Aldwin
Body Slam (1987) ... Tim McClusky
Cannon Movie Tales: Snow White (1987) ... Iddy
Rumpelstiltskin (1987) ... Rumpelstiltskin
Masters of the Universe (1987) ... Gwildor
Off the Mark (1986) ... The Little Russian
Tough Guys (1986) ... Philly
Legend (1985) ... Screwball
Night Patrol (1984) ... Captain Lewis
Under the Rainbow (1981) ... Otto Kriegling
Being Different (1981)
Hardly Working (1980) ... Sammy
Skatetown, U.S.A. (1979) ... Jimmy
Firepower (1979) ... Dominic Carbone
Foul Play (1978) ... J.J. MacKuen
Rabbit Test (1978) ... Lester
Happy Hooker Goes to Washington, The (1977) ... C.I.A. Agent
Amazing Dobermans, The (1976) ... Samson
W.C. Fields and Me (1976) ... Ludwig
Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976) ... Assistant Director )
Six-Pack Annie (1975)
Day of the Locust, The (1975) ... Abe
Godmothers, The (1973) ... The Shark
Pufnstuf (1970) ... Googy Gopher
Harum Scarum (1965) ... Baba
Roustabout (1964) .... Billy the midget
Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962) ... Joey
Undead, The (1957) .... The Imp
Clown, The (1952) ... Midget
Pygmy Island (1950) ... Kimba
Nothing Sacred (1937) ... Little Boy
Midsummer Night's Dream, A (1935) ... Mustard-Seed
Gift of Gab (1934) ... Baby
Roman Scandals (1933) ... Little Eddie
Alice in Wonderland (1933) ... White Pawn/Baby
Footlight Parade (1933) ... Mouse/Little Boy
Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933) ... "Pettin' in the Park" Baby
Out All Night (1933) ... Child
Goldie (1931) ... Child
Daddy Long Legs (1931) ... Orphan
Three Wise Clucks (1931)
Dog Doctor, The (1931)
Soup to Nuts (1930) ... Baby
Wedded Blisters (1927)
Here's just a few of his TV guest appearances:
"Krofft Supershow, The" (1976) TV Series .... Hugo (in "Dr. Shrinker") (1976-1977)
"Sigmund and the Sea Monsters" (1973) TV Series .... Sigmund Ooze (1973-75)
H.R. Pufnstuf" (1969) TV Series .... Clang
"Charlie's Angels" (1976) in episode: "Angel on My Mind" (episode # 3.11) 11/22/1978
"Man from Atlantis, The" (1977) playing "Moxie" in episode: "Deadly Carnival" 1977
"Get Smart" (1965) playing "Maco" in episode: "Ironhand" (episode # 5.2) 10/3/1969
"Get Smart" (1965) playing "Gemini" in episode: "Hello Columbus, Goodbye America"
"Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The" (1962) playing "The Barker" in episode: "Jar, The" 1964
