Buzz
The allure of dwarfs persists today, much like it did when medieval monarchs employed them as jesters in their courts. Numerous reality shows now highlight the challenges of navigating a world designed for those of average height. Little people have also found their place in film and myth, making an enormous impact despite their small stature.
10. The Enchanted Trick
Although we don’t know who first performed the trick of sawing an assistant in half, by the 1920s, it had become a common illusion. Numerous variations of the trick exist, but one of the most jaw-dropping was a version known as “The Miracle of 37,” executed by magician Rajah Raboid.
Raboid’s performance involved three participants—Johnny Eck, his brother Robert Eck, and a dwarf. Johnny Eck had a rare condition called sacral agenesis, which resulted in underdeveloped legs and feet, but he was not considered a true dwarf. Often referred to as the “Half-Boy,” Eck appeared in the cult film Freaks, where he was seen walking on his hands.
In Raboid’s rendition of the trick, the dwarf acted as the feet protruding from the box, while Robert Eck, the fully-formed twin, played the head. As the blade passed through the center of the box, the dwarf (disguised as the legs) would dash around while Johnny, on his hands, chased after his “body.” They often ran through the audience, creating pandemonium as people fainted and trampled each other in a frantic attempt to escape the horrific sight.
9. A Treatment
There are over 300 different conditions that can result in dwarfism. Approximately 80 percent of dwarfs have achondroplasia, a condition that prevents cartilage from transforming into bone. Many well-known dwarfs, such as Peter Dinklage from Game of Thrones and Jason “Wee-Man” Acuña from Jackass, live with achondroplasia.
Researchers at the Centre Mediterraneen de Medecine Moleculaire in France have created a decoy protein called sFGFR3, which has shown promise in restoring bone growth in mice with conditions similar to achondroplasia. While more work is needed before this treatment can be used on humans, scientists remain optimistic.
Currently, dwarfs seeking treatment often turn to limb-lengthening surgeries, a procedure originally designed for people with differing leg lengths. Doctors break the tibia repeatedly over several months, encouraging the bone to gradually regenerate and lengthen. This extremely painful surgery comes with a lengthy recovery, and with current methods, the best result is an additional 7.5 centimeters (3 inches) of height.
This cosmetic surgery has been banned in many countries, and in places where it is still permitted, the cost is prohibitively expensive for many individuals. Those who choose to undergo the procedure often travel as medical tourists to countries like Russia, where regulations are more relaxed and the procedure is more affordable.
8. Pedro’s Lucky Charm
For 86 years, the Boston Red Sox were plagued by the infamous “Curse of the Bambino,” unable to win the World Series despite being one of baseball’s best teams. In 2004, they defied all odds and claimed the title. While the exact cause of the curse's break remains a mystery, it may have been the influence of an exceptionally small man.
At a height of 71 centimeters (2'4"), Nelson “Mahow” de la Rosa was one of the shortest men in history, recognized by Guinness World Records in 1989 as the shortest known adult. While he eventually lost this title, he gained even greater fame in 2004 when a mutual friend introduced him to Red Sox pitcher and fellow Dominican, Pedro Martinez.
Before becoming the Red Sox’s good luck charm, de la Rosa was probably most famous for working as Marlon Brando’s assistant in the film The Island of Dr. Moreau. He passed away on October 22, 2006, from heart failure.
Pedro Martinez wasn’t the only athlete to have a dwarf in his circle. Boxer Sugar Ray Robinson also had a dwarf in his entourage, a driver named Chico, who was always armed.
7. Eddie Gaedel
On August 19, 1951, Major League Baseball witnessed a dwarf step up to bat for the first and only time in history. Eddie Gaedel, a player for the St. Louis Browns, stood at just 109 centimeters (3’7″) tall.
However, Gaedel wasn’t a legitimate player—this was a publicity stunt inspired by the short story “You Could Look It Up,” which depicted a dwarf playing baseball. Browns owner Bill Veeck instructed Eddie not to swing, under penalty of death. The opposing Detroit Tigers' pitcher, Bob Cain, threw two genuine strikes, but then doubled over laughing. He tossed two more balls, allowing Eddie to walk to the plate amidst a standing ovation.
Gaedel was quickly substituted by a pinch runner, and the next day, his contract was voided. From that moment, his life took a tragic turn. In 1961, after leaving a Chicago bowling alley, he was followed home and brutally beaten. His mother found his battered body the next morning, lying in bed.
The only baseball player to attend Gaedel's funeral was Bob Cain, the pitcher who had thrown to him a decade earlier.
6. Mozart The Dwarf
Genius can often be unsettling, and when Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart demonstrated his prodigious talents as a child, people sought to explain it away. By the age of six, he was already traveling with his family to perform for royal courts. One of his early doubters, Daines Barrington from the Royal Society of London, closely observed the boy when he was nine, suspecting that Mozart might be a dwarf of advanced age who only appeared to be a child.
Yet, despite his genius in many areas, young Mozart was still very much a child. He would often run around with a stick between his legs, pretending to ride a horse. During the tests arranged by Barrington to assess his skills, Mozart was easily distracted, choosing to play with a cat rather than focus on the harpsichord.
5. The Wack Pack
Howard Stern’s radio show has long been known for its eccentric cast of personalities, collectively referred to as “The Wack Pack.” Among them have been several dwarfs, including the microcephalic Lester “Beetlejuice” Green and the wheelchair-bound Eric “The Midget” Lynch. Their unique appeal has led to small acting roles and widespread recognition.
Another notable member of the Wack Pack was Hank “The Angry Drunken Dwarf” Nasiff. Hank appeared unannounced at the radio station in 1996, and Stern brought him on air. Standing at 125 centimeters (4’1″), Hank quickly became a fan favorite, making frequent appearances. In 1998, Hank won People Magazine’s “Most Beautiful” person poll, receiving nearly 20 times more votes than the popular candidate Leonardo DiCaprio, who had just starred in Titanic. The media had a field day, dubbing it proof of a “digital democracy,” though today we might consider it an early form of “trolling on a grand scale.”
Tragically, the “drunken” label Hank Nasiff carried was more than just a nickname—he had a serious drinking problem that severely impacted his health. He passed away in his sleep on September 4, 2001, at the age of 39.
4. Psychosocial Dwarfism
Children who endure abuse often face a range of serious complications, but one unexpected consequence is this: Stress can stunt a child's growth. Even when a child has access to proper nutrition and no genetic issues, they may develop a condition known as psychosocial short stature or psychosocial dwarfism.
This condition typically affects children between the ages of 2 and 15 and occurs when the environment becomes so toxic that the body is under constant stress, leading to an overproduction of stress hormones like epinephrine. This drains energy that would otherwise go toward vital functions such as digestion and growth hormone production. In severe cases, growth can completely halt.
This phenomenon is often seen in feral children—children who grow up in the wild and struggle to survive without the resources for proper development. When these children are eventually removed from the animals that raised them, the shock of transitioning into human society can be so traumatic that their growth stops altogether.
3. Disney’s Nude Pinocchio Dwarfs
The 1937 release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs became a major success for Walt Disney, creating a high level of anticipation for the studio’s next film, Pinocchio, which debuted in 1940. However, due to World War II, the film struggled to gain international exposure and was initially a box office disappointment.
The troubles began right from the premiere of the movie at New York City’s Center Theatre on February 7, 1940. To generate excitement for the event, the publicity team hired 11 dwarfs to dress up as Pinocchio characters. They were lifted onto the marquee, where they were expected to dance and wave to the children gathered below.
The lively group was indulged with alcohol, and by afternoon, they had all disrobed and started a loud game of craps. They refused to get dressed or descend from their position. Eventually, the authorities were called to cover them with pillowcases and forcibly remove them from the marquee.
2. The Seven Dwarfs Of Auschwitz
The Ovitz family originated from Romania and traced its ancestry to Shimson Ovitz, a comedian and rabbi. Ovitz had ten children, seven of whom were dwarfs, and together they performed as entertainers known as “The Lilliput Troupe.”
The Ovitz family performed throughout World War II but were rounded up in May 1944 and sent to Auschwitz. While the Nazis were infamous for their hatred of Jews and individuals with disabilities, it might seem that their time at the concentration camp would be a death sentence. However, for better or worse, the group attracted the attention of Dr. Josef Mengele.
Rather than send the Ovitz family members to the gas chamber, Mengele subjected the dwarfs to horrific experiments. He took their blood, extracted bone marrow, and tore teeth from their mouths. Nevertheless, Mengele made special efforts to keep them in good health so he could continue his tests. The dwarfs enjoyed better living conditions and food than the other prisoners. The taller family members were kept around to assist with various duties, including carrying their smaller relatives.
Except for one average-sized brother who was killed while trying to escape, the Ovitz family all survived until Auschwitz's liberation. Afterward, they moved to Israel and continued their careers in entertainment. The last surviving dwarf, sister Perla, passed away in 2001.
1. The World’s Smallest Person
Many definitions of dwarfism legally classify it as standing less than 147 centimeters (4’10”) as an adult. While this is extremely short, many individuals without medical conditions fall into this category, such as Jersey Shore star “Snooki” Polizzi. Some genuine dwarfs are even shorter, measuring less than half of that height.
According to Guinness World Records, the shortest adult ever reliably documented is Chandra Bahadur Dangi, a man from Nepal in his mid-seventies. Dangi, a primordial dwarf, stands at just 54.6 centimeters (21.5 inches), possessing a normal-sized head but a minuscule body. The exact cause of his condition remains a mystery, with Dangi being the only member of his family who is not of typical size.
Though he is able to walk, Dangi only engages in small tasks around the house. His family shares that he has always enjoyed good health, which is somewhat surprising given that individuals of such extreme short stature often experience shorter lifespans and various health complications.
