Felix Silla facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Felix Silla
|
|
---|---|
![]() Silla in 2007
|
|
Born |
Felice Anthony Silla
January 11, 1937 |
Died | April 16, 2021 Las Vegas, U.S.
|
(aged 84)
Occupation |
|
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.
Contents
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
In Spanish: Felix Silla para niños