Pat Walshe
| Pat Walshe | |
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Walshe in Panic in the Streets
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| Born |
Patrick Walshe July 26, 1900 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | December 11, 1991 (aged 91) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Heart attack |
| Resting place | Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery |
| Occupation | Actor, Circus Performer |
| Years active | 1910–1979 |
| Height | 3 ft 10 in (117 cm) |
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Patrick "Pat" Walshe (July 26, 1900 – December 11, 1991) was an American dwarf character actor and circus performer who specialized portraying animals (animal impersonating). He is best known for playing Nikko, the head of the Winged Monkeys in The Wizard of Oz. He appeared in only a few films, as most of his work was in theater, vaudeville and circus.
Pat Walshe was born as Patrick Walshe, on July 26, 1900, in New York City. Living his early years in Brooklyn, Walshe suffered from a form of restricted growth, and as a result never grew to be taller than 3'10".
Performing came to him young, appearing in various vaudeville shows and circuses. At the age of 10, Walshe appeared in the Ringling Brothers Circus, a circus run by the famed five Ringling Brothers siblings. In the following years, Walshe appeared in the Broadway shows; Hell and Lew Fields' Bunty, Bulls and Strings, in which he played "Mr MacGregor", a Scottish farmer. In 1913, Walshe heard that the American Play Company where producing a performance of Within the Law, consisting entirely of a cast of dwarf actors, and he wrote to them hoping for a part. The same year, Walshe appeared in the Broadway production A Good Little Devil, starring Mary Pickford. In this production Walshe played the roles of a gnome called "Huggermunk", and also squirrel. This production also featured animal actor, Arthur Hill, who coincidently appeared in the original Broadway production of The Wizard of Oz, as the Cowardly Lion. During 1914, Walshe spent time with the Frank A. Robbins Circus.
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