Michael Dunn (born Gary Neil Miller, October 20, 1934 â€" August 30,
1973) was an American actor and singer. He inspired a number of actors
significantly smaller and shorter (those with dwarfism) than most
people, including Zelda Rubinstein, Eric the Actor, Mark Povinelli,
and Ricardo Gil.Dunn had medical dwarfism, a result of
spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia (SED, subtype unknown), a genetic defect
of cartilage production caused by a mutation in the COL2A1 (type II
collagen) gene. This disorder, classified as a skeletal dysplasia,
causes distorted development of the limbs, spine, and ribcage and
leads to early, widespread osteoarthritis and constricted lung growth.
As an adult, Dunn stood 3' 10" and weighed about 78 pounds (117 cm, 35
kg). During Dunn's lifetime, his condition was described by the
nonspecific term "progressive chondrodystrophy," or alternatively as
"achondroplasia", a term that now refers specifically to a skeletal
dysplasia caused by a defect in the gene for fibroblast growth factor
receptor 3.Dunn was born to Jewell (née Hilly; died 1990) and Fred
Miller (died 1981) during the time of the Dust Bowl drought. He chose
his stage name in order to differentiate himself from another Gary
Miller in the Screen Actors Guild. ("Dunn" was his maternal
grandmother's maiden name, but his reason for choosing "Michael" is
unknown and not derived from his monastic experience in 1958.) An only
child, when he was four years old, his family moved to Dearborn,
Michigan.Dunn started reading at age three, was champion of the 1947
Detroit News Spelling Beeâ€"representing Wallaceville School in Wayne
Countyâ€"and showed early skill at the piano. He enjoyed singing from
childhood, loved to draw an impromptu audience (even while waiting for
a bus), and developed a pleasing lyric baritone and superb
sight-reading skills. His parents defied pressure from school
authorities to sequester him in a school for disabled children and
staunchly supported his talents, independence, and integration into
mainstream society. "I always got thrown out of classes for being too
lippy", he commented about his experience with elementary school
teachers. "I'd read more than they." His orthopedic condition greatly
limited his mobility, but he swam and ice-skated in childhood and
remained a skilled swimmer throughout his life.
1973) was an American actor and singer. He inspired a number of actors
significantly smaller and shorter (those with dwarfism) than most
people, including Zelda Rubinstein, Eric the Actor, Mark Povinelli,
and Ricardo Gil.Dunn had medical dwarfism, a result of
spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia (SED, subtype unknown), a genetic defect
of cartilage production caused by a mutation in the COL2A1 (type II
collagen) gene. This disorder, classified as a skeletal dysplasia,
causes distorted development of the limbs, spine, and ribcage and
leads to early, widespread osteoarthritis and constricted lung growth.
As an adult, Dunn stood 3' 10" and weighed about 78 pounds (117 cm, 35
kg). During Dunn's lifetime, his condition was described by the
nonspecific term "progressive chondrodystrophy," or alternatively as
"achondroplasia", a term that now refers specifically to a skeletal
dysplasia caused by a defect in the gene for fibroblast growth factor
receptor 3.Dunn was born to Jewell (née Hilly; died 1990) and Fred
Miller (died 1981) during the time of the Dust Bowl drought. He chose
his stage name in order to differentiate himself from another Gary
Miller in the Screen Actors Guild. ("Dunn" was his maternal
grandmother's maiden name, but his reason for choosing "Michael" is
unknown and not derived from his monastic experience in 1958.) An only
child, when he was four years old, his family moved to Dearborn,
Michigan.Dunn started reading at age three, was champion of the 1947
Detroit News Spelling Beeâ€"representing Wallaceville School in Wayne
Countyâ€"and showed early skill at the piano. He enjoyed singing from
childhood, loved to draw an impromptu audience (even while waiting for
a bus), and developed a pleasing lyric baritone and superb
sight-reading skills. His parents defied pressure from school
authorities to sequester him in a school for disabled children and
staunchly supported his talents, independence, and integration into
mainstream society. "I always got thrown out of classes for being too
lippy", he commented about his experience with elementary school
teachers. "I'd read more than they." His orthopedic condition greatly
limited his mobility, but he swam and ice-skated in childhood and
remained a skilled swimmer throughout his life.
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