Luis de Jesus
Luis de Jesus (born Luis Angel de Jesus) was born on June 30, 1952 in New York City, New York, US. His parents came to New York from Puerto Rico.
As a child growing up smaller than his brothers and other children, he found one respite each year when his father scraped enough money together to get tickets to the circus at Madison Square Garden, he escaped vicariously through the fantastic aspects of the circus.
At DeWitt Clinton High School his gym teacher was teaching the boys to tumble and asked Luis to participate. Luis reluctantly agreed. He realized he had good agility and joined the tumbling team as a sophomore. His team won first place in the city championship and he had earned 5th place in the singles.
The following summer he went to Camp Pioneer (camp for underprivileged kids) and the year after that he was a counselor's aid, by 1968 (at 17 years) he returned to the camp as a junior counselor.
At DeWitt Clinton High School his gym teacher was teaching the boys to tumble and asked Luis to participate. Luis reluctantly agreed. He realized he had good agility and joined the tumbling team as a sophomore. His team won first place in the city championship and he had earned 5th place in the singles.
The following summer he went to Camp Pioneer (camp for underprivileged kids) and the year after that he was a counselor's aid, by 1968 (at 17 years) he returned to the camp as a junior counselor.
In the Fall of 1968 de Jesus traveled down to Venice, Fla to become a student at the newly formed Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College. The RBB&BCC was considered America's premiere boot camp for beginning clowns...Penn Gillette was among the graduates.
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| Luis de Jesus (bottom right), sitting to his right was Glenn "Frosty" Little considered America's last living Master Clown and "Boss Clown" with Ringling Brothers. Photo by Gerald C. Lubenow from December 2, 1968 Newsweek Magazine. |
DeJesus had an odd life that took him on an odd journey. He tried to steer towards more mainstream work, but life had other paths for him.
de Jesus died on July 27, 1988 of a heart attack in Los Angeles, CA, he was survived by his wife, SWAD alum, Jean D'Agostino (m November 14, 1982 - his death).
Film
Banned from Facez 2000, Part Three~2000 (V doc) - (archive footage) Ralphus
Dying: Last Seconds of Life, Part II~1988 (V) - (archive footage) Ralphus
Forbidden Worlds~1988 (V) - (archive footage) Midget 1
Play Me Again, Vanessa~1986 - Delivery Person
Sweethearts~1986 - (archive footage) Himself
Merry X Miss~1986 (V) (as Louis Shortstud) - Sid, The Elf
Spreading Joy~1984 (V) -
Samurai Dick~1984 (V) - Shank
Santa Comes Twice~1984 (V) -
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi~1983 - Ewok
Wine Me, Dine Me, 69 Me~1983 - (archive footage as Mr. Short Stud) Midget 1
Fantasex Island~1983 - Pu-Pu
Bizarre Women~1982 -
Under the Rainbow~1981 - Hotel Rainbow Guest (see Actor Connections - Film)
Downstairs Upstairs~1980 - Chef
Ultra Flesh~1980 - Midget 1
Kate and the Indians~1979 - Runt Indian
American Tickler~1977 -
Visions~1977 - Little Guy
Blood Sucking Freaks~1976 - Ralphus
Let My Puppets Come~1976 (as Little Louis) - Mr. Big
The Incredible Torture Show~1976 - Ralphus
Call Me Angel, Sir!~1976 - Andy Green
Percy's Progress (It's Not the Size That Counts)~1974 - Dwarf (additional American footage)
Vampire Circus~1972 -
Anal Dwarf, The~1971
TV
Dave's Old Porn~2011-2012 - (archive footage) Delivery Person in:
Artie Lange/Vanessa Del Rio
Jim Norton/Seka
ABC Weekend Specials~1985 -
Brothers~1984 - Bruno in:
Happy Birthday, Mel
I Remember Papa
Live Performances
Video Games (archive footage)
Star Wars: Battlefront~2004 - Ewok
Books
Headpress: 25, by David Kerekes, chronicles Luis de Jesus' life in the article, "Size Matters?"
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