Luigi "Shorty" Rossi (born February 10, 1969) is the former star of
Pit Boss, a reality series (now cancelled) on Animal Planet. He is
also the owner and talent manager of Shortywood Productions, a company
that works with little people in the entertainment industry and
Shorty's Rescue, an organization set up for Pit Bull rescue (which is
no longer in service).Rossi was born in Los Angeles, California. He
was raised by his parents, also little people. During his childhood,
he lived in two very disparate neighborhoods: the San Fernando Valley,
a wealthy area in Greater Los Angeles, and Nickerson Gardens Housing
Projects in Watts, a poor area in South Central Los Angeles, where he
lived with a family friend to avoid conflict at home. By the age of
15, he was living on his own.In 1987, Rossi graduated from Fremont
High School. He joined the neighborhood Blood gang while living there.
That year, he was involved in a gang-related shooting and convicted of
felonies including attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.
He was sent to the California Youth Authority and was later
transferred to Folsom State Prison to serve a total sentence of 10
years, 10 months and 10 days.Looking for a fresh start, Rossi turned
to entertainment, soon learning he could earn good money as a little
person in show business. His first job in the industry was at
Universal Studios Hollywood, where he was "Alvin" for an Alvin and the
Chipmunks stage show. Since then, he has appeared in many commercials
and movies, the latter including The Grinch, with Jim Carrey; The Kid,
with Bruce Willis. He has also appeared on dozens of TV shows and has
performed in theater for years. In 2000, Rossi founded a company,
Shortywood Productions, to provide little people entertainers for all
types of shows, private parties and corporate events, and to manage
their careers.
Pit Boss, a reality series (now cancelled) on Animal Planet. He is
also the owner and talent manager of Shortywood Productions, a company
that works with little people in the entertainment industry and
Shorty's Rescue, an organization set up for Pit Bull rescue (which is
no longer in service).Rossi was born in Los Angeles, California. He
was raised by his parents, also little people. During his childhood,
he lived in two very disparate neighborhoods: the San Fernando Valley,
a wealthy area in Greater Los Angeles, and Nickerson Gardens Housing
Projects in Watts, a poor area in South Central Los Angeles, where he
lived with a family friend to avoid conflict at home. By the age of
15, he was living on his own.In 1987, Rossi graduated from Fremont
High School. He joined the neighborhood Blood gang while living there.
That year, he was involved in a gang-related shooting and convicted of
felonies including attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.
He was sent to the California Youth Authority and was later
transferred to Folsom State Prison to serve a total sentence of 10
years, 10 months and 10 days.Looking for a fresh start, Rossi turned
to entertainment, soon learning he could earn good money as a little
person in show business. His first job in the industry was at
Universal Studios Hollywood, where he was "Alvin" for an Alvin and the
Chipmunks stage show. Since then, he has appeared in many commercials
and movies, the latter including The Grinch, with Jim Carrey; The Kid,
with Bruce Willis. He has also appeared on dozens of TV shows and has
performed in theater for years. In 2000, Rossi founded a company,
Shortywood Productions, to provide little people entertainers for all
types of shows, private parties and corporate events, and to manage
their careers.
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