Pat Bilon
Encyclopedia
Michael Patrick "Pat" Bilon (August 29, 1947 – January 27, 1983) was an American
actor
best known for his performances in Under the Rainbow
and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
. At no taller than two feet and 10 inches, Bilon was considered one of the smallest adult dwarfs
in the country, but he never characterized himself as disabled. Throughout much of his adult life, he was an active member of Little People of America
. During his last years, Bilon served as District 5 director of the organization.
, not far from the Pennsylvania
border. He was a third-generation Ukrainian American and was active in St. Anne's Ukrainian Catholic
Church in nearby Austintown, Ohio
. Bilon attended Ursuline High School in Youngstown. Bilon studied acting formally and appeared in various television commercials and was hired for promotional events. He often described himself as a "starving actor". Dedicated to acting, he was no less passionate about his ethnic heritage, and once hosted a Ukrainian Radio Hour on WKTL-FM, based in nearby Struthers, Ohio
.
, Carrie Fisher
, and Eve Arden
. He later commented in a newspaper interview, "When a star like Chevy Chase sees you after a scene and says it was hilarious, as you watch him practically falling out of his seat, it makes you feel real good".
Bilon's next major opportunity to participate in a film came in 1981, when he was selected to operate one of the mechanical "creatures" used in the filming of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Four mechanical E.T.s were created for the production. The puppets (constructed of fiberglass, polyurethane, and foam rubber) were designed for different functions. As a contemporary newspaper article reported: "One of the 'bodies' contained mechanical controls for large body moevements and was operated by cables, the second had electronic controls and the third was operated by a combination of controls". Bilon "moved" a fourth E.T. that was needed for scenes in which the creature "lurched" across the floor. During five months of filming, the actor was burdened by a 40-pound rubber costume that weighed nearly as much as he did.
, confirmed that Bilon played the alien in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial throughout most of the film. "Pat did do the majority of the movie", Skidmore said. "He was also E.T. when E.T. appeared at the Hollywood Bowl
last summer". The spokesman added: "Anybody that was ever around Pat Bilon for more than 10 minutes was a friend. He was one of our favorite people around here". Steven Spielberg
, producer-director of the film, also commented on Bilon's passing. "Pat Bilon was more than just E.T.'s biggest helper", he said. "He was a good friend and we will miss him with all our hearts".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
best known for his performances in Under the Rainbow
Under the Rainbow
Under the Rainbow is a 1981 comedy film starring Chevy Chase, Carrie Fisher, Eve Arden, and Billy Barty.The plot is loosely based on the gathering of little people in a Hollywood hotel, to audition for roles as Munchkins in the movie The Wizard of Oz...
and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a 1982 American science fiction film co-produced and directed by Steven Spielberg, written by Melissa Mathison and starring Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore, and Peter Coyote...
. At no taller than two feet and 10 inches, Bilon was considered one of the smallest adult dwarfs
Dwarfism
Dwarfism is short stature resulting from a medical condition. It is sometimes defined as an adult height of less than 4 feet 10 inches , although this definition is problematic because short stature in itself is not a disorder....
in the country, but he never characterized himself as disabled. Throughout much of his adult life, he was an active member of Little People of America
Little People of America
Little People of America is a non-profit organization which provides support, resources and information to individuals with dwarfism and their families...
. During his last years, Bilon served as District 5 director of the organization.
Early years
Bilon was born in the mid-sized industrial town of Youngstown, OhioYoungstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, not far from the Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
border. He was a third-generation Ukrainian American and was active in St. Anne's Ukrainian Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Church in nearby Austintown, Ohio
Austintown, Ohio
Austintown is a census-designated place in Mahoning County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 31,627 at the 2000 census...
. Bilon attended Ursuline High School in Youngstown. Bilon studied acting formally and appeared in various television commercials and was hired for promotional events. He often described himself as a "starving actor". Dedicated to acting, he was no less passionate about his ethnic heritage, and once hosted a Ukrainian Radio Hour on WKTL-FM, based in nearby Struthers, Ohio
Struthers, Ohio
Struthers is a city in Mahoning County, Ohio, United States. The population was 12,036 at the 2000 census. Struthers is served by a branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County. It is part of the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :John...
.
Film career
In 1979, while attending a Little People of America convention, Bilon was spotted by producer Steve Rash and director Fred Bauer, who were seeking potential cast members for the slapstick comedy, Under the Rainbow. Of the more than 400 potential actors interviewed, Bilon was among 150 selected to appear in the film. Bilon, who was working as a radio dispatcher for the Mahoning County Sheriff's Department in Youngstown, took a leave of absence and went to Hollywood to "begin his new role". The small role gave Bilon an opportunity to perform with top professionals including Chevy ChaseChevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
, Carrie Fisher
Carrie Fisher
Carrie Frances Fisher is an American actress, novelist, screenwriter, and lecturer. She is most famous for her portrayal of Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy, her bestselling novel Postcards from the Edge, for which she wrote the screenplay to the film of the same name, and her...
, and Eve Arden
Eve Arden
Eve Arden was an American actress. Her almost 60-year career crossed most media frontiers with supporting and leading roles, but she may be best-remembered for playing the sardonic but engaging title character, a high school teacher, on Our Miss Brooks, and as the Rydell High School principal in...
. He later commented in a newspaper interview, "When a star like Chevy Chase sees you after a scene and says it was hilarious, as you watch him practically falling out of his seat, it makes you feel real good".
Bilon's next major opportunity to participate in a film came in 1981, when he was selected to operate one of the mechanical "creatures" used in the filming of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Four mechanical E.T.s were created for the production. The puppets (constructed of fiberglass, polyurethane, and foam rubber) were designed for different functions. As a contemporary newspaper article reported: "One of the 'bodies' contained mechanical controls for large body moevements and was operated by cables, the second had electronic controls and the third was operated by a combination of controls". Bilon "moved" a fourth E.T. that was needed for scenes in which the creature "lurched" across the floor. During five months of filming, the actor was burdened by a 40-pound rubber costume that weighed nearly as much as he did.
Illness and death
Bilon died suddenly on January 27, 1983, of complications from a bout of pneumonia. Shortly after his passing, Fred Skidmore, a spokesman for Universal StudiosUniversal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
, confirmed that Bilon played the alien in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial throughout most of the film. "Pat did do the majority of the movie", Skidmore said. "He was also E.T. when E.T. appeared at the Hollywood Bowl
Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheater in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, United States that is used primarily for music performances...
last summer". The spokesman added: "Anybody that was ever around Pat Bilon for more than 10 minutes was a friend. He was one of our favorite people around here". Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
, producer-director of the film, also commented on Bilon's passing. "Pat Bilon was more than just E.T.'s biggest helper", he said. "He was a good friend and we will miss him with all our hearts".