Michael Dunn (October 20, 1934 – August 30, 1973) was an American actor and singer who shunned the usual "cute" typecasting of dwarf actors and sought serious roles requiring dramatic skill. He was a trailblazer who ultimately inspired a generation of dedicated actors with extreme short stature, including Zelda Rubinstein, Mark Povinelli, and Ricardo Gil.Thomas-Matej, Elisabeth., "What’s in a diagnosis? A medical biography of Michael Dunn". 2002. The Wild, Wild West fan site of Hazard, Nebraska. http://www.nctc.net/hazard/conrad/michaeldunn/biography/.