Curiosidades

He was on the Board with former President George Bush to help pass the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Said one of his major pet peeves was when people would try to pick him up as though he were a child.

Los Angeles KRTH-FM Radio News Director Steve Fredericks once asked the 3-foot, 10-inch-tall actor in an interview whether, if he could suddenly become a "big" person, if he would choose that. After a long and thoughtful pause, Barty said, "No... because I've made all the adjustments.".

Founder of Little People of America, a support/advocacy organization for people with dwarfism. Although it has been reported that "no one over 4' 10" may join LPA" this is not correct - it is open to anyone affected by dwarfism (including family, friends, and medical professionals who treat little people). However, people over 4' 10" (i.e. not meeting the medical definition of a dwarf) *were* precluded from holding office in the organization until the late 1980s.

Majored in journalism at L.A. City College and was both sports editor and public relations director of the "L.A. Collegian" newspaper.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6922 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on July 1, 1981.

Billy died at 9:20 a.m. PST at Glendale Memorial Hospital after a two-week stay with lung and heart problems.

He hosted his own daily kids television show, Billy Barty's Big Top (1963), where he entertained and informed his viewers and studio audiences in between reruns of The Three Stooges films. It was seen weekday afternoons on KTTV Ch.11 in Hollywood, California from the early to mid-1960s.

On May 28, 1999, he was hospitalized overnight for injuries from a motor scooter accident during a parade.

Had a son, Braden Barty and a daughter, Lori. Had a granddaughter, Tina.

His funeral was held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in North Hollywood, California on December 27, 2000.

Billy Barty's eldest Nephew Michael Copeland and Michael's wife Debra produced a 236 page Bio-Tribute Book in 2002 entitled "Within Reach - An Inspirational Journey into the Life, Legacy and Influence of Billy Barty". Ironically after they started the project, they were contacted by Peter Jones Productions informing them A&E had assigned them to produce a "Biography" program about Billy's life and asked for help with information and family contacts.

Had an admirable college career in sports: He played both football and basketball, plus ran 50 yards in 7.2 seconds.

Was a professional wrestler.

Owned a rollerskating rink in Fullerton, California called "Billy Barty's Roller Fantasy". A movie started shooting there in the mid-1980s but was never completed.

Following his death, he was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Plot Freedom Mausoleum, Patriots Terrace (lower lever), Columbarium of Blessedness (adjacent to Corridor of the Patriots), Map #ELH0 (Elevation H), Indoor Mausoleum Niche #38011 (3 rows up, 1st column in at right corner).

Ironically, in 1990 producer/writer William Winckler sued Billy Barty in Small Claims Court in Van Nuys, California for money that was owed him on the comedy series "Short Ribbs" (1989), and Winckler won the case against Barty. The press had a "field day" with all the publicity, stories ran through AP, UPI, The Daily News, ABC-TV News Los Angeles by reporter Joe McMann, and news swept throughout the country. Stories of Billy Barty being sued in Small Claims Court appeared in nearly every newspaper in the United States and internationally, on radio news shows, and covered by television news stations. Entertainment Tonight ran a story on Billy Barty being taken to small claims court. Barty himself said it was the most negative publicity he ever had in his life, with headlines such as "Small Billy Barty in Small Claims", "Barty Comes Up Short in Small Claims", etc. Barty added that he got nearly as much publicity as Zsa Zsa Gabor did for slapping a Beverly Hills police officer around the same time (1990). "Short Ribbs" writer Warren Taylor also sued Barty in Small Claims Court and won this case as well.

In 1991, after the first Gulf War, Rush Limbaugh, on his radio show, spoke of making a movie about it. When somebody suggested casting Billy Barty, Limbaugh said he was dead; however, the next day, Barty, who admitted he listened to Limbaugh's show regularly but had missed it that day, called in to prove otherwise.

Audio book: "Highlights from Within Reach", available only from the official website. (outubro de 2005)