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Felix Silla
Felix Silla at Mountain-Con III in 2007 (cropped).png
Silla in 2007
Born
Felice Anthony Silla

(1937-01-11)January 11, 1937
Roccacasale, Abruzzo, Italy
Died April 16, 2021(2021-04-16) (aged 84)
Las Vegas, U.S.
Occupation
  • Actor
  • stuntman
Years active 1955–2019
Spouse(s)
Sue Silla
(m. 1965)
Children 4

Felix Anthony Silla (born January 11, 1937 – died April 16, 2021) was an Italian-American actor and stuntman. He was famous for playing unique characters in movies and TV shows. You might know him best as Cousin Itt from The Addams Family. He also played an Ewok in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and the robot Twiki in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.

About Felix Silla

Early Life and Circus Days

Felix Silla was born in a small village in Italy called Roccacasale. When he was 18, in 1955, he moved to the United States. He joined the famous Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Felix was very talented! He could ride horses without a saddle (bareback), perform on the trapeze, and do amazing tumbles. These skills helped him get to Hollywood. There, he started working as a stuntman in movies.

Movies and TV Shows

Felix Silla became known for playing special characters. His short height, which was 3 feet 11 inches (1.19 meters), often helped him get roles. He sometimes even doubled for children in movies like The Towering Inferno and The Hindenburg.

One of his favorite roles was Litvak in the film The Black Bird. He also played the body of the robot Twiki in the TV series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Another actor, Mel Blanc, provided Twiki's voice.

Between movies, Felix often performed in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada. He had his own musical group called The Original Harmonica Band.

Voice Acting Work

Felix Silla also used his voice for video games. He provided the voice for Mortimer Goth in The Sims 2 video game in 2005.

Famous Characters He Played

Cousin Itt in The Addams Family

Felix Silla became very famous for playing Cousin Itt in The Addams Family TV show. Cousin Itt was a unique character covered in long hair. He was not in the original comics by Charles Addams. The show's producer, David Levy, added him to the TV series.

Felix appeared in 17 episodes as Cousin Itt. The character's voice was usually done by sound engineer Anthony Magro. Cousin Itt became so popular that he appeared in later Addams Family movies and games.

Ewok in Star Wars

In 1983, Felix Silla played one of the Ewoks in the Star Wars film Return of the Jedi. He was one of the Ewoks who used a hang glider.

He also played the body of the robot Twiki in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.

His Passing

Felix Silla passed away on April 16, 2021. He was 84 years old and died from pancreatic cancer in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Filmography (as Actor)

name year role
Bonanza (TV series) 1963 Sean
Grimdl (TV series) 1963 Flaged
Petticoat Junction (TV series) 1965 Baron Munchin
The Addams Family (original TV series) 1965-1966 (17 episodes) Cousin Itt. (costumed character)
Star Trek (TV series) Talosian (uncredited)
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (TV series) 1966 Circus Performer
The Monkees (TV series) 1967 Willy the Midget
She Freak (film) 1967 Shorty
Point Blank (film) 1967 Bellhop
Planet of the Apes (film) 1968 Child Gorilla
The April Fools (film) 1969 Waiter at Safari Club
Justine 1969 Child ...
H.R. Pufnstuf (TV series) 1969-1970 Polka Dotted Horse - Various Characters
Pufnstuf (film version, based on above) 1970 Polka Dotted Horse
Bewitched (TV series) 1967/1970 Goblin/Troll
Night Gallery (TV series) 1971 Baby New Year (uncredited)
Lidsville (TV series) 1971-1972 Colonel Poom
Little Cigars (film) 1973 Frankie
Sssssss (film) 1973 Sam Lee the Seal Boy
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (TV movie) 1973 Creature
Lincoln (TV miniseries) 1974 General Tom Thumb
The Black Bird (film) 1975 Litvak
Mastermind 1975 Scahatzi
Black Samurai (film) 1976 Little Hitman Reinhardt
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (TV series) 1977 Chuck
Demon Seed (film) 1977 Baby
The Kentucky Fried Movie (film) 1977 Crazed Clown
Halloween with the New Addams Family (TV movie) 1977 Cousin Itt.
The Manitou 1978 Misquamacus
The Lord of the Rings (voice) 1979 Character actor
Battlestar Gactica (TV series) 1978-1979 Lucifer
Buck in the 25th Century 1979-1981 Twiki (body)
Under the Rainbow (film) 1981 Hotel Rainbow Guest
Mork & Mindy (TV series) 1981 Orkan Porter
The Sting II (film) 1983 Ringside man taking bets
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (film) 1983 Ewok
Meatballs Part II 1984 Meathead the Alien
The Dungeonmaster(credited here as 'Felix Cilla 1984 Desert Bandit
The Dukes of Hazard (TV series) 1985 THe Visitor
House 1985 Little Critter
Spaceballs 1987 Dink
Ghostbusters II (film) 1989 Courtroom Spectator
Married... with Children 1990 Alien
Batman Returns (film) 1992 Emperor Penguin
The Legend of Galgameth 1996 Little Galgy
CHARACTERZ 2016 Don Cluff
Meet Slate (TV miniseries) 2018 Bitcoin

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Felix Silla para niños

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