Felix Anthony Silla (born Roccacasale, L'Aquila Italy, January 11,
1937), also credited as Felix Cilla, is a retired Italian-born
American film and television actor and stuntman, known for his
recurring role as the costumed character of "Cousin Itt" on
television's The Addams Family, with the voice usually provided by
Anthony Magro (1923â€"2004). Silla also appeared in many other classic
character roles.Felix Silla was born in the small village of
Roccacasale, Italy. He trained as a circus performer, came to the
United States in 1955, and toured with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum &
Bailey Circus. His multiple talents as a bareback rider, trapeze
artist and tumbler brought him to Hollywood, where he became a
stuntman, starting with the Gig Young-Shirley Jones vehicle, A
Ticklish Affair. His best-known roles are Litvak, the maniacal,
miniature Hitler who menaces George Segal in The Black Bird (his
favorite role), and Cousin Itt on the TV show The Addams Family. He
was also responsible for the physical performance of the robot Twiki
in the TV series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, a role for which the
voice was supplied by Mel Blanc or Bob Elyea. In part due to his short
stature of 1.19 m (3 ft 11 in), he has often doubled for children in
such movies as The Towering Inferno, The Hindenburg, and Battlestar
Galactica. Between movies, he frequently appears in Las Vegas and Reno
night clubs with his own musical combo, The Original Harmonica
Band.His most famous role was television's Cousin Itt on The Addams
Family. The character was not part of Charles Addams's original comic,
but was introduced in the television series by Addams Family producer
David Levy, debuting in the 1965 first season episode "Cousin Itt
Visits the Addams Family", and appearing in a total of 17 episodes
over the course of the show's two seasons.Silla provided the voice of
Mortimer Goth from The Sims 2, the best-selling video game of 2005. He
also played one of the hang glider Ewoks in the film Return of the
Jedi, and had a small roll in the indie film Characterz.
1937), also credited as Felix Cilla, is a retired Italian-born
American film and television actor and stuntman, known for his
recurring role as the costumed character of "Cousin Itt" on
television's The Addams Family, with the voice usually provided by
Anthony Magro (1923â€"2004). Silla also appeared in many other classic
character roles.Felix Silla was born in the small village of
Roccacasale, Italy. He trained as a circus performer, came to the
United States in 1955, and toured with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum &
Bailey Circus. His multiple talents as a bareback rider, trapeze
artist and tumbler brought him to Hollywood, where he became a
stuntman, starting with the Gig Young-Shirley Jones vehicle, A
Ticklish Affair. His best-known roles are Litvak, the maniacal,
miniature Hitler who menaces George Segal in The Black Bird (his
favorite role), and Cousin Itt on the TV show The Addams Family. He
was also responsible for the physical performance of the robot Twiki
in the TV series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, a role for which the
voice was supplied by Mel Blanc or Bob Elyea. In part due to his short
stature of 1.19 m (3 ft 11 in), he has often doubled for children in
such movies as The Towering Inferno, The Hindenburg, and Battlestar
Galactica. Between movies, he frequently appears in Las Vegas and Reno
night clubs with his own musical combo, The Original Harmonica
Band.His most famous role was television's Cousin Itt on The Addams
Family. The character was not part of Charles Addams's original comic,
but was introduced in the television series by Addams Family producer
David Levy, debuting in the 1965 first season episode "Cousin Itt
Visits the Addams Family", and appearing in a total of 17 episodes
over the course of the show's two seasons.Silla provided the voice of
Mortimer Goth from The Sims 2, the best-selling video game of 2005. He
also played one of the hang glider Ewoks in the film Return of the
Jedi, and had a small roll in the indie film Characterz.
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