Debbie Lee Carrington

{{Infobox person

|image = Debbie Lee Carrington 2010.jpg

| imagesize = 220px

| caption = Carrington in 2010

| birth_date = {{Birth date |1959|12|14}}

| birth_name = Deborah Lee Carrington

| birth_place = San Jose, California, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2018|3|23|1959|12|14}}

| death_place = Pleasanton, California, U.S.

| years_active = 1981–2018

| occupation = Actress, stuntwoman

}}

Deborah Lee Carrington (December 14, 1959{{spnd}} March 23, 2018) 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.

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.{{cite web |title=Deborah Carrington, Stuntwoman and 'Total Recall' Actress, Dies at 58 |url=https://variety.com/2018/biz/obituaries-people-news/deborah-carrington-dead-dies-total-recall-1202739869 |first=Kirsten |last=Chuba |publisher=Variety |date=March 29, 2018 |access-date=June 29, 2019 |archive-date=April 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411034036/https://variety.com/2018/biz/obituaries-people-news/deborah-carrington-dead-dies-total-recall-1202739869/ |url-status=live }} She had 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. 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.{{cite web |title=Debbie Lee Carrington dead: Total Recall and Star Wars actress dies aged 58 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/debbie-lee-carrington-dies-actress-total-recall-star-wars-age-58-a8281746.html |first=Ilana |last=Kaplan |work=The Independent |date=March 30, 2018 |access-date=June 12, 2020 |archive-date=August 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828233109/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/debbie-lee-carrington-dies-actress-total-recall-star-wars-age-58-a8281746.html |url-status=live }}

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.{{cite news|url=http://www.bitchslapmovie.com/press/LATimes01.jpg|title=David Strick's Hollywood Backlot|date=2008-06-12|work=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=2008-07-23|archive-date=2011-09-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110910173740/http://www.bitchslapmovie.com/press/LATimes01.jpg|url-status=live}} She also performed as a stunt double – often for child actors and dolls that had come to life – in films like Titanic and the Child's Play slasher film series.

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. Additionally, in 1990, she was photographed by Peter Lindbergh for Vogue Italia with supermodel Helena Christensen.{{cite web |title=Photos PETER LINDBERGH |url=http://peter.lindbergh.free.fr/lindba313.html |website=peter.lindbergh.free.fr}}

Death

Carrington died on March 23, 2018, at age 58 in her parents' home in Pleasanton, California following a period of health complications.[https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3490217/actress-stuntwoman-debbie-lee-carrington-passed-away/ Actress and Stuntwoman Debbie Lee Carrington Has Passed Away] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623171908/https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3490217/actress-stuntwoman-debbie-lee-carrington-passed-away/ |date=2019-06-23 }} Bloody Disgusting, March 24, 2018{{cite web |title=Deborah Carrington, 58, Dies; Actress and Stuntwoman |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/29/obituaries/deborah-carrington-58-dies-actress-and-stuntwoman.html |first=Matthew |last=Sedacca |work=The New York Times |date=March 29, 2018 |access-date=June 11, 2020 |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109031534/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/29/obituaries/deborah-carrington-58-dies-actress-and-stuntwoman.html |url-status=live }}

Filmography

File:Debbie Lee Carrington (2011).jpg

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes
1981 \| Under the Rainbow \| Hotel Rainbow Guest \|
1983 \| Return of the Jedi \| Romba Ewok \|
rowspan="2"\| 1984 \| Earthlings \| Zet \| TV movie
The Ewok Adventure \| Weechee \| TV movie
1985 \| Ewoks: The Battle for Endor \| Weechee \| TV movie
rowspan="3"\| 1986 \| Invaders from Mars \| Drone \|
Howard the Duck \| Duck \|
Captain EO \| Idee \| Short
rowspan="2"\| 1987 \| Harry and the Hendersons \| Little Bigfoot \|
The Garbage Pail Kids Movie \| Valerie Vomit \|
1989 \| Nerds of a Feather \| Little Army of Little Russian Soldiers \|
rowspan="4"\| 1990 \| Spaced Invaders \| Dr. Ziplock \|
Total Recall \| Thumbelina \|
Club Fed \| Betty \|
The Bonfire of the Vanities \| Crying Midget \|
rowspan="4"\| 1992 \| Seedpeople \| Tumbler \|
Batman Returns \| Emperor Penguin \|
Mom and Dad Save the World \| Bwaaa (Fishface) \|
Cattive ragazze \| Amy \|
1994 \| The High Crusade \| Branithar \|
1995 \| Born to Be Wild \| Gorilla Team \|
1997 \| Men in Black \| Alien Father \|
1998 \| Mighty Joe Young \| Other Gorilla \|
1999 \| She's All That \| Felicity \|
rowspan="2"\| 2000 \| The Independent \| Surfer Girl \|
The Christmas Secret \| Gorah \| TV movie
rowspan="2"\| 2003 \| Tiptoes \| Kitty Katz \|
Scary Movie 3 \| Mini Tabitha \|
rowspan="3"\| 2004 \| The Polar Express \| Elf (voice) \|
Seed of Chucky \| Herself \|
Big Time \| Gizzie Blunderbore \| Short
2006 \| Sunstroke \| Receptionist \| Short
2008 \| Bedtime Stories \| Booing Goblin \|
2009 \| Bitch Slap \| "Hot Pocket" \|
2017 \| Special Unit \| Sophie \|

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

1981

| Under the Rainbow

| Hotel Rainbow Guest

1983

| Return of the Jedi

| Romba Ewok

rowspan="2"| 1984

| Earthlings

| Zet

| TV movie

The Ewok Adventure

| Weechee

| TV movie

1985

| Ewoks: The Battle for Endor

| Weechee

| TV movie

rowspan="3"| 1986

| Invaders from Mars

| Drone

Howard the Duck

| Duck

Captain EO

| Idee

| Short

rowspan="2"| 1987

| Harry and the Hendersons

| Little Bigfoot

The Garbage Pail Kids Movie

| Valerie Vomit

1989

| Nerds of a Feather

| Little Army of Little Russian Soldiers

rowspan="4"| 1990

| Spaced Invaders

| Dr. Ziplock

Total Recall

| Thumbelina

Club Fed

| Betty

The Bonfire of the Vanities

| Crying Midget

rowspan="4"| 1992

| Seedpeople

| Tumbler

Batman Returns

| Emperor Penguin

Mom and Dad Save the World

| Bwaaa (Fishface)

Cattive ragazze

| Amy

1994

| The High Crusade

| Branithar

1995

| Born to Be Wild

| Gorilla Team

1997

| Men in Black

| Alien Father

1998

| Mighty Joe Young

| Other Gorilla

1999

| She's All That

| Felicity

rowspan="2"| 2000

| The Independent

| Surfer Girl

The Christmas Secret

| Gorah

| TV movie

rowspan="2"| 2003

| Tiptoes

| Kitty Katz

Scary Movie 3

| Mini Tabitha

rowspan="3"| 2004

| The Polar Express

| Elf (voice)

Seed of Chucky

| Herself

Big Time

| Gizzie Blunderbore

| Short

2006

| Sunstroke

| Receptionist

| Short

2008

| Bedtime Stories

| Booing Goblin

2009

| Bitch Slap

| "Hot Pocket"

2017

| Special Unit

| Sophie

=Television=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes
rowspan="2"\| 1985 \| What's Happening Now!! \| Munchkin \| Episode: "The Improbable Dream"
Amazing Stories \| Alien \| Episode: "Fine Tuning"
1989 \| Monsters \| Troll \| Episode: "Fools' Gold"
rowspan="2"\| 1990 \| Married... with Children \| Alien \| Episode: "Married... with Aliens"
WIOU \| Carla Sapper \| Episode: "Do the Wrong Thing"
1991 \| The New Adam-12 \| Cindy \| Episode: "Trick or Trick"
1991–92 \| In Living Color \| Tiny Avenger \| Recurring Cast: Season 3
1993 \| Tales from the Crypt \| Circus Performer \| Episode: "Food for Thought"
rowspan="2"\| 1994 \| Seinfeld \| Tammy \| Episode: "The Stand-In"
Baywatch \| Debbie \| Episode: "Silent Night, Baywatch Night: Part 1 & 2"
rowspan="2"\| 1998 \| Tracey Takes On... \| Raquel Gibson \| Episode: "Loss"
The Journey of Allen Strange \| Meetra \| Episode: "Haunted"
1999–00 \| The Drew Carey Show \| Doreen \| Recurring Cast: Season 5
2000 \| Buffy the Vampire Slayer \| Creature \| Episode: "Listening to Fear"
2001 \| The Lone Gunmen \| Sadie \| Episode: "Madam, I'm Adam"
rowspan="3"\| 2002 \| ER \| Ginger Jones \| Episodes: "A Simple Twist of Fate"
Philly \| Stephanie Renato \| Episode: "Tall Tales"
The District \| Alice \| Episode: "Small Packages"
rowspan="2"\| 2004 \| Boston Legal \| Patty \| Episode: "Loose Lips"
Huff \| Marla \| Episode: "Flashpants"
rowspan="2"\| 2006 \| Dexter \| Patty \| Episode: "Truth Be Told"
Nip/Tuck \| Merrily \| Episode: "Reefer"
2008 \| Men in Trees \| Karen \| Episode: "Read Between the Minds"
2009 \| Bones \| Gidget Jones \| Episode: "The Dwarf in the Dirt"
rowspan="2"\| 2011 \| Pair of Kings \| Squonk Queen \| Episode: "Dinner for Squonks"
Jessie \| Jingles \| Episode: "Christmas Story"
rowspan="2"\| 2012 \| The New Normal \| Little Person Mom \| Episode: "Pilot"
See Dad Run \| Brenda \| Episode: "See Dad Lose Janie"
2016 \| Grace and Frankie \| Tina Marie \| Episode: "The Party"

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

rowspan="2"| 1985

| What's Happening Now!!

| Munchkin

| Episode: "The Improbable Dream"

Amazing Stories

| Alien

| Episode: "Fine Tuning"