Debbie Lee Carrington | |
|---|---|
 Carrington in 2010 | |
| Born | Deborah Lee Carrington December 14, 1959 |
| Died | March 23, 2018 (aged 58) Pleasanton, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, stuntwoman |
| Years active | 1981–2018 |
Deborah Lee Carrington (December 14, 1959 – March 23, 2018) was an American actress and stuntwoman. Her best known movie roles include playing a Martian rebel in Total Recall, an Ewok in Return of the Jedi (and in subsequent TV movies) and an elf in The Polar Express.
Carrington's film career began in college when she replied to an ad for extras in a newsletter published by Little People of America for Under the Rainbow, a film about the Munchkins from The Wizard of Oz.
Carrington was born in San Jose, California.[1] She had a brother, Robert, and sister, Kathy. In 1981 she answered a casting call for Under The Rainbow while attending college at University of California, Davis.[1] She took a break from her studies after landing a role in the film, but later returned and earned a degree in early childhood development.[2]
Carrington appeared in many films and TV shows, including In Living Color, The Drew Carey Show, Howard the Duck, Tracey Takes On..., Men in Black, Seinfeld, Baywatch, Married... with Children, Boston Legal, The Garbage Pail Kids Movie, Dexter, and Bones. In 2008, she filmed scenes for the action thriller Bitch Slap.[3] She also performed as a stunt double – often for child actors and dolls that had come to life – in films like Titanic and the Child's Play slasher film series.[4]
Carrington was born with dwarfism and said she had experienced prejudicial attitudes as a dwarf in Hollywood. She supported other dwarf actors, insisting that they received credit for their work, since many costume-specific parts often went uncredited.
By the 1990s, Carrington began to push back against being typecast in costume-only roles. On television, she played character roles like Tiny Avenger on In Living Color, Tammy in Seinfeld, and Doreen in The Drew Carey Show.[4] Additionally, in 1990, she was photographed by Peter Lindbergh for Vogue Italia with supermodel Helena Christensen.[5]
Carrington died on March 23, 2018, at age 58 in her parents' home in Pleasanton, California following a period of health complications.[6][4]
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| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Under the Rainbow | Hotel Rainbow Guest | as Debbie Carrington |
| 1983 | Return of the Jedi | Romba Ewok | as Debbie Carrington |
| 1984 | The Ewok Adventure | Weechee | TV movie, as Debbie Carrington |
| Earthlings | Zet | TV movie | |
| 1985 | What's Happening Now!! | Munchkin | Episode: "The Improbable Dream" |
| Ewoks: The Battle for Endor | Weechee | TV movie | |
| Amazing Stories | Alien | Episode: "Fine Tuning" | |
| 1986 | Invaders from Mars | Drone | |
| Howard the Duck | Duck | ||
| Captain EO | Idee | ||
| 1987 | Harry and the Hendersons | Little Bigfoot | |
| The Garbage Pail Kids Movie | Valerie Vomit | ||
| 1989 | Monsters | Troll | Episode: "Fools' Gold" |
| 1990 | Nerds of a Feather | Little Army of Little Russian Soldiers | |
| Spaced Invaders | Dr. Ziplock | ||
| Total Recall | Thumbelina | ||
| Club Fed | Betty | ||
| Married... with Children | Alien | Episode: "Married... with Aliens" | |
| WIOU | Carla Sapper | Episode: "Do the Wrong Thing" | |
| The Bonfire of the Vanities | Crying girl | Uncredited | |
| 1991 | The New Adam-12 | Cindy | Episode: "Trick or Trick" |
| 1991–92 | In Living Color | Tiny Avenger | 3 episodes |
| 1992 | Seedpeople | Tumbler | |
| Batman Returns | Emperor Penguin | ||
| Mom and Dad Save the World | Bwaaa (Fishface) | ||
| Cattive ragazze | Amy | ||
| 1994 | Seinfeld | Tammy | Episode: "The Stand-In" |
| The High Crusade | Branithar | ||
| Baywatch | Debbie | Episodes: "Silent Night, Baywatch Night: Part 1 & 2" | |
| 1995 | Born to Be Wild | Gorilla Team | |
| 1997 | Men in Black | Alien Father | |
| Titanic | Stunts | ||
| 1998 | Tracey Takes On... | Raquel Gibson | Episode: "Loss" |
| Mighty Joe Young | Other Gorilla | ||
| Bride of Chucky | Tiffany | Stunt double: Jennifer Tilly | |
| 1999 | She's All That | Felicity | |
| 1999–2000 | The Drew Carey Show | Doreen | 4 episodes |
| 2000 | The Independent | Surfer Girl | |
| Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Creature | Episode: "Listening to Fear" | |
| The Christmas Secret | Gorah | TV movie | |
| 2001 | The Lone Gunmen | Sadie | Episode: "Madam, I'm Adam" |
| 2002 | ER | Ginger Jones | Episodes: "A Simple Twist of Fate" |
| The District | Alice | Episode: "Small Packages" | |
| 2003 | Tiptoes | Kitty Katz | |
| Scary Movie 3 | Mini Tabitha | Uncredited | |
| 2004 | The Polar Express | Elf (voice) | |
| Seed of Chucky | Herself | (DVD deleted scenes), Uncredited | |
| Boston Legal | Patty | Episode: "Loose Lips" | |
| Huff | Marla | Episode: "Flashpants" | |
| 2006 | Dexter | Patty | Episode: "Truth Be Told" |
| Nip/Tuck | Merrily | Episode: "Reefer" | |
| 2008 | Men in Trees | Karen | Episode: "Read Between the Minds" |
| Bedtime Stories | Booing Goblin | as Debbie Carrington | |
| 2009 | Bones | Gidget Jones | Episode: "The Dwarf in the Dirt" |
| 2011 | Jessie | Jingles | Episode: "Christmas Story" |
| Pair of Kings | Squonk Queen | Episode: "Dinner for Squonks" | |
| 2012 | The New Normal | Little Person Mom | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2013 | Curse of Chucky | Chucky double | Direct-to-video film |
| 2017 | Special Unit | Sophie |
