Perhaps the most recognized midget actor of the last 50 years, Barty began his long career at age three in comedies and children's shows. He played Mickey Rooney's younger brother in the Mickey McGuire shorts before making his feature debut in 1933, and is probably best remembered for his impish performances as mischievous, all-too-knowing children in the Busby Berkeley films, "Footlight Parade" and "Golddiggers of 1933" (both 1933), and as the irascible dwarf in the cockfight episode of "The Day of the Locust" (1975). An activist for the rights of Little People, he started the Billy Barty Foundation in 1975.
Family
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Daughter: Lori Ellen Barty. survived him
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Father: Albert Steven Bertanzetti. worked for Columbia Pictures
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Mother: Ellen C Bertanzetti.
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Sister: Deede Morse. survived him
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Son: Braden William Barty. born in 1970; six feet tall; was a Mormon missionary in Brazil; survived him
Education
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Los Angeles State College of Applied Arts and Sciences, Los Angeles, California, 1948
Milestones
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1928 Entered films
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1932 Appeared in the Micky McGuire series of short comedies
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1933 First major film appearance, as a mouse and little boy, in Footlight Parade
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1954 Was a regular on The Spike Jones Show
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1981 Awarded star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
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1991 Broadway debut in Andre Heller s Wonderhouse
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1999 Injured in a scooter accident in May
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Film acting debut in Wedded Blisters
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Hosted syndicated TV series, The Billy Barty Show
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Performed with Spike Jones and His City Slickers
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Played Little Tom on the TV series, Circus Boy
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TV series debut, Ford Festival