Billy
Curtis
Billy
Curtis played a henchman in Episodes-# 17-True
or False Face and # 18 - Holy Rat Race
Billy
Curtis was born June 27, 1909. Both of his parents were normal
size but he never got
any bigger than 4'2". During his younger years he found work a
shoe store clerk until meeting Shirley Booth ( Hazel on TV) who
convinced him to try his hand at acting. His first roles were on 
stage
then in 1938 he hit the big time, He appeared in " The Wizard
of OZ" as the Mayor and also starred in " The Terror of
Tiny Town" an all midget movie western. During the filming of
the Wizard of OZ", Judy Garland commented that the Munchkins
were " Little Drunks" due to the fact that Billy made
several 
passes
at her during the filming. She told him " Mother wouldn't
approve" which was pretty nice considering she could have said something
much more to the point ( I can think of a few funny lines.) Of
the 124 Munchkins only about two dozen were professional performers.
The rest were non-entertainers who returned to private life after the
film was shot." Among the professionals the most established
were Billy Curtis and Little Billy Rhoades, as well as Mickey
Carroll. As a side
note, most of the small actors voices ( including Billy's) were
dubbed in later by other actors because the studio didn't feel they
were suitable for the screen.
Most
of Billy's roles were not very flattering, he was rude and mean for
the most part. He did however turn down 
roles
that degraded the perception of little people. He was probably the
most active dwarf/midget in the entertainment field, appearing in The
Incredible Shrinking Man (1956),
Out of Sight (1966) and
landed a starring role with Clint Eastwood in " High
Plains Drifter (1973)
plus many others appearances. He was in many more TV and movies
until the 1980's where he semi retired. He continued to appear at OZ
conventions prior to his death.
He passed away at the age of 81 on November 9th 1988 in Dayton, NV
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