Malcolm Dixon (actor)


Malcolm Dixon was an English actor best known as "Strutter" in the 1981 movie Time Bandits. He had many roles which took advantage of his height, such as ewoks and dwarfs.

Life and career

Malcolm Dixon was the youngest of seven brothers and the only child with dwarfism. He was raised in Crook, Durham, England. His parents died when he was young and he outlived all his brothers.
Dixon worked on his parents' poultry farm and as a floral artist. He was discovered by a talent agent who was keen on Dixon's talents with ice skates at the Durham Ice Rink. He then worked in an ice show at Empire Pool, Wembley. His stature and physical abilities landed him work with Jim Henson's Creature Shop, where he worked in multiple movies and television shows until becoming an independent actor, most notably starring in Time Bandits and also in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as an Oompa-Loompa. He was also featured in many music videos for artists such as David Bowie, Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet.
Dixon was married to Anita Dixon and had two children. He died on 9 April 2020. The cause of death hasn't been released yet.

Filmography

Dixon had acted in over 30 films and 2 TV shows, including:
YearTitleRoleNotes
1966Snow White and the Seven DwarfsSleepyTV movie
1971Willy Wonka & the Chocolate FactoryOompa Loompauncredited
1979Black JackTom Thumb's Army
1980Flash GordonDwarf #1
1980Basil Brush
1980–1981The Dick Emery Show2 episodes
1981Time BanditsStrutter
1981–1982The GoodiesWashing Machine / Dwarf2 episodes
1982The Dark CrystalAdditional Performer
1983Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the JediLeektar the Ewok Warrioras Malcom Dixon
1985Arena: An Absurd NotionVideo
1986LabyrinthGoblin Corps
1987Snow WhiteDiddy
1988WillowNelwyn Band MemberUncredited
1997Witch Way LoveMerlin
2005100 Greatest Family FilmsHimselfTV movie documentary

Theatre

His main leading role in theatre was as Bilbo Baggins in an adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit at the Fortune Theatre in London, England, from 1986 to 1989. From 2000 to 2020, he was a regular in panto productions of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. His other theatre roles included: