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Debbie Lee Carrington

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Debbie Lee Carrington
Carrington in 2010
Born
Deborah Lee Carrington

(1959-12-14)December 14, 1959
San Jose, California, U.S.
DiedMarch 23, 2018(2018-03-23) (aged 58)
Pleasanton, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actress, stuntwoman
Years active1981–2018

Deborah Lee Carrington (December 14, 1959 – March 23, 2018)[1][2] was an American actress and stuntwoman. Her best known movie roles include playing a Martian rebel in Total Recall, an Ewok in Return of the Jedi (and in subsequent TV movies) and an elf in The Polar Express.[3]

Carrington's film career began in college when she replied to an ad for extras in a newsletter published by Little People of America for Under the Rainbow, a film about the Munchkins from The Wizard of Oz.

Early life and career

Carrington was born in San Jose, California. Her father was an insurance manager and her mother was a schoolteacher.[4] She has a brother, Robert, and sister, Kathy. In 1981 she answered a casting call for Under The Rainbow while attending college at University of California, Davis.[2] She took a break from her studies after landing a role in the film, but later returned and earned a degree in early childhood development.[5]

Carrington appeared in many films and TV shows, including In Living Color, The Drew Carey Show, Howard the Duck, Tracey Takes On..., Men in Black, Seinfeld, Baywatch, Married... with Children, Boston Legal, The Garbage Pail Kids Movie, Dexter, and Bones. In 2008, she filmed scenes for the action thriller Bitch Slap.[6] She also performed as a stunt double – often for child actors and dolls that had come to life – in films like Titanic (1997 film) and the Child's Play slasher film series.[3]

Carrington was born with dwarfism and said she had experienced prejudicial attitudes as a dwarf in Hollywood. She supported other dwarf actors, insisting that they received credit for their work, since many costume-specific parts often went uncredited.

By the 1990s, Carrington began to push back against being typecast in costume-only roles. On television, she played character roles like Tiny Avenger on In Living Color, Tammy in Seinfeld, and Doreen in The Drew Carey Show.[3]

Death

Carrington died on March 23, 2018, at age 58 on her parents' ranch in Pleasanton, California following a period of health complications.[2][3]

Filmography

Debbie Lee Carrington at a convention in London, 2011.
List of film and television credits
Year Title Role Notes
1981 Under the Rainbow Hotel Rainbow Guest as Debbie Carrington
1983 Return of the Jedi Romba Ewok as Debbie Carrington
1984 The Ewok Adventure Weechee TV movie, as Debbie Carrington
Earthlings Zet TV movie
1985 What's Happening Now!! Munchkin Episode: "The Improbable Dream"
Ewoks: The Battle for Endor Weechee TV movie
Amazing Stories Alien Episode: "Fine Tuning"
1986 Invaders from Mars Drone
Howard the Duck Duck
1987 Harry and the Hendersons Little Bigfoot
The Garbage Pail Kids Movie Valerie Vomit
1989 Monsters Troll Episode: "Fools' Gold"
1990 Nerds of a Feather Little Army of Little Russian Soldiers
Spaced Invaders Dr. Ziplock
Total Recall Thumbelina
Club Fed Betty
Married... with Children Alien Episode: "Married... with Aliens"
WIOU Carla Sapper Episode: "Do the Wrong Thing"
The Bonfire of the Vanities Crying girl Uncredited
1991 The New Adam-12 Cindy Episode: "Trick or Trick"
1991–1992 In Living Color Tiny Avenger 3 episodes
1992 Seedpeople Tumbler
Batman Returns Emperor Penguin
Mom and Dad Save the World Bwaaa (Fishface)
Cattive ragazze Amy
1994 Seinfeld Tammy Episode: "The Stand-In"
The High Crusade Branithar
Baywatch Debbie Episodes: "Silent Night, Baywatch Night: Part 1 & 2"
1995 Born to Be Wild Gorilla Team
1997 Men in Black Alien Father
Titanic Stunts
1998 Tracey Takes On... Raquel Gibson Episode: "Loss"
Mighty Joe Young Other Gorilla
Bride of Chucky Tiffany Stunt double: Jennifer Tilly
1999 She's All That Felicity
1999–2000 The Drew Carey Show Doreen 4 episodes
2000 The Independent Surfer Girl
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Creature Episode: "Listening to Fear"
The Christmas Secret Gorah TV movie
2001 The Lone Gunmen Sadie Episode: "Madam, I'm Adam"
2002 ER Ginger Jones Episodes: "A Simple Twist of Fate"
The District Alice Episode: "Small Packages"
2003 Tiptoes Kitty Katz
Scary Movie 3 Mini Tabitha Uncredited
2004 The Polar Express Elf (voice)
Seed of Chucky Herself (DVD deleted scenes), Uncredited
Boston Legal Patty Episode: "Loose Lips"
Huff Marla Episode: "Flashpants"
2006 Dexter Patty Episode: "Truth Be Told"
Nip/Tuck Merrily Episode: "Reefer"
2008 Men in Trees Karen Episode: "Read Between the Minds"
Bedtime Stories Booing Goblin as Debbie Carrington
2009 Bones Gidget Jones Episode: "The Dwarf in the Dirt"
2011 Jessie Jingles Episode: "Christmas Story"
Pair of Kings Squonk Queen Episode: "Dinner for Squonks"
2012 The New Normal Little Person Mom Episode: "Pilot"
2013 Curse of Chucky Chucky double Direct-to-video film
2017 Special Unit Sophie (final film role)

References

  1. ^ Actress and Stuntwoman Debbie Lee Carrington Has Passed Away Bloody Disgusting, March 24, 2018
  2. ^ a b c Chuba, Kirsten (March 29, 2018). "Deborah Carrington, Stuntwoman and 'Total Recall' Actress, Dies at 58". Variety. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d Sedacca, Matthew (March 29, 2018). "Deborah Carrington, 58, Dies; Actress and Stuntwoman". New York Times. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  4. ^ Debbie Lee Carrington Biography
  5. ^ Kaplan, Ilana (March 30, 2018). "Debbie Lee Carrington dead: Total Recall and Star Wars actress dies aged 58". The Independent. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  6. ^ "David Strick's Hollywood Backlot". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
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