Top 10 Little Known Facts about Hervé Villechaize

Photo of Herve Villechaize from the television program Fantasy Island. photo by ABC Television – Wikimedia commons

Top 10 Little Known Facts about Hervé Villechaize

Dwarfs are stereotyped as perpetually joyful and entertaining people, a bias that has likely developed as a result of how they have been depicted in popular culture throughout the years, from jesters in royal courts in ancient times to circuses much later.

Though they have been regarded as entertainers throughout history, it has rarely been owing to their abilities. They were on exhibit because of their unusual appearance: specifically, their height.

Circuses are nearly extinct now, but the historical link between dwarfism and entertainment endures, with people of short stature purposefully and frequently integrated into contemporary humour in ways that other minority groups are not.

Another prominent way in which dwarf people have been stigmatized in popular culture is by depicting them as a source of amusement because of their ‘childlike charm.’ Nonetheless, a few dwarf actors have effectively exploited these physical stereotypes and mixed them with their intrinsic sense of humour, producing a formula so unique to them that it rocketed them into household stars.

Hervé Villechaize, who is nothing less than an icon among people with dwarfism has gone from a newbie in one film to a spurned actor who wallowed in numerous high-grossing films.

He had turned into an internet sensation and garnered global appreciation after collaborating with fellow bigwig actors in the film industry. Yet, it has to be noted that in most of his roles he was consistently limited to his role as an actor, having rarely found an opportunity to maximize his performance because of his dwarf stature.

Here are the top 10 little-known facts about him.

1. Villechaize was born with dwarfism

Photo of Ricardo Montalban and Herve Villechaize from the television program Fantasy Island. photo by ABC Television – Wikimedia commons

Villechaize was born in Nazi-occupied Paris, France, on April 23, 1943, to English-born Evelyn (Recchionni) and André Villechaize, a surgeon in Toulon. Villechaize was of Filipino descent.

The youngest of four sons, Villechaize was born with dwarfism, likely due to an endocrine disorder. He suffered a proportionate dwarfism condition due to an acute thyroid disorder. The malfunctioning organ would leave him at a full-grown height of just under 4 ft. tall.

2. Hervé’s father tried to find a cure for his dwarfism

Villechaize was raised by a surgeon. When his son was born with dwarfism, he set out to find a treatment. Despite trying several facilities, he was unable to assist his son. His father took him to several medical facilities for therapy, including the ‘Mayo Clinic’ in Minnesota and other institutes in England and Germany.

He endured numerous medical operations, some of which were quite painful, but his condition could not be rectified. Several operations and sophisticated medical procedures at America’s Mayo Clinic in Minnesota would be incredibly painful and, sadly, ineffective in resolving his condition.

3. Villechaize was bullied at school for his condition

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

After his father sort out treatment for Villechaize and unfortunately there was none, Hervé had to live with his small height and also with undersized lungs.

Because of his dwarf stature, Villechaize faced bullying in the school which made it difficult to socialize with fellow students. This made him stay in solitude most of the time during his time in school.

4. He insisted on being called a “midget” rather than a “dwarf”

He suffered from proportionate dwarfism. In later years, he insisted on being called a “midget” rather than a “dwarf”. This came during the time he underwent bullying while still attending school. 

His height was 3 feet and 10 inches which rendered him shorter than his fellow schoolmates.

5. His artistic work was displayed in the Museum of Paris

School of Decorative Arts and Garden of Fine Arts. photo by Daniel Villafruela – Wikimedia commons

Villechaize was bullied at school because of his tiny height, so he turned to paint and the arts for solace. He enrolled in the ‘École des Beaux-Arts’ at the age of 16 in 1959.

His work was presented in the ‘Museum of Paris in 1961, making him the youngest artist ever to do so at the age of 18 which were well received.

6. He relocated to the United States from France at 21 years

On the suggestion of his father, he left France at the age of 21 and moved to the United States of America where he settled in Greenwich Village, New York City.

In the USA, he continued to paint and take photographs. He also began to appear in various films and was rapidly offered multiple roles in plays and later in films.

7. Villechaize initially worked as an artist, painter, and photographer

Photo by Avi Richards on Unsplash

At the age of 21, Hervé sailed to New York City to ply his artistic craft. Villechaize initially worked as an artist, painter, and photographer.

After teaching himself English by watching American television and immersing himself in the New York City art scene, he would eventually land roles in several off-Broadway plays in the big city.

8. His first film appearance was in Chappaqua

Herve Villechaize and Karen Kondazian on the set of Fantasy Island – 1977 photo by Karen Kondazian – Wikimedia commons

Chappaqua was his debut cinematic appearance (1966). In 1969, he appeared in Edward Summer’s Item 72-D: The Adventures of Spa and Fon.

This was followed by other films, including The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight (1971) where Hervé would play ‘Beppo’ in the 1971 comedy starring Robert DeNiro, Malatesta’s Carnival of Blood (1973), Crazy Joe (1974), and Oliver Stone’s debut, Seizure (1974).

He was approached to play a role in Alejandro Jodorowsky’s Dune, which began pre-production in 1971 but was later cancelled.

9. His big break was getting cast in a ‘James Bond ‘ movie

His big break came when he was cast in The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), by which time he was living in his car in Los Angeles due to financial hardship.

He managed to make ends meet by working as a rat catcher’s helper close to his South Central house until being signed by Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli.

The Man with the Golden Gun co-star Christopher Lee observed that Villechaize was likely at his happiest during filming; Lee compared it to honey sandwiched between an unsteady past and an uncertain future.

Villechaize got noticed in this film as he portrayed the role of the villain’s evil assistant, ‘Nick Nack.’

10. Villechaize committed suicide by shooting himself

In the early hours of September 4, 1993, Villechaize, 50, is thought to have shot himself after shooting through the sliding glass patio door of his North Hollywood home to awaken his longtime lover, Kathy Self.

Self-discovered Villechaize in his backyard and the Medical Center of North Hollywood declared him dead. His ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean off Point Fermin in San Pedro, Los Angeles, California. Villechaize stated in a suicide note that he was forlorn due to his medical issues.

He had enormous internal organs that were exerting growing pressure on his body, causing him to experience continuous pain.

Self claims that Villechaize frequently slept on his knees to facilitate easier breathing. He also left an audio recording of the suicide that included his last words.