According to popular mythology, male celebrities (and especially leading men on the big screen) are supposed to be tall, dark, and handsome. But many a successful actor, filmmaker, and singer has risen to great heights in the industry without having his head in the clouds—including some larger-than-life action heroes. Speaking as someone who can see eye-to-eye with such diverse figures as Tom Cruise, Al Pacino, and Jon Stewart, I’m proud to count myself among the compact citizens who nevertheless stand tall for their art. It’s therefore my pleasure to honor 46 other celebrities no taller than myself. I look up to you all, even those I must look down at.
(Unsurprisingly, there is frequently conflicting information on the Internet about people’s actual heights; I’ve taken these numbers from the Internet Movie Database.)
- Jason Alexander (5'5")
- Woody Allen (5'5")
- Ed Asner (5'7")
- Sean Astin (5'6")
- Richard Attenborough (5'7")
- Roberto Benigni (5'5")
- Gael Garcia Bernal (5'6½")
- Jack Black (5'6")
- Mel Brooks (5'7")
- LeVar Burton (5'7")
- Phil Collins (5'6")
- Brian Cox (5'7")
- Tom Cruise (5'7")
- Billy Crystal (5'7")
- Danny DeVito (5')
- Richard Dreyfuss (5'5")
- Emilio Estevez (5'7")
- Peter Falk (5'6")
- Michael J. Fox (5'4½")
- Al Franken (5'5")
- Edward Furlong (5'7")
- Seth Green (5'4")
- Dustin Hoffman (5'6¾")
- Tom Hollander (5'5")
- Ian Holm (5'6")
- Bob Hoskins (5'6")
- D.L. Hughley (5'7")
- Peter Jackson (5'6½")
- Billy Joel (5'6½")
- Elton John (5'7")
- Charlie Kaufman (5'4½")
- Harvey Keitel (5'7")
- Joe Kissell (5'7")
- Nathan Lane (5'5")
- George Lucas (5'6")
- Mike Myers (5'7")
- Al Pacino (5'7")
- Kevin Pollak (5'5")
- Prince (5'2")
- Mickey Rooney (5'3")
- Tim Roth (5'7")
- Wallace Shawn (5'2")
- Harry Shearer (5'7")
- Martin Sheen (5'7")
- Jon Stewart (5'7")
- Henry Winkler (5'6½")
- Elijah Wood (5'6")
A final note: I intend no slight toward the likes of Michael J. Anderson (3'7"), Gary Coleman (4'8"), Peter Dinklage (4'5"), and Verne Troyer (2'8") by omitting them from the list, but I felt that using such obvious candidates to pad an already lengthy roll would be a bit gratuitous.
October 1st, 2008 at 10:43 am
i guess they make them look taller than in reality man i dont fell so bad about my height anymore im only 5ft 5
November 21st, 2008 at 12:27 pm
The only thing that matters is your attitude. Trust me, I’m taller than all of these guys and I don’t have half the confidence that most of these guys have.
July 4th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
wow im glad this list was made. I think people need to recognize and respect short people such as these. I am no longer ashamed to be 5’4-5’5 at 16 and will walk with my head up
December 31st, 2009 at 5:27 am
i dnt kno if 5’7 and a half is that bad.am 5’8 with my hair..height is just like weight,it doesnt matter that much.you just have to have a right attitude
July 17th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Well im sorry to say that from the list i only know tom cruise of some i might know while others i even havent heard of but im never ashamed of my height as i have very little do with genetics its all god designed and im 5’7” but not tom cruise.
December 7th, 2010 at 9:55 am
yes offcourse,,its all depends on u that how u present urself..and also most imp is ur attitude..i m 5.6