Ed Gale Explained

Ed Gale
Birth Name:Edward Gale
Birth Date:August 23, 1963
Birth Place:Plainwell, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation:Actor, stunt performer
Yearsactive:1986–2020

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.

Early life

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

Career

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.[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 the theme 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]

Legal issues

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

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1986Howard the DuckHoward T. DuckIn-suit performer
1987SpaceballsDink
1988Child's PlayChuckyIn-suit performer/stunts
1989Chopper Chicks in Zombietown Bob Littleton
1990Child's Play 2ChuckyIn-suit performer/stunts
1991Dolly DearestThe Doll
1994The Jungle BookBaby Baloo
1998Bride of ChuckyChuckyIn-suit performer/stunts
2000O Brother, Where Art Thou?Little Man
2000The Adventures of Rocky and BullwinkleThe MoleIn-suit performer
2003TiptoesBobby Barry
2004The Polar ExpressElf (voice)Also motion-capture
2005L.A. Dicks
2007MarksmanTony ValinoShort
2009The Gold & the BeautifulEddie
2010Speed-DatingWilllieUncredited
Santa Preys for X-masDick the ElfVideo short
2011The Amateur Monster MovieReporter Mel TamborVoice
365 DaysMr. ThomasDirect-to-video
2013MikeyboyPizza Shop Owner
Crazy TownPatShort
2020PandemonicArtist
2022In Search of TomorrowHimselfDocumentary

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1988OscarEpisode: "Read My Lips"
1990The Dreamer of Oz Ned Brown/FarmerTV film
1991–1992Land of the LostTasha, Magas26 episodes
1993LifepodQ-ThreeTV film
1994BaywatchSimon McKayEpisode: "Short Sighted"
1994–1998Weird ScienceGenie Master / Little Person / Wyatt Primate3 episodes
1995Pig StyJack / LeprechaunEpisode: "Erin Go Barf"
1996The Munsters' Scary Little ChristmasLarryTV film
1996TowniesButch, Disgruntled ElfEpisode: "Christmas"
1997Family MattersCarlsbadEpisode: "Stevil II: This Time He's Not Alone"
19983rd Rock from the SunOscarEpisode: "Dr. Solomon's Traveling Alien Show"
MaggieChanterEpisode: "Ka-Boom"
1999NormPikachuEpisode: "Artie Comes to Town"
Sabrina the Teenage WitchPowellEpisode: "Sabrina, Nipping at Your Nose"
2000The Christmas SecretKevinTV film
2001Just Shoot Me! JimmyEpisode: "Christmas? Christmas!"
Grounded for Life JesusEpisode: "I Saw Daddy Hitting Santa Claus"
Call Me ClausBensonTV film
2002Santa Jr.StanTV film
The HughleysMr. BriggsEpisode: "I Have a Scheme"
First MondayMelvin MeyersEpisode: "The Price of Liberty"
The District Hank TarverEpisode: "Small Packages"
2007My Name Is EarlMidget PrisonerEpisode: "Randy in Charge: Of Our Days and Our Nights"
2009BonesLavalleEpisode: "Double Trouble in the Panhandle"
2012Emerald AcresZeusTV film
2014Deadly AttractionMr. ThomasTV mini-series

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gross . Jason . 2018-05-02 . Interview with Ed Gale from 'Howard the Duck', 'Child's Play', 'Spaceballs' & More . 2023-05-08 . Rediscover the 80s.
  2. Web site: Interview with Ed Gale from 'Howard the Duck', 'Child's Play', 'Spaceballs' & More. Rediscover the 80s. June 30, 2014. November 14, 2021.
  3. Web site: Area native in movie. Battle Creek Enquirer. June 26, 1993. November 14, 2021.
  4. Web site: Did You Know That Chucky Was Played by a Real Person?!; Exclusive Interview with Ed Gale. iHorror. January 29, 2015. November 14, 2021.
  5. Web site: 'Howard the Duck' a promising farce that never quite flies. The Columbia Record. August 8, 1986. November 14, 2021.
  6. Web site: Ed Gale IMDB Page. IMDB. January 24, 2018. April 11, 2023.
  7. Web site: Saad . Nardine . 2023-04-21 . 'Child's Play' actor Ed Gale admits soliciting child for sex in sting operation . 2023-05-08 . . en-US.
  8. Web site: April 19, 2023 . 'Chucky' star Ed Gale admits on-camera trying to meet teen for sex . April 19, 2023 . FOX11.
  9. Web site: DuBose . Josh . 2023-04-21 . 'Creep Catchers' child advocacy group confronts 'Child's Play' actor in Hollywood . 2023-05-08 . KTLA . en-US.