Everyone thinks of Tom Cruise as one of the shortest actors in Hollywood, but that is simply not true.
At 5ft8in he is one of the taller Hollywood heavyweights, believe it or not – he may have looked small as his second wife Nicole Kidman is over 6ft in heels and his third wife Katie Holmes is an impressive 5ft9in.
There are many other male actors who are much shorter than 5ft8in.
One is an amazing 4ft10in. He was in massive hits like Romancing The Stone and Batman Returns.
Two of these guys on the list have been in the 1995 movie Jumanji.
Everyone thinks of Tom Cruise as one of the shortest actors in Hollywood, but that is simply not true. At 5ft8in he is one of the taller Hollywood heavyweights, believe it or not. There are many other male actors who are much shorter than 5ft8in; seen on April 20 in London.
Being a short actor is nothing new; plenty of the Golden Age of Hollywood stars were not tall.
Alan Ladd, 5ft6in, used to stand on boxes when shooting scenes with his female costars.
So did Humphrey Bogart on the classic 1942 film Casablanca when he had scenes with Swedish stunner Ingrid Bergman, who was 5ft9in.
Experts say as long as their bodies are proportionate – as in the legs are not too long or the arms are not too short – it really doesn’t matter how tall a man is on film because the eye cannot tell height.
The average American man is 5ft9in.
Here is a look at the 5ft5in and under crowd – who have been called Short Kings – hitting the red carpets these days.
DANNY DEVITO
HEIGHT 4FT10IN
He is known for being on the shorter side, which has worked well for his career as he has been pigeonholed the petite funny guy.
Danny DeVito got big laughs when he played small tyrant taxi dispatcher Louie De Palma in the television series Taxi, which won him a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award.
Being small made him the lovable loser opposite his best friend Michael Douglas in the hit rom-com Romancing The Stone which spawned a sequel Jewel In The Nile.
In 1988’s Twins, he made light of his height as he played the brother to Arnold Schwarzenegger who stands at 6ft2in.
Seeing the small DeVito next to the tall Schwarzenegger was a terrific ‘sight gag,’ which is a Hollywood term.
DeVito seems to have never let his height get in the way of Hollywood success. One example: For 16 seasons he was on the hit series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
When told during an interview that he was the ‘short king’ he good-naturedly responded: ‘I like it! I haven’t heard the term, but it gives me joy. It lifts me up. Thank you.’
Danny DeVito is known for being on the shorter side – 4ft10in – which has worked well for his career as he has been pigeonholed the petite funny guy. Seen April 24 in LA
(L-R) Armie Hicks Jr., John Ortiz, Jennifer Jason Leigh, DeWanda Wise, Chris Pine, Danny DeVito, Patty Jenkins, Stephen Tobolowsky, and Hollis W. Chambers at the Poolman premiere
(L-R) Arnold Schwarzenegger and DeVito speak onstage during the 96th Annual Academy Awards in March; they starred in Twins in 1988
MICHAEL J FOX
HEIGHT 5FT4IN
Michael J Fox, 5ft4in, came to fame as the high energy little guy Alex P Keaton on Family Ties in the 1980s.
Then he had a very big movie career thanks to playing Marty McFly in Back To The Future which began in 1985.
He never looked too small on screen because he female counterparts were always petite, like Lea Thompson from Back To The Future; she is 5ft4in.
And his Doc Hollywood costar Julie Warner was 5ft2in.
His wife since 1988, Tracy Pollan, is 5ft6in. Together they have the kids Sam Michael, Aquinnah Kathleen, Esmé Annabelle, Schuyler Frances.
Fox also made light of his short stature by voicing the mouse in Stuart Little.
Michael has become a spokesperson for finding a cure for Parkinson’s Disease. Fox started displaying symptoms of early-onset Parkinson’s disease in 1991 while shooting the film Doc Hollywood, and was diagnosed shortly thereafter.
Michael J Fox, 5ft4in, came to fame as the high energy little guy Alex P Keaton on Family Ties in the 1980s. Then he had a very big movie career thanks to playing Marty McFly in Back To The Future which began in 1985. He never looked too small on screen because he female counterparts were always petite; seen in early April
Tracy Pollan (L) and Michael attend the 2024 Time100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 25, 2024 in New York City.
(L-R) Actors Denis Leary and Ryan Reynolds, musician Elvis Costello, actors Tracy Pollan and Michael J. Fox and Brian Grant attend the A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s benefit in 2009 in New York City
Fox poses for a portrait in 1982 in Los Angeles when his TV career was taking off
JOE PESCI
HEIGHT 5ft4in
He has played some very powerful tough guys in the big screen even though he is a smaller 5ft4in.
Joe Pesci lit up 1990’s Goodfellas, 1995’s Casino and 2019’s The Irishman.
In all these movies he seemed larger-than-life and someone to fear.
Pesci has been called ‘imposing’ in many of his profiles.
He also came across as ferocious in 1990’s Home Alone movie which saw him as a dimwitted bad guy against a clever kid played by Macaulay Culkin.
And he was more than just fine as the bossy boyfriend to Marisa Tomei’s 5ft3in – 5ft9in in heels – sexy Bronx babe in My Cousin Vinny in 1992.
At 81-years-old, the New Jersey native is still working – he was last in Bupkis with Pete Davidson and was in the movie Day Of The Fight with Steve Buscemi.
He has played some very powerful tough guys in the big screen even though he is a smaller 5ft4in. Joe Pesci lit up 1990’s Goodfellas, 1995’s Casino and 2019’s The Irishman. In all these movies he seemed larger-than-life and someone to fear. Seen in 2019
Pesci joins Pete Davidson – who is 6ft3in – on the set of Bupkis in 2022
L-R: Pesci, Al Pacino (5ft6in), Martin Scorsese (5ft4in), Robert De Niro (5ft10in), and Harvey Keitel attend The Irishman screening in 2019 in New York City
SETH GREEN
HEIGHT 5FT4IN
Seth Green’s height was never a big deal in Hollywood because he always played the funny sidekick.
In fact, his short stature seemed to help him.
His film debut came with a role in the comedy-drama film The Hotel New Hampshire, and he went on to have supporting roles in comedy films throughout the 1980s, including Radio Days and Big Business.
He was the wily thief in The Italian Job next to tall Charlize Theron.
And he blended in on Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
Recently he compared his height with Mila Kunis at PaleyFest LA 2024 for their show Family Guy as the series celebrated its 25th Anniversary Celebration.
Seth made a tough guy pose as Mila smiled for the camera.
Green once said during a magazine interview: ‘I’m five-four. Hey, Rene Russo walked in a ditch when she filmed Freejack with Emilio Estevez. The great thing about this business is it’s not about how you look, it’s how they can make you look.’
Rene is 5ft8in and Emilio is 5ft7in.
Seth Green’s height was never a big deal in Hollywood because he always played the funny sidekick. In fact, his short stature seemed to help him. Seen April 19
Recently he compared his height with Mila Kunis at PaleyFest LA 2024 for their show Family Guy as the series celebrared its 25th Anniversary Celebration
From left, Brenda Song, Ryan Sypek and Green in Have A Heart…Attack! on Dads in 2013
From left, Mark Wahlberg, Robert De Niro, director F Gary Gray, Donald Sutherland and Green during an Italian Job event in 2003
DANIEL RADCLIFFE
HEIGHT 5FT5IN
Daniel Radcliffe is an English actor who is not bothered by being a Short King.
When he was asked by Playboy if his height held him back he said no: ‘I don’t think so. Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise have very different careers, and they’re both about the same height as I am.
‘I could play a soldier. The minimum height for a marine is five feet, and I’m well above that. If you’re asking, “Can you play a really (bleeping) tall person?” No, obviously not. Can I play a black guy? For similar reasons, no.
‘I couldn’t play something I wouldn’t take myself seriously in. I wouldn’t be able to take myself seriously as the quarterback in a football movie, which is my one legitimate gripe. I would love to be in a football movie. The only part I would get is the general manager.’
The dark-haired star rose to fame at age 12 when he began portraying Harry Potter in the film series of the same name. And he has since had a versatile career.
In 2017 he showed his acting range in Jungle about a group of friends join a guide for a trek into the Bolivian jungle searching for an Indian village.
In 2022 he starred as the evil billionaire opposite Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum in The Lost City.
Daniel was recently in a series called Miracle Workers about a colorful blend of outcasts and iconoclasts confront universal issues across various time periods.
Daniel Radcliffe is an English actor who never seemed to let his height get in the way. The dark-haired star rose to fame at age 12 when he began portraying Harry Potter in the film series of the same name; seen May 2 in NYC
Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez and Radcliffe attend the Cast Of Merrily We Roll Along In Conversation With Josh Horowitz in March in New York City
(L to R) Radcliffe, J.K. Rowling, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint arrive at the premiere of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 in 2011 in London
KEVIN HART
HEIGHT 5FT5IN
Kevin Hart recently revealed his height – 5ft5in – when talking to Anderson Cooper for 60 Minutes.
The actor, 44, was asked by Anderson on his real height, with the host saying that ‘GQ said you’re 5ft5in, the LA Times says your 5ft4in and some other place said you were 5ft2in.’
‘Well that place is bulls**t. GQ finally got it right,’ Kevin said, adding: ‘[I’m] 5-foot-5, like with a shoe on, like a sneaker. Now, if I put a boot on, I can get to 5ft5in and a half.’
He did not say his height without his shoes – but sneakers usually add 1-2 inches.
The comedian said he doesn’t mind joking about his height because to him, standup comedy is all about ‘talking about this that you aren’t afraid to laugh that I’m getting, you’re not laughing necessarily at me as if I’m a joke.’
He added: ‘You’re laughing at the experience. I’m giving you an experience through a story that is relatable. And more importantly, I’m saying things that other people just don’t have the heart to say.’
His wife Eniko Hart is 5ft6in and is often seen towering over him on red carpets when she adds heels. The couple are parents to son Kenzo, six, and daughter Kaori, three.
He has two children from his previous marriage with Torrei Hart: daughter Heaven, 19, and son Hendrix, 16.
Hart won several stand-up comedy competitions. His first breakthrough when Judd Apatow cast him in a recurring role on the TV series Undeclared. He has since worked on the hit movie franchise Jumanji.
Kevin Hart finally revealed his height, while doing a sit down interview with Anderson Cooper for 60 Minutes; seen with Will Ferrell, who stands 6’3 and Dwayne Johnson, who is 6’4
The actor, 44, was asked by Anderson on his real height, with the host saying that ‘GQ said you’re 5’5, the LA Times says your 5’4 and some other place said you were 5’2’; Hart said he was 5ft5in
KEVIN CONNOLLY
HEIGHT 5ft5in
Kevin Connolly is best known for his role as Eric Murphy in the HBO series Entourage.
He also played the eldest son Ryan Malloy in the 1990s television sitcom Unhappily Ever After.
Connolly was born in New York City. He began his career at age six, appearing in television commercials then in 1990, he landed his first film role, as Chickie in Rocky V, and went on to appear on the sitcom Great Scott!
He portrayed Dabney Coleman’s son in the comedy film The Beverly Hillbillies and was on Wings, Getting By and ER. He starred in Don’s Plum alongside Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Later that year, he landed the role of Ryan Malloy on the situation comedy Unhappily Ever
After then came his best-known role is the character Eric Murphy, better known as E, on the 2004-2011 HBO show Entourage. His costar Jerry Ferrara, however, was shorter at 5ft4in.
In the film He’s Just Not That Into You he looked tall when he had scenes with Drew Barrymore and Scarlett Johansson.
Connolly is also a director, having directed many episodes of television as well as the films Gardener of Eden, Dear Eleanor, and Gotti.
Kevin Connolly is best known for his role as Eric Murphy in the HBO series Entourage. He also played the eldest son Ryan Malloy in the 1990s television sitcom Unhappily Ever After. Seen in 2015
(L-R) The cast of Entourage Jerry Ferrara (5ft4in), Adrian Grenier, Connolly, Jeremy Piven and Kevin Dillon in 2015 in London
JASON ALEXANDER
HEIGHT 5ft5in
Jason Alexander played George Costanza on Seinfeld from 1989 to 1998.
He also acted in films like Pretty Woman (1990), Coneheads (1993), North (1994), Denial (1998), Shallow Hal (2001), and Wild Card (2015).
His short height did him when the Newark, New Jersey native appeared on stage in Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along in 1981, Kander & Ebb’s The Rink in 1984, Neil Simon’s Broadway Bound in 1986.
Alexander made his film debut in 1981 in the summer camp slasher film The Burning and when he did the 1996 variety show Muppets Tonight.
Other notable roles: In 2003, he was cast opposite Martin Short in the Los Angeles production of Mel Brooks’ The Producers and he appeared with Kelsey Grammer in the 2004 musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol.
More recently, in 2019, Alexander appeared on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as Asher Friedman, a blacklisted Broadway playwright who is an old friend of Midge Maisel’s father Abe Weissman.
Alexander has been married to Daena E. Title, cousin of director Stacy Title, since May 31, 1982, and they have two sons, Gabriel and Noah.
Jason Alexander does not look short on red carpets – seen here in 2019 – but he is 5ft5in
Cast of Seinfeld: Alexander, Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards
He played George Costanza on Seinfeld from 1989 to 1998
The cast in 1993 at the 45th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in Pasadena, California
