Edward Gale (born August 23, 1963) is a retired[1] American actor and stunt performer who appeared in films and television series primarily between 1986 and 2013.

Ed Gale
Born
Edward Gale

(1963-08-23) August 23, 1963 (age 61)
Occupation(s)Actor, stunt performer
Years active1986–2020

Early life

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Gale was born with dwarfism.[2][specify] He was born in Plainwell, Michigan, and graduated from Battle Creek Central High School.[3]

Career

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His debut was as the title role of Howard in the 1986 film Howard the Duck. While Chip Zien provided Howard's voice, Gale was the actor in the suit throughout the film. In 1988, he played Chucky in the horror film Child's Play.[4] He went on to appear in two other films in the franchise.[2][5] He played the dinosaur Tasha in the short-lived television series Land of the Lost (1991). In 2003, he had a supporting role as Matthew McConaughey and Gary Oldman's characters' uncle Bobby Barry in Tiptoes, a film that revolves around a family of little people. Ed Gale appeared in a minor role in the popular American television sitcom My Name is Earl. The episode, titled "Little Bad Voodoo Brother", aired in 2006 and featured Gale as a carnival performer named "Little Eddie".[6]

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In April 2023, Gale was accused by a group of online predator-hunters going by the name "Creep Catchers Unit" of attempting to solicit sex from multiple minors, one male among whom he allegedly believed to be aged fourteen years.[7] He had his smartphones seized by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) during a home visit on April 19, but was at that time neither charged nor taken into custody.[8] As of April 21, he remains under investigation by the LAPD and the Los Angeles County District Attorney.[9]

Selected filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1986 Howard the Duck Howard T. Duck In-suit performer
1987 Spaceballs Dink
1988 Child's Play Chucky In-suit performer/stunts
1989 Chopper Chicks in Zombietown Bob Littleton
1990 Child's Play 2 Chucky In-suit performer/stunts
1991 Dolly Dearest The Doll
1994 The Jungle Book Baby Baloo
1998 Bride of Chucky Chucky In-suit performer/stunts
2000 O Brother, Where Art Thou? Little Man
2000 The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle The Mole In-suit performer
2003 Tiptoes Bobby Barry
2004 The Polar Express Elf (voice) Also motion-capture
2005 L.A. Dicks
2007 Marksman Tony Valino Short
2009 The Gold & the Beautiful Eddie
2010 Speed-Dating Willlie Uncredited
Santa Preys for X-mas Dick the Elf Video short
2011 The Amateur Monster Movie Reporter Mel Tambor Voice
365 Days Mr. Thomas Direct-to-video
2013 Mikeyboy Pizza Shop Owner
Crazy Town Pat Short
2020 Pandemonic Artist
2022 In Search of Tomorrow Himself Documentary

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1988 Friday the 13th: The Series Oscar Episode: "Read My Lips"
1990 The Dreamer of Oz Ned Brown/Farmer TV film
1991–1992 Land of the Lost Tasha, Magas 26 episodes
1993 Lifepod Q-Three TV film
1994 Baywatch Simon McKay Episode: "Short Sighted"
1994–1998 Weird Science Genie Master / Little Person / Wyatt Primate 3 episodes
1995 Pig Sty Jack / Leprechaun Episode: "Erin Go Barf"
1996 The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas Larry TV film
1996 Townies Butch, Disgruntled Elf Episode: "Christmas"
1997 Family Matters Carlsbad Episode: "Stevil II: This Time He's Not Alone"
1998 3rd Rock from the Sun Oscar Episode: "Dr. Solomon's Traveling Alien Show"
Maggie Chanter Episode: "Ka-Boom"
1999 Norm Pikachu Episode: "Artie Comes to Town"
Sabrina the Teenage Witch Powell Episode: "Sabrina, Nipping at Your Nose"
2000 The Christmas Secret Kevin TV film
2001 Just Shoot Me! Jimmy Episode: "Christmas? Christmas!"
Grounded for Life Jesus Episode: "I Saw Daddy Hitting Santa Claus"
Call Me Claus Benson TV film
2002 Santa Jr. Stan TV film
The Hughleys Mr. Briggs Episode: "I Have a Scheme"
First Monday Melvin Meyers Episode: "The Price of Liberty"
The District Hank Tarver Episode: "Small Packages"
2007 My Name Is Earl Midget Prisoner Episode: "Randy in Charge: Of Our Days and Our Nights"
2009 Bones Lavalle Episode: "Double Trouble in the Panhandle"
2012 Emerald Acres Zeus TV film
2014 Deadly Attraction Mr. Thomas TV mini-series

References

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  1. ^ Gross, Jason (May 2, 2018). "Interview with Ed Gale from 'Howard the Duck', 'Child's Play', 'Spaceballs' & More". Rediscover the 80s. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Interview with Ed Gale from 'Howard the Duck', 'Child's Play', 'Spaceballs' & More". Rediscover the 80s. June 30, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  3. ^ "Area native in movie". Battle Creek Enquirer. June 26, 1993. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  4. ^ "Did You Know That Chucky Was Played by a Real Person?!; Exclusive Interview with Ed Gale". iHorror. January 29, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  5. ^ "'Howard the Duck' a promising farce that never quite flies". The Columbia Record. August 8, 1986. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  6. ^ "Ed Gale IMDB Page". IMDB. January 24, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  7. ^ Saad, Nardine (April 21, 2023). "'Child's Play' actor Ed Gale admits soliciting child for sex in sting operation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  8. ^ "'Chucky' star Ed Gale admits on-camera trying to meet teen for sex". FOX11. April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  9. ^ DuBose, Josh (April 21, 2023). "'Creep Catchers' child advocacy group confronts 'Child's Play' actor in Hollywood". KTLA. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
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