Pat Walshe
Encyclopedia
Pat Walshe was an American dwarf actor and animal impersonator. He was most famous for playing Nikko, the head of the Winged Monkeys
in The Wizard of Oz
. He appeared in only three films, and most of his work was in theatre. He was often noted for his short stature and stood approximately 3 feet 8 inches
, New York
. As he child he performed in vaudeville
and appeared in his first Broadway
show when he was thirteen, it was a stage production of A Good Little Devil
. Many of the shows cast were brought over to appear in the film version, and it is possible that Walshe did appear in the film. But, as four of the films five reels are missing, it is not known for sure. As an adult he continued to perform vaudeville
, where he became an animal impersonator, due to his short stature. He also joined midget troupes and circuses while touring around Europe. In 1931 he appeared in his second Broadway show, Fine and Dandy
. As well as being able to act like animals, he also could make sounds like them.
Due to his skill in being able to act like animals and his short stature, he was given the part of Nikko in The Wizard of Oz. This made him very famous. A couple of years later, he played a member of the Hatfield family in Roseanna McCoy
. His final film was Panic in the Streets
, where he made a cameo appearance as himself.
, California
, Walshe died of heart attack at age 91. By this time he was the last surviving credited cast member. His resting place is Westwood Memorial Park.
Winged monkeys
Winged monkeys are characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, of enough impact between the books and the 1939 movie to have taken their own place in popular culture, regularly referenced in comedic or ironic situations as a source of evil or fear.-Details:In the original Oz novels, these were...
in The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
. He appeared in only three films, and most of his work was in theatre. He was often noted for his short stature and stood approximately 3 feet 8 inches
Life and Career
Pat Walshe was born on July 26, 1900, in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. As he child he performed in vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
and appeared in his first Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
show when he was thirteen, it was a stage production of A Good Little Devil
A Good Little Devil
A Good Little Devil is a 1914 silent film starring Mary Pickford. It was produced by Adolph Zukor and Daniel Frohman and distributed on a 'State's Rights' basis. Pickford along with friend Lillian Gish appeared in the Broadway play version of the story prior to Pickford making this film. Much of...
. Many of the shows cast were brought over to appear in the film version, and it is possible that Walshe did appear in the film. But, as four of the films five reels are missing, it is not known for sure. As an adult he continued to perform vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
, where he became an animal impersonator, due to his short stature. He also joined midget troupes and circuses while touring around Europe. In 1931 he appeared in his second Broadway show, Fine and Dandy
Fine and Dandy
"Fine and Dandy" can refer to:*Fine and Dandy , a 1930 musical play*"Fine and Dandy" , a song by Kay Swift and Paul James , introduced in the musical, which has become a pop standard...
. As well as being able to act like animals, he also could make sounds like them.
Due to his skill in being able to act like animals and his short stature, he was given the part of Nikko in The Wizard of Oz. This made him very famous. A couple of years later, he played a member of the Hatfield family in Roseanna McCoy
Roseanna McCoy
Roseanna McCoy is a 1949 American drama film directed by Irving Reis. The screenplay by John Collier, based on the 1947 novel of the same title by Alberta Hannum, is a romanticized and semi-fictionalized account of the Hatfield-McCoy feud.-Plot:...
. His final film was Panic in the Streets
Panic in the Streets (film)
Panic in the Streets is a 1950 film noir directed by Elia Kazan. It was shot exclusively on location in New Orleans, Louisiana and features numerous New Orleans citizens in speaking and non-speaking roles....
, where he made a cameo appearance as himself.
Death
On December 11, 1991, in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Walshe died of heart attack at age 91. By this time he was the last surviving credited cast member. His resting place is Westwood Memorial Park.
Filmography
- The Wizard of OzThe Wizard of Oz (1939 film)The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
(1939) - Roseanna McCoyRoseanna McCoyRoseanna McCoy is a 1949 American drama film directed by Irving Reis. The screenplay by John Collier, based on the 1947 novel of the same title by Alberta Hannum, is a romanticized and semi-fictionalized account of the Hatfield-McCoy feud.-Plot:...
(1949) - Panic in the StreetsPanic in the Streets (film)Panic in the Streets is a 1950 film noir directed by Elia Kazan. It was shot exclusively on location in New Orleans, Louisiana and features numerous New Orleans citizens in speaking and non-speaking roles....
(1950)
Theatre Credits
- Fine and DandyFine and Dandy"Fine and Dandy" can refer to:*Fine and Dandy , a 1930 musical play*"Fine and Dandy" , a song by Kay Swift and Paul James , introduced in the musical, which has become a pop standard...
(1931) - A Good Little DevilA Good Little DevilA Good Little Devil is a 1914 silent film starring Mary Pickford. It was produced by Adolph Zukor and Daniel Frohman and distributed on a 'State's Rights' basis. Pickford along with friend Lillian Gish appeared in the Broadway play version of the story prior to Pickford making this film. Much of...
(1913) - Various MidgetMidgetA midget is a short person with relatively average bodily proportions in comparison with other human beings. The term is often improperly used to describe a person with the medical condition dwarfism. The two terms are often used synonymously because both terms originate as words defining small...
Troupes (1910-1938) - EuropeanEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
CircusCircusA circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
(1920-1938) - VaudevilleVaudevilleVaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
(1910-1991)