Gone are the days in Hollywood when actresses wore ballet flats, stood on lower steps or in ditches, or slouched, to hide that they were taller than the leading man. Alan Ladd (who was 5-foot-6), a leading actor in the 1940s, often stood on a box to appear taller, and female co-stars of Humphrey Bogart (who was 5-foot-8) had to hunch down when seated to look shorter.
There is no height requirement for being a movie star. These days, the average American male is 5-foot-9 tall. Tom Cruise, one of the highest-paid and most popular stars in Hollywood, comes in at just 5-foot-7, two inches shorter than the average. Actors such as Peter Dinklage, of “Game of Thrones” fame, are even famous for playing shorter characters, or have roles written for them, as the title role in “Willow” was for Warwick Davis.
Sometimes, it pays to be short. These are the top 50 shortest actors.
Bottom Line: Tom Cruise
Chris Pizzello / AP Photo
Tom Cruise is one of the top-paid, most high-profile actors working today. Cruise starred in some of the biggest box-office hits of the 1980s, including “Top Gun,” “Rainman,” “Born on the Fourth of July” and “The Color of Money.”
By the 1990s, he was one of the wealthiest actors in the world, and cemented his leading man fame with roles in films such as “Jerry McGuire,” “Interview with the Vampire” and the “Mission Impossible” franchise. Cruise also has produced the “Mission Impossible” films.
There is speculation that Cruise actually may be shorter (5-foot-5) and wears heeled boots and shoe lifts to appear taller.
Bottom Line: Al Pacino
Chris Pizzello / AP Photo
Al Pacino is one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors. He had an extensive stage career in the 1960s and 1970s, and moved into films, playing gritty troubled characters in supporting roles until he was chosen to play Michael Corleone in “The Godfather” and his star began to rise.
He continued to play troubled characters through the 1970s and 1980s in movies such as “Scarface,” “Serpico” and “Dog Day Afternoon.” Despite his shorter stature, Pacino is renowned for playing characters in films who are wealthy or powerful.
Ironically, his height almost cost him the role of Michael in “The Godfather.” The film’s producers wanted a taller actor and famously called Pacino a “midget.” But director Francis Ford Coppola stood firm, and Pacino won his most famous role.
Bottom Line: Ben Stiller
Danny Moloshok / AP Photo
Ben Stiller is an actor, comedian, producer, director and writer. He is the son of famous comedians and actors Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. Stiller’s father, Jerry, was even shorter than him, at 5-foot-4.
Stiller is best known for roles in hit comedic movies such as “There’s Something About Mary,” “Meet the Parents,” “Night at the Museum” “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” and “Meet the Fockers.”
Stiller often plays cocky, arrogant, sarcastic characters who find themselves in awkward or embarrassing situations.
Bottom Line: Jack Black
Jordan Strauss / AP Photo
Jack Black is an actor, comedian and singer, best known for playing immature man-child characters who mock authority. He is known for his roles in “Shallow Hal,” “School of Rock,” the “Jumanjii” films, “Tropic Thunder,” “Be Kind Rewind” and others.
He’s played opposite a number of taller actresses, including Cate Blanchett, Gwyneth Paltrow and Nicole Kidman.
Black is probably best known for his role in “School of Rock” in which most of his co-stars were much shorter than him. They were kids.
Bottom Line: Elijah Wood
Erik Kabik Photography / AP Photo
Elijah Wood is an actor who started out acting in films as a child. He appeared in films such as “Paradise,” “The Good Son,” “North” and “Radio Flyer.”
Wood is best known for his role as Frodo Baggins in the film series of the literary classic “Lord of the Rings.” A big music fan, Wood owns thousands of music CDs and is also a record producer who set up the music label, Simians, in 2005.
He is often mistaken for fellow star, Daniel Radcliffe, of the “Harry Potter” movie series, who is almost the same height (and also on this list.)
Bottom Line: Emilio Estevez
Richard Shotwell / AP Photo
Actor, writer and director Emilio Estevez comes from an acting family: His father, Martin Sheen, and both of his brothers, including Charlie Sheen, are actors.
Estevez is best known for his roles in classic 1980 films, such as “The Outsiders,” “The Breakfast Club” and “St.Elmo’s Fire.”
In recent years, Estevez has moved into making independent films, such as “Bobby” and “The Public.”
Bottom Line: Richard Dreyfus
Chris Pizzello / AP Photo
Richard Dreyfus is a veteran actor, with a long career, spanning the 1960s to now. He works in movies, on TV and on the stage.
Dreyfus is best known for his roles in such films as “Jaws,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” “The Goodbye Girl,” “Down and Out in Beverly Hills,” “Tin Men” and “W.”
He is still actively working, appearing most recently in 2019 in “The Last Laugh” and “Daughter of the Wolf.” Dreyfus works frequently with director Steven Speilberg.
Bottom Line: Danny DeVito
Invision/AP / Arthur Mola
Danny DeVito is an actor, producer and director, with a long career that includes acting on stage, movies and TV. He is best known for his breakout role on the TV series “Taxi,” playing the foul-mouthed dispatcher Louie DePalma, one of the most hated characters in TV history.
DeVito is also well-known for his comedic roles in movies such as “Romancing the Stone,” “Twins,” “Ruthless People” and “Throw Momma from the Train.” He has directed films, including “The War of the Roses” and “Hoffa.”
DeVito currently stars in “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” a sitcom that is now in its 15th season and the longest-running live TV series.
