Shorty Rossi
Encyclopedia
Luigi Francis "Shorty" Rossi (born February 10, 1969) is the star of Pit Boss
, a reality series on Animal Planet
. He is also the owner and talent manager of Shortywood Productions, a company that works with dwarfs in the entertainment industry and Shorty's Rescue, an organization set up for Pit Bull rescue.
), a wealthy area in Greater Los Angeles
, and Nickerson Gardens Housing Projects in Watts, a poor area in South Central Los Angeles, where he lived with a family friend to avoid conflict at home. By the age of 15, he was living on his own.
In 1987, Rossi graduated from Fremont High School
. He joined the neighborhood Blood gang while living there . That year, he was involved in a gang-related shooting and convicted of felonies including attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. He was sent to the California Youth Authority
and was later transferred to Folsom State Prison
to serve a total sentence of 10 years, 10 months and 10 days. In jail, he turned his life around. By the time he was released he was determined to make something better of his life.
Looking for a fresh start, Rossi turned to entertainment, soon learning he could earn good money as a dwarf in show business. His first job in the industry was at Universal Studios Hollywood
, where he was "Alvin" for an Alvin and the Chipmunks
stage show. Since then, he has appeared in many commercials and movies, the latter including The Grinch, with Jim Carrey
; The Kid, with Bruce Willis
. He has also as appeared on dozens of TV shows and has performed in theater for years. In 2000, Rossi founded a company, Shortywood Productions, to provide little people entertainers for all types of shows, private parties and corporate events, and to manage their careers. He has a dog named Hercules
Since owning his first pit bull
terrier at the age of 14, Rossi has championed the breed, which he credits with getting him through some of the roughest times in his life. This led him to form Shorty’s Pit Bull Rescue, a second business that rescues, rehabilitates and places neglected and abused pit bulls in loving, nurturing homes. It also aims to restore the reputation of the breed through education, activism and positive pit bull involvement in the community. The dogs have been featured in student and short films as well as public-service commercials and print ads. The group does volunteer work by visiting nursing homes, schools, functions and hospitals. It caught the attention of cable TV network Animal Planet
, leading to its continuing series "Pit Boss".
After injuring himself in a stunt, Rossi became interested in service animal training. One of his pit bulls has been involved in the Americans with Disabilities Act community ever since. At present two of his dogs are registered service animals, with one in training.
In 2011, Rossi reunites with his parents in an episode of "Pit Boss".
Shorty is currently writing an upcoming memoir
titled Four Feet Tall and Rising, scheduled to be released on January 17, 2012.
Pit Boss (TV series)
Pit Boss is an American television series docudrama that follows Shorty Rossi, owner of Shorty's Rescue, an organization set up for Pit Bull rescue. The series premiered on Animal Planet on January 16, 2010....
, a reality series on Animal Planet
Animal Planet
Animal Planet is an American cable tv specialty channel that launched on October 1, 1996. It is distributed by Discovery Communications. A high-definition simulcast of the channel launched on September 1, 2007.-History:...
. He is also the owner and talent manager of Shortywood Productions, a company that works with dwarfs in the entertainment industry and Shorty's Rescue, an organization set up for Pit Bull rescue.
Biography
Rossi was raised by his parents, also dwarfs. During his childhood, he lived in two very disparate neighborhoods: the San Fernando ValleySan Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
), a wealthy area in Greater Los Angeles
Greater Los Angeles Area
The Greater Los Angeles Area, or the Southland, is a term used for the Combined Statistical Area sprawled over five counties in the southern part of California, namely Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County and Ventura County...
, and Nickerson Gardens Housing Projects in Watts, a poor area in South Central Los Angeles, where he lived with a family friend to avoid conflict at home. By the age of 15, he was living on his own.
In 1987, Rossi graduated from Fremont High School
John C. Fremont High School
John C. Fremont Senior High School is a Title 1 co-educational public high school located in Los Angeles, California, United States.Fremont is in a region known as South Los Angeles...
. He joined the neighborhood Blood gang while living there . That year, he was involved in a gang-related shooting and convicted of felonies including attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. He was sent to the California Youth Authority
California Division of Juvenile Justice
The California Division of Juvenile Justice , formerly known as the California Youth Authority , is a division of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation that provides education, training, and treatment services for California's most serious youth offenders...
and was later transferred to Folsom State Prison
Folsom State Prison
Folsom State Prison is a California State Prison located in the city of Folsom, California, northeast from the state capital of Sacramento. Opened in 1880, Folsom is the second-oldest prison in the state of California after San Quentin and was the first in the country to have electricity...
to serve a total sentence of 10 years, 10 months and 10 days. In jail, he turned his life around. By the time he was released he was determined to make something better of his life.
Looking for a fresh start, Rossi turned to entertainment, soon learning he could earn good money as a dwarf in show business. His first job in the industry was at Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is a movie studio and theme park in the unincorporated Universal City community of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is one of the oldest and most famous Hollywood movie studios still in use...
, where he was "Alvin" for an Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated music group created by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. in 1958. The group consists of three singing animated anthropomorphic chipmunks: Alvin, the mischievous troublemaker, who quickly became the star of the group; Simon, the tall, bespectacled intellectual;...
stage show. Since then, he has appeared in many commercials and movies, the latter including The Grinch, with Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey
James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He has received two Golden Globe Awards and has also been nominated on four occasions. Carrey began comedy in 1979, performing at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, Ontario...
; The Kid, with Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis
Walter Bruce Willis , better known as Bruce Willis, is an American actor, producer, and musician. His career began in television in the 1980s and has continued both in television and film since, including comedic, dramatic, and action roles...
. He has also as appeared on dozens of TV shows and has performed in theater for years. In 2000, Rossi founded a company, Shortywood Productions, to provide little people entertainers for all types of shows, private parties and corporate events, and to manage their careers. He has a dog named Hercules
Since owning his first pit bull
American Pit Bull Terrier
The American Pit Bull Terrier is a medium-sized, solidly built, short haired dog whose early ancestors came from England and Ireland...
terrier at the age of 14, Rossi has championed the breed, which he credits with getting him through some of the roughest times in his life. This led him to form Shorty’s Pit Bull Rescue, a second business that rescues, rehabilitates and places neglected and abused pit bulls in loving, nurturing homes. It also aims to restore the reputation of the breed through education, activism and positive pit bull involvement in the community. The dogs have been featured in student and short films as well as public-service commercials and print ads. The group does volunteer work by visiting nursing homes, schools, functions and hospitals. It caught the attention of cable TV network Animal Planet
Animal Planet
Animal Planet is an American cable tv specialty channel that launched on October 1, 1996. It is distributed by Discovery Communications. A high-definition simulcast of the channel launched on September 1, 2007.-History:...
, leading to its continuing series "Pit Boss".
After injuring himself in a stunt, Rossi became interested in service animal training. One of his pit bulls has been involved in the Americans with Disabilities Act community ever since. At present two of his dogs are registered service animals, with one in training.
In 2011, Rossi reunites with his parents in an episode of "Pit Boss".
Shorty is currently writing an upcoming memoir
Memoir
A memoir , is a literary genre, forming a subclass of autobiography – although the terms 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are almost interchangeable. Memoir is autobiographical writing, but not all autobiographical writing follows the criteria for memoir set out below...
titled Four Feet Tall and Rising, scheduled to be released on January 17, 2012.
Other legal troubles
- During the filming of the 3rd season premiere of Pit Boss, Shorty Rossi was arrested for breaking and entering after rescuing three neglected pit bulls from a vacant house. The charges were dismissed shortly thereafter.