Mihaly "Michu" Meszaros (Hungarian: Mészáros Mihály; 1 October 1939 – 12 June 2016)[1] was a Hungarian and American actor, circus performer/entertainer, and stuntman. He was 2 feet 9 inches (0.84 m) tall and weighed 25 pounds.[2] He was best remembered as a performer with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and for his role in the NBC sitcom ALF in 1986. He appeared in several films in the late 1980s and early 1990s and also appeared opposite pop singer Michael Jackson in a Pepsi commercial in 1992.[3] His last appearance was in Death to Cupid in 2015.
Mihaly "Michu" Meszaros | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mészáros Mihály 1 October 1939 Budapest, Hungary |
| Died | 12 June 2016 (aged 76) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, circus performer, entertainer, stuntman |
| Years active | 1969–1993, 2015 |
| Height | 84 cm (2 ft 9 in) |
Biography
editEarly life
editMeszaros was born in a small village outside Budapest and was the 7th of 9 siblings.[2] He attended a school of circus arts and performed in the circus since age 9, working two or three shows a day, five days a week.[2] He performed in the Liebel Family Circus and toured Eastern Europe.[4] However, a government agent from the Hungarian People's Republic followed him to make sure he didn't defect, and the government took most of his money.[2]
Career
editCircus producers Irvin Feld and Kenneth Feld had heard of Meszaros, and, after locating him in 1973, signed him to a contract and made arrangements to bring him to the U.S. and have him star in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus as the "smallest man in the world".[1][3]
In 1980, Meszaros, along with his Hungarian guard, defected to the U.S.[2] He became a resident alien in 1984.[2]
As a circus performer, he performed an act with poodles, in which the poodles, standing on their hind legs, appeared much taller than Meszaros, delighting children in the crowd.[3]
In the Grand Spectacle performance of 1982 and 1983, Meszaros portrayed a character known as the Marshal of Marshmallow Gulch, resplendent in a well-tailored white, silver and gold costume encrusted with rhinestones, along with a 10-gallon cowboy hat and silver cowboy boots.[1]
In the 1980s, Hawthorne, California, where he resided, named the shortest street in that city "Michu Lane" in his honor.[5][2]
For the first season of the ALF television series, in 1986, Meszaros donned a costume whenever a full-body shot was needed for scenes of the alien walking, running, or standing. However, in most cases, upper-body shots of a mechanical puppet were used instead as the costume was uncomfortable. Meszaros had no lines in the show and was let go after two years.[2]
Death
editMeszaros died in June 2016 at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Torrance, California after a stroke at his home that left him in a coma for several days. He had overcome another stroke 8 years earlier and was dealing with several health issues.[2][7][8][4]
In October 2018, his memorial service was held at Dearly Departed Tours & Artifact Museum, where his remains were inurned and on public display along with items from his life and career until the museum closed in 2021.
In September 2023, a crowdfunding campaign was launched to raise funds for his burial.[9] He would be interred at Valhalla Memorial Park in April 2024.[10]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | ALF | ALF | credited as one of Alf's "Assistants"[3] |
| 1988 | Waxwork | Hans | [3] |
| 1988 | Big Top Pee-wee | Andy | [3] |
| 1989 | Look Who's Talking | "baby stunt performer" | [3] |
| 1991 | Dear John | Mishka | Episode: "Louise, the Hero"[2] |
| 1993 | Freaked | George Ramirez #3 | [3] |
| 1993 | Warlock: The Armageddon | Augusto | [6] |
| 2015 | Death to Cupid | Leprechaun | Short film |
References
edit- ^ a b c "Mihaly 'Michu' Meszaros, 'smallest man' – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 1 July 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k ALTMAN, LARRY (13 June 2016). "'Michu' Meszaros, 33-inch-tall circus performer and actor who played 'Alf' dies in Torrance". Daily Breeze.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Michu Meszaros Obituary". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. 14 June 2016 – via Legacy.com.
- ^ a b "Michu Meszaros Obituary". Legacy.com. 14 June 2016.
- ^ "A Street Called Michu". The Sun Sentinel. Ft. Lauderdale. 13 June 1987.
- ^ a b Barnes, Mike (13 June 2016). "Michu Meszaros, Who Played the Alien ALF on TV, Dies at 76". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Melas, Chloe (13 June 2016). "Mihaly 'Michu' Meszaros, actor who played 'ALF,' dies at 76". CNN.
- ^ "'Alf' Actor Michu Meszaros Dies at 76". Brainerd Dispatch. Variety. 13 June 2016.
- ^ The Little Man INSIDE ALF is UNBURIED - Michael Jackson's Best Man!. 7 September 2023 – via YouTube.
- ^ This Friday in Hollywood: Michu Gets Memorialized