Diminutive American actor Billy Curtis avoided the usual onus of freak-show employment as a youth, opting for a mainstream job as a shoe clerk. Encouraged by stock company actress Shirley Booth to take a little person role in a stage production, Curtis soon became a professional actor, with numerous Broadway musical productions to his credit. ...
On making the cult classic "The Terror of Tiny Town": "When I was first offered the role of the sheriff they didn't want to pay my established salary. Then we were all directed like we were children. Small, in the minds of stupid people, is kiddie stuff. So first they try to exploit little people. Then they patronize you. And when the picture comes out, then the audience laughs at you. Why? Not because we were low budget, because most westerns then were Bs. Because we rode ponies. What would a person my size ride - a stallion? I played the good guy who put the bad guy behind bars at the end - just like John Wayne. And I kissed the pretty girl - just like he did. So what the hell's so funny?"
2
We stand in for any kid entitled to a stand-in. Result is fewer kids, fewer kids' mothers and fewer teachers on the set. And when there's a stunt to be done, we can do it. - explaining how important "little people" are to the film industry
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Fact
1
He worked 50 years in the film business before retiring. A year later, he passed away of a heart attack.
2
One of his most unusual roles was as the smaller version of "The Thing" (replacing James Arness) in the creature's final scene in The Thing from Another World (1951).
3
The McDonalds character, Mayor McCheese, was played by Billy, from its creation until his death in 1989. McDonalds retired the character when Billy died in 1989.
4
Had five grandchildren: 1 by his daughter Judy (named Micheal), 4 by his son Tom (Eric Curtis, who lives in Alexandria LA, Allison Curtis, Kala Curtis, and Jeremiah Curtis who all live with their mother, Deborah, in Prior Lake MN).
5
Had 2 children, Tom Curtis, now living in Colorado, and Judy Curtis, still living in Santa Monica, California.
6
Billy Curtis was the main reason for Judy Garland's comment that the Munchkins were "little drunks." He made several passes at her during the production, to which she responded "Mother wouldn't approve.".
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Bloody Wednesday
1987
Teddy (voice)
The Twilight Zone
1986
TV Series
Creature (segment "Personal Demons")
Head Office
1985
Reverend Lynch
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
1984
TV Movie
Elf 2
The Night They Saved Christmas
1984
TV Movie
Jack
Faerie Tale Theatre
1984
TV Series
Barnaby
Eating Raoul
1982
Little Person
Elephant Parts
1981
Video
Propositioning inflatable hooker on park bench during the song: 'lucy and ramona and their brother sunset sam'
Open All Night
1981
TV Series
Scott Davis
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
1981
TV Series
General Yoomak
Coming Attractions
1978
Menchkin
Laverne & Shirley
1977
TV Series
Roger Robot
Monster Squad
1976
TV Series
The Ringmaster
White House Madness
1975
Secret Service Man
The Wild McCullochs
1975
Charlie P.
How to Seduce a Woman
1974
Toulouse
Little Cigars
1973
Slick Bender
High Plains Drifter
1973
Mordecai
Gunsmoke
1973
TV Series
Arizona
Evil Roy Slade
1972
TV Movie
Toy Cowboy (uncredited)
Here's Lucy
1970
TV Series
Lucy Parker / Ma Parker
Bracken's World
1970
TV Series
Harry Johnson
Norwood
1970
Edmund B. Ratner
Hello, Dolly!
1969
Midget (uncredited)
The Comic
1969
Lifeguard in Film (uncredited)
The Bob Hope Show
1967-1969
TV Series
Sketch Performer
Julia
1969
TV Series
Small Businessman
The Legend of Lylah Clare
1968
Clown (uncredited)
Planet of the Apes
1968
Child Ape (uncredited)
Star Trek
1967
TV Series
Small Copper-Skinned Ambassador
Bewitched
1967
TV Series
Jack O'Lantern
Get Smart
1966-1967
TV Series
El Lobo-Ito / Tiny Allen
The Wild Wild West
1967
TV Series
Gypsy
The Beverly Hillbillies
1966
TV Series
Spaceman #3
The Phyllis Diller Show
1966
TV Series
Augie
The Monkees
1966
TV Series
Midget
Out of Sight
1966
The Man From Flush
Batman
1966
TV Series
Midget
I Spy
1966
TV Series
Disguised #2
Ben Casey
1965
TV Series
Bob Hope Christmas Show
1965
TV Movie
Sketch Performer (uncredited)
Harlow
1965/I
Newsboy (uncredited)
My Three Sons
1965
TV Series
Sammy
John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!
1965
Little Football Player (uncredited)
Two on a Guillotine
1965
Big Mike - Owner / Bartender (uncredited)
Robin and the 7 Hoods
1964
Newsboy (uncredited)
The Greatest Show on Earth
1963
TV Series
Danny (1963-1964)
Follow the Sun
1962
TV Series
Tiny Tom
77 Sunset Strip
1961
TV Series
Monk Carter
87th Precinct
1961
TV Series
Willy
Tightrope
1960
TV Series
The Mascot
The Man from Blackhawk
1960
TV Series
Colonel Petite
The Real McCoys
1960
TV Series
Page Boy
Adventures in Paradise
1959
TV Series
Captain Borcher
Make Room for Daddy
1959
TV Series
Billy
The Angry Red Planet
1959
Martian (uncredited)
Rescue 8
1959
TV Series
Volunteer #1
The Jack Benny Program
1959
TV Series
Charlie McCarthy
Mortimer Snerd
Special Agent 7
1959
TV Series
Harry
The Adventures of Superpup
1958
TV Short
Super Pup / Bark Bent
The Red Skelton Hour
1953-1958
TV Series
Midget / Giganto the Martian / Supporting Player
Shirley Temple's Storybook
1958
TV Series
Merry Andrew
1958
Clown (uncredited)
Man of a Thousand Faces
1957
Harry Earles - Midget Actor in 'The Unholy Three' (uncredited)