Phil Fondacaro is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 actor. A dwarf

Dwarfism

Dwarfism is short stature resulting from a medical condition. It is sometimes defined as an adult height of less than 4 feet 10 inches  , although this definition is problematic because short stature in itself is not a disorder....

 actor at 3 in 6 in (1.07 m), Fondacaro began acting in 1981, with the film Under the Rainbow

Under the Rainbow

Under the Rainbow is a 1981 comedy film starring Chevy Chase, Carrie Fisher, Eve Arden, and Billy Barty.The plot is loosely based on the gathering of little people in a Hollywood hotel, to audition for roles as Munchkins in the movie The Wizard of Oz...

.

Fondacaro appeared in 1983's Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi is a 1983 American epic space opera film directed by Richard Marquand and written by George Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan. It is the third film released in the Star Wars saga, and the sixth in terms of the series' internal chronology...

, the third Star Wars

Star Wars

Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...

film, as an Ewok

Ewok

Ewoks originate from the Star Wars films. In the series, they are a species of teddy-bear-like hunter-gatherers that inhabit the forest moon of Endor. The Ewoks live in various tree-huts and primitive dwellings. They first appeared in the film Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi...

, the only one to have a death scene. In 1986, he portrayed the invisible friend of a young Michael Gerber in the Disney Sunday Movie Fuzz Bucket

Fuzz Bucket

Fuzz Bucket is a 1986 television film written and directed by Mick Garris starring Chris Hebert as a young Michael Gerber and Phil Fondacaro as his invisible friend, Fuzzbucket...

, and also appeared in the fantasy film Troll

Troll (film)

Troll is a 1986 cult dark fantasy film. Its plot has no relation to the films Troll 2 and Troll 3, which are intended to be more horror than fantasy. Its "sequel", Troll 2 is considered to be one of the worst films of all time.-Plot:...

. 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. In the same year, he appeared as "Greaser Greg" in The Garbage Pail Kids Movie

The Garbage Pail Kids Movie

The Garbage Pail Kids Movie is a 1987 live action musical film adaptation of the popular series of children's trading cards directed by Rod Amateau. The cards were a parody of the popular Cabbage Patch Kids dolls and each card featured a character that typically had a gross habit or abnormality...

, a theatrical adaptation of the popular trading cards

Garbage Pail Kids

Garbage Pail Kids , "La Pandilla Basura" or "Basuritas" in Latin America, "Gang do Lixo" in Brazil, "Sgorbions" in Italy, "Les Crados" in France and "Die total kaputten Kids" in Germany) is a series of trading cards produced by the Topps Company, originally released in 1985 and designed to parody...

. In 1988's Willow

Willow (film)

Willow is a 1988 American fantasy film directed by Ron Howard and produced/co-written by George Lucas. Warwick Davis stars in the film, as well as Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Jean Marsh, and Patricia Hayes...

, he appeared alongside Warwick Davis

Warwick Davis

Warwick Ashley Davis is an English actor. He is most notable for playing the title characters in Willow and the Leprechaun film series, as well as for his roles in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi and the Harry Potter movies. Davis currently stars in the sitcom Life's Too Short, written...

, 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

Phantasm II

Phantasm II, also known as Phantasm II: The Ball is Back! is the 1988 sequel to Phantasm. It was written and directed by Don Coscarelli, starring Angus Scrimm, James LeGros and Reggie Bannister...

, Cousin Itt

Cousin Itt

Cousin Itt is a member of the fictional Addams Family. Unlike the other characters, Cousin Itt was not originally created by cartoonist Charles Addams, but by producer David Levy, though he did appear as an unnamed character in Addams's cartoons.- Character :...

 in Addams Family Reunion

Addams Family Reunion

Addams Family Reunion is a film released straight-to-video in 1998. It was also distributed to television by Fox Family. It is unrelated to the two Paramount films from 1991 and 1993. So far, the film is only available on VHS and has not had a DVD release. It was shot in Los Angeles, California...

, and a dramatic turn as a dwarf with an average-sized son in "A Clown's Prayer", an episode of Touched by an Angel

Touched by an Angel

Touched by an Angel is an American drama series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994 and ran for 211 episodes and nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by John Masius and produced by Martha Williamson, the series stars Roma Downey, as an angel named Monica, and Della...

. He also played a dwarf with an average-sized daughter in the CSI

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...

episode, "A Little Murder". He also had a recurring role on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch

Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (TV series)

Sabrina, the Teenage Witch is an American sitcom based on the Archie comic book series of the same name.The show stars Melissa Joan Hart as Sabrina Spellman, a teenager with magical powers, who lives with her aunts Hilda and Zelda , and their magical talking cat Salem...

as "Roland".

Fondacaro is married to Elena Bertagnolli, manager of another famous dwarf actor, Verne Troyer

Verne Troyer

Verne J. Troyer is an American stand-up comedian, actor, stuntman and performer, best known for playing Mini-Me in the Austin Powers series...

, and is represented by his wife's company, Fonolli Management. Fondacaro's brother Sal is also an actor, having appeared in Under the Rainbow, Return of the Jedi, and Invaders from Mars

Invaders from Mars (1986 film)

Invaders from Mars is a 1986 science fiction film directed by Tobe Hooper from a screenplay by Dan O'Bannon and Don Jakoby. It is a remake of the 1953 science fiction film Invaders from Mars, and is a reworking of that film's screenplay by Richard Blake from an original story by John Tucker Battle...

, all with his brother.

External links