| Malcolm Dixon | |
| Birth Date: | 1934 |
| Birth Place: | Crook, County Durham, England |
| Death Place: | Blackpool, England |
| Occupation: | Actor |
| Height: | 124 cm |
| Years Active: | 1966–1997 |
| Spouse: | Anita Dixon |
| Children: | 2 |
Malcolm Watson Dixon (1934 – 9 April 2020) was an English actor. He is known for having played the role of Strutter in the 1981 film Time Bandits.[1] [2] He had many roles which took advantage of his 124cm (49inches) height, such as Ewoks and dwarfs.
Malcolm Dixon was born in Crook, County Durham, in 1934, as the youngest of seven brothers and the only child with dwarfism. He was raised in Crook. His parents died when he was young and he outlived all his brothers.[3]
Dixon's stature and physical abilities landed him work with Jim Henson's Creature Shop, where he worked in multiple films and television shows until becoming an independent actor. He starred in Time Bandits and also in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as an Oompa-Loompa (an uncredited role). He featured in many music videos for artists including David Bowie, Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet.
He died in Blackpool on 9 April 2020, at the age of 85.[4] [5]
Dixon had acted in over 30 film and TV productions, including:
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Sleepy[6] | TV movie | |
| 1971 | Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory | Oompa Loompa | uncredited[7] [8] | |
| 1979 | Black Jack | Tom Thumb's Army | ||
| 1980 | Flash Gordon | Dwarf 1 | ||
| 1980 | Basil Brush | |||
| 1980–1981 | The Dick Emery Show | 2 episodes | ||
| 1981 | Time Bandits | Strutter | ||
| 1981–1982 | The Goodies | Washing Machine / Dwarf | 2 episodes | |
| 1982 | The Dark Crystal | Additional Performer | ||
| 1983 | Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi | Leektar the Ewok Warrior | as Malcom Dixon | |
| 1985 | Arena: An Absurd Notion | Video | ||
| 1986 | Labyrinth | Goblin Corps | ||
| 1987 | Snow White | Diddy | ||
| 1988 | Willow | Nelwyn Band Member | Uncredited | |
| 1997 | Witch Way Love | Merlin | (final film role) | |
| 2005 | 100 Greatest Family Films | Himself | TV movie documentary |
His main leading role in theatre was as Bilbo Baggins in an adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit at the Fortune Theatre in London, England, from 1986 to 1989. From 2000 to 2020, he was a regular in panto productions of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.[9] [10] [11] His other theatre roles included: