| Ed Gale | |
|---|---|
| Born | Edward Gale (1963-08-23) August 23, 1963 (age 61) Plainwell, Michigan, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, stunt performer |
| Years active | 1986–2020 |
Edward Gale (born August 23, 1963) is a retired American actor and stunt performer who appeared in films and television series primarily between 1986 and 2013.
Early life
Gale was born with dwarfism. He was born in Plainwell, Michigan, and graduated from Battle Creek Central High School.
Career
His debut was as the title role of Howard in the 1986 film Howard the Duck. While Chip Zien provided Howard's voice, Gale was the actor in the suit throughout the film. In 1988, he played Chucky in the horror film Child's Play. He went on to appear in two other films in the franchise. He played the dinosaur Tasha in the short-lived television series Land of the Lost (1991). In 2003, he had a supporting role as Matthew McConaughey and Gary Oldman's characters' uncle Bobby Barry in Tiptoes, a film that revolves around a family of little people. Ed Gale appeared in a minor role in the popular American television sitcom My Name is Earl. The episode, titled "Little Bad Voodoo Brother", aired in 2006 and featured Gale as a carnival performer named "Little Eddie".
Legal issues
In April 2023, Gale was accused by a group of online predator-hunters going by the name "Creep Catchers Unit" of attempting to solicit sex from multiple minors, one male among whom he allegedly believed to be aged fourteen years. He had his smartphones seized by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) during a home visit on April 19, but was at that time neither charged nor taken into custody. As of April 21, he remains under investigation by the LAPD and the Los Angeles County District Attorney.
Selected filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Howard the Duck | Howard T. Duck | In-suit performer |
| 1987 | Spaceballs | Dink | |
| 1988 | Child's Play | Chucky | In-suit performer/stunts |
| 1989 | Chopper Chicks in Zombietown | Bob Littleton | |
| 1990 | Child's Play 2 | Chucky | In-suit performer/stunts |
| 1991 | Dolly Dearest | The Doll | |
| 1994 | The Jungle Book | Baby Baloo | |
| 1998 | Bride of Chucky | Chucky | In-suit performer/stunts |
| 2000 | O Brother, Where Art Thou? | Little Man | |
| 2000 | The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle | The Mole | In-suit performer |
| 2003 | Tiptoes | Bobby Barry | |
| 2004 | The Polar Express | Elf (voice) | Also motion-capture |
| 2005 | L.A. Dicks | ||
| 2007 | Marksman | Tony Valino | Short |
| 2009 | The Gold & the Beautiful | Eddie | |
| 2010 | Speed-Dating | Willlie | Uncredited |
| Santa Preys for X-mas | Dick the Elf | Video short | |
| 2011 | The Amateur Monster Movie | Reporter Mel Tambor | Voice |
| 365 Days | Mr. Thomas | Direct-to-video | |
| 2013 | Mikeyboy | Pizza Shop Owner | |
| Crazy Town | Pat | Short | |
| 2020 | Pandemonic | Artist | |
| 2022 | In Search of Tomorrow | Himself | Documentary |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Friday the 13th: The Series | Oscar | Episode: "Read My Lips" |
| 1990 | The Dreamer of Oz | Ned Brown/Farmer | TV film |
| 1991–1992 | Land of the Lost | Tasha, Magas | 26 episodes |
| 1993 | Lifepod | Q-Three | TV film |
| 1994 | Baywatch | Simon McKay | Episode: "Short Sighted" |
| 1994–1998 | Weird Science | Genie Master / Little Person / Wyatt Primate | 3 episodes |
| 1995 | Pig Sty | Jack / Leprechaun | Episode: "Erin Go Barf" |
| 1996 | The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas | Larry | TV film |
| 1996 | Townies | Butch, Disgruntled Elf | Episode: "Christmas" |
| 1997 | Family Matters | Carlsbad | Episode: "Stevil II: This Time He's Not Alone" |
| 1998 | 3rd Rock from the Sun | Oscar | Episode: "Dr. Solomon's Traveling Alien Show" |
| Maggie | Chanter | Episode: "Ka-Boom" | |
| 1999 | Norm | Pikachu | Episode: "Artie Comes to Town" |
| Sabrina the Teenage Witch | Powell | Episode: "Sabrina, Nipping at Your Nose" | |
| 2000 | The Christmas Secret | Kevin | TV film |
| 2001 | Just Shoot Me! | Jimmy | Episode: "Christmas? Christmas!" |
| Grounded for Life | Jesus | Episode: "I Saw Daddy Hitting Santa Claus" | |
| Call Me Claus | Benson | TV film | |
| 2002 | Santa Jr. | Stan | TV film |
| The Hughleys | Mr. Briggs | Episode: "I Have a Scheme" | |
| First Monday | Melvin Meyers | Episode: "The Price of Liberty" | |
| The District | Hank Tarver | Episode: "Small Packages" | |
| 2007 | My Name Is Earl | Midget Prisoner | Episode: "Randy in Charge: Of Our Days and Our Nights" |
| 2009 | Bones | Lavalle | Episode: "Double Trouble in the Panhandle" |
| 2012 | Emerald Acres | Zeus | TV film |
| 2014 | Deadly Attraction | Mr. Thomas | TV mini-series |
References
- Gross, Jason (May 2, 2018). "Interview with Ed Gale from 'Howard the Duck', 'Child's Play', 'Spaceballs' & More". Rediscover the 80s. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ "Interview with Ed Gale from 'Howard the Duck', 'Child's Play', 'Spaceballs' & More". Rediscover the 80s. June 30, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
- "Area native in movie". Battle Creek Enquirer. June 26, 1993. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
- "Did You Know That Chucky Was Played by a Real Person?!; Exclusive Interview with Ed Gale". iHorror. January 29, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
- "'Howard the Duck' a promising farce that never quite flies". The Columbia Record. August 8, 1986. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
- "Ed Gale IMDB Page". IMDB. January 24, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
- Saad, Nardine (April 21, 2023). "'Child's Play' actor Ed Gale admits soliciting child for sex in sting operation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- "'Chucky' star Ed Gale admits on-camera trying to meet teen for sex". FOX11. April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
- DuBose, Josh (April 21, 2023). "'Creep Catchers' child advocacy group confronts 'Child's Play' actor in Hollywood". KTLA. Retrieved May 8, 2023.