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Perhaps the most recognized midget actor of the last 50 years, Barty began his long career at age three in comedies and children's shows. He played Mickey Rooney's younger brother in the Mickey McGuire shorts before making his feature debut in 1933, and is probably best remembered for his impish performances as mischievous, all-too-knowing children in the Busby Berkeley films, "Footlight Parade" and "Golddiggers of 1933" (both 1933), and as the irascible dwarf in the cockfight episode of "The Day of the Locust" (1975)....
Full Bio & Milestones

Filmography

Burn, Hollywood, Burn - ( Himself / 1998 / Released / )
The Legend of O. B. Taggert - ( / 1995 / Released / )
Radioland Murders - ( Himself / 1994 / Released / )
Radioland Murders - ( Song Performer / 1994 / Released / )
Life Stinks - ( Willy / 1991 / Released / KF )
Diggin' Up Business - ( / 1990 / Released / Palace Entertainment )
Lobster Man From Mars - ( Throckmorton / 1990 / Released / )
The Rescuers Down Under - ( of Baitmouse / 1990 / Released / )
Wishful Thinking - ( / 1990 / Released / )
UHF - ( Noodles / 1989 / Released / Orion Pictures )
Willow - ( High Aldwin / 1988 / Released / )
Body Slam - ( Tim McClusky / 1987 / Released / Dino De Laurentiis Company )
Masters of the Universe - ( Gwildor / 1987 / Released / )
Off the Mark - ( / 1987 / Released / )
Rumpelstiltskin - ( Rumpelstiltskin / 1987 / Released / Cannon Releasing )
Snow White - ( Iddy / 1987 / Released / )
Tough Guys - ( Philly / 1986 / Released / )
Legend - ( Screwball / 1985 / Released / )
Night Patrol - ( Captain Lewis / 1984 / Released / )
Being Different - ( / 1981 / Released / Astral Films Ltd )
Hardly Working - ( Sammy / 1981 / Released / Fox Films, Ltd. )
Under the Rainbow - ( Otto Kriegling / 1981 / Released / )
Firepower - ( Dominic Carbone / 1979 / Released / )
Skatetown, USA - ( Jimmy / 1979 / Released / )
Foul Play - ( J J MacKuen / 1978 / Released / )
The Lord of the Rings - ( / 1978 / Released / )
The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington - ( Little Man / 1977 / Released / Cinecenta )
The Amazing Dobermans - ( Clown / 1976 / Released / Golden Films )
W.C. Fields and Me - ( Ludwig / 1976 / Released / )
The Day of the Locust - ( Abe / 1975 / Released / )
Pufnstuf - ( / 1970 / Released / Universal )
Harum Scarum - ( Baba / 1965 / Released / )
Roustabout - ( Billy the Midget / 1964 / Released / )
Billy Rose's Jumbo - ( Joey / 1962 / Released / )
The Clown - ( Midget / 1953 / Released / MGM/UA Entertainment Company )
A Midsummer Night's Dream - ( Mustardseed / 1935 / Released / )
TV Credits
Television: The First 50 Years ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
Vaudeville ( 1997 / Released ): Actor
Frasier ( 1993 / Released ): Actor
The Naked Truth ( 1993 / Released ): Actor
Vendetta: Secrets of a Mafia Bride ( 1991 / Released ): Actor
Stand-Up Comics Take a Stand! ( 1990 / Released ): Actor
Runaway Ralph ( 1988 / Released ): Voice
The Mouse and the Motorcycle ( 1986 / Released ): Voice
Wildfire ( 1986 / Released ): Voice
Ace Crawford, Private Eye ( 1983 / Released ): Actor
Bob Hope Special: Bob Hope's Star-Studded Spoof of the New TV Season -- G Rated -- With Glamour, Glitter & Gags ( 1982 / Released ): Actor
Cheryl Ladd: Scenes From a Special ( 1982 / Released ): Actor
The Life and Times of Eddie Roberts ( 1980 / Released ): Actor
The Bay City Rollers Show ( 1978 / Released ): Actor
Circus of the Stars ( 1977 / Released ): Actor
Great Day ( 1977 / Released ): Actor
Doctor Shrinker ( 1976 / Released ): Actor
Don't Call Us ( 1976 / Released ): Actor
The Captain and Tennille ( 1976 / Released ): Actor
Twin Detectives ( 1976 / Released ): Actor
Punch and Jody ( 1974 / Released ): Actor
Sigmund and the Sea Monsters ( 1973 / Released ): Actor
The Bugaloos ( 1970 / Released ): Actor
Peter Gunn ( 1958 / Released ): Actor
Circus Boy ( 1956 / Released ): Actor
Jack's Place ( Released ): Actor
The Red Skelton Show ( Released ): Actor
Full Biography (Back to top)

Perhaps the most recognized midget actor of the last 50 years, Barty began his long career at age three in comedies and children's shows. He played Mickey Rooney's younger brother in the Mickey McGuire shorts before making his feature debut in 1933, and is probably best remembered for his impish performances as mischievous, all-too-knowing children in the Busby Berkeley films, "Footlight Parade" and "Golddiggers of 1933" (both 1933), and as the irascible dwarf in the cockfight episode of "The Day of the Locust" (1975). An activist for the rights of Little People, he started the Billy Barty Foundation in 1975.

Profession(s):
Actor, comedian
Sometimes Credited As:
William John Bertanzetti
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Family
daughter:Lori Ellen Barty (survived him)
father:Albert Steven Bertanzetti (worked for Columbia Pictures)
sister:Deede Morse (survived him)
son:Braden William Barty (born in 1970; six feet tall; was a Mormon missionary in Brazil; survived him)
wife:Shirley Bolingbroke (married on February 24, 1962; 4-feet-2-inches tall; survived him)

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Education
Los Angeles City College Los Angeles, California AA journalism 1946
Los Angeles State College of Applied Arts and Sciences Los Angeles, California 1948
Milestones (Back to top)
1999 Injured in a scooter accident in May
1991 Broadway debut in "Andre Heller's Wonderhouse"
1981 Awarded star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
1954 Was a regular on "The Spike Jones Show"
1933 First major film appearance, as a mouse and little boy, in "Footlight Parade"
1932 - 1934 Appeared in the "Micky McGuire" series of short comedies
1928 Entered films
Film acting debut in "Wedded Blisters"
TV series debut, "Ford Festival"
Performed with Spike Jones and His City Slickers
Played Little Tom on the TV series, "Circus Boy"
Hosted syndicated TV series, "The Billy Barty Show"

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