David Rappaport
Encyclopedia
David Stephen Rappaport (November 23, 1951 – May 2, 1990) was an English
actor
, probably one of the best known dwarf
actors in television and film. He was reported standing 3' 11" (1.19 m), although he himself told newspapers different heights, ranging from 3' 6" (1.07 m) up to 4 feet (1.22 m).
driver Mark and his wife Diana, née Schneiderman in London
, England
. As a child, he developed talents in playing the accordion
and drums, the latter of which he played professionally during his life. Rappaport studied psychology
at the University of Bristol
from 1970, graduating with a degree while developing his skills as a semi-professional drummer, and acting skills at the college dramatical society.
After six months in America
, he returned to the United Kingdom to marry his college girlfriend, Jane. They had a son Joe, and Rappaport tried to settle down to family life as a teacher
. But as his marriage broke down and he decided to follow a career as an actor, he became a resident of the squatter "nation" of Frestonia
, acting as Foreign Minister
under the name David Rappaport-Bramley - all inhabitants adopted the surname 'Bramley', so that if the Greater London Council
were to succeed in an eviction, they would have to rehouse them as one family.
as an O-Man in the 1970s BBC children's series Jigsaw
. In the early 1980s he also played the character of "Shades" on the anarchic Saturday morning kids TV shows Tiswas
and The Saturday Show
. One of his most popular roles was as Randall, the leader of the gang of dwarves in the Terry Gilliam
film Time Bandits
in 1981. During the mid-80s he played in the HTV production of Robin of Sherwood
(released as Robin Hood in the US) with Jason Connery
as Robin. The show was filmed in Bristol where David had a home. During this time he also made himself at home aboard Ki Longfellow-Stanshall
and Vivian Stanshall
's ship moored in the Bristol docks, the Old Profanity Showboat where he appeared on stage as much as allowed. He also made a notable turn starring opposite Clancy Brown
and Sting in The Bride
in 1985. From 1986-7, he played the lead role of Simon McKay in the CBS
television series The Wizard
. He also made notable guest appearances on such shows as The Goodies
, The Young Ones, and L.A. Law
. He was also the voice of Dr. Blight's computer, MAL, on Captain Planet and the Planeteers
(replaced by Tim Curry
after his death).
In 1989 Rappaport was best man at the wedding of Hazel O'Connor
and artist Kurt Bippert, which took place on Venice Beach, California.
later in his life. On May 2, 1990, he committed suicide
by shooting himself in the chest in Laurel Canyon Park in the San Fernando Valley
, California
. His body was returned to the United Kingdom and buried in a Jewish cemetery
in Waltham Abbey
, Essex
.
Just before his death, he had been cast and began filming for the role of Kivas Fajo in the Star Trek: The Next Generation
episode "The Most Toys
". Scenes he had completed were later discarded, when actor Saul Rubinek
was hurriedly brought in by producers to replace Rappaport and complete the episode. Rappaport's death and the accident that left Jack Purvis
, his co-star, a quadriplegic were the main reasons why Terry Gilliam
decided to shelve the intended sequel to Time Bandits
, as their characters were two of the most heavily featured in the film.
, Michael Berk
and Douglas Schwartz
, went on to produce Baywatch
, the lifeguard-based drama. In this show's fifth season is an episode entitled "Short Sighted" which originally aired on October 31, 1994. Part of this episode concerns a junior lifeguard named Carter McKay (Nicholas Banko), whose father is named Simon McKay (Ed Gale) in namesake tribute to David's character on The Wizard. Carter is ashamed of his father's height and claims his father can't attend an upcoming father/son tournament, but when his father shows up and rescues a little girl from drowning (and is awarded a medal of valor for his heroic actions), Carter realises he should be proud of his dad.
This episode is dedicated "to the loving memory of David Rappaport."
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, probably one of the best known dwarf
Dwarfism
Dwarfism is short stature resulting from a medical condition. It is sometimes defined as an adult height of less than 4 feet 10 inches , although this definition is problematic because short stature in itself is not a disorder....
actors in television and film. He was reported standing 3' 11" (1.19 m), although he himself told newspapers different heights, ranging from 3' 6" (1.07 m) up to 4 feet (1.22 m).
Early life
Rappaport was born to a Jewish taxiTaxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
driver Mark and his wife Diana, née Schneiderman in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. As a child, he developed talents in playing the accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
and drums, the latter of which he played professionally during his life. Rappaport studied psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
at the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
from 1970, graduating with a degree while developing his skills as a semi-professional drummer, and acting skills at the college dramatical society.
After six months in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he returned to the United Kingdom to marry his college girlfriend, Jane. They had a son Joe, and Rappaport tried to settle down to family life as a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
. But as his marriage broke down and he decided to follow a career as an actor, he became a resident of the squatter "nation" of Frestonia
Frestonia
Frestonia was the name adopted by the residents of Freston Road, a street at the north western boundary of Notting Hill, London, also known as Notting Dale, when they attempted to secede from the United Kingdom in 1977. Actor David Rappaport was the Foreign Minister, while playwright Heathcote...
, acting as Foreign Minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
under the name David Rappaport-Bramley - all inhabitants adopted the surname 'Bramley', so that if the Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
were to succeed in an eviction, they would have to rehouse them as one family.
Career
He first came to public notability in children's television, appearing alongside Sylvester McCoySylvester McCoy
Sylvester McCoy is a Scottish actor. As a comic act and busker he appeared regularly on stage and on BBC Children's television in the 1970s and 80s, but is best known for playing the seventh incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who from 1987 to...
as an O-Man in the 1970s BBC children's series Jigsaw
Jigsaw (UK TV series)
Jigsaw was a Children's BBC show, combining elements of puzzle solving & entertainment, which was broadcast from 16 July 1979 until 24 May 1984....
. In the early 1980s he also played the character of "Shades" on the anarchic Saturday morning kids TV shows Tiswas
Tiswas
Tiswas was a Saturday morning children's British television series which ran from 5 January 1974 to 3 April 1982 and was produced for the ITV network by ATV Network Limited....
and The Saturday Show
The Saturday Show (ITV TV series)
The Saturday Show was Birmingham-based Central Television's flagship Saturday morning kids TV show which replaced their previous success Tiswas. It ran on ITV for two series between 1982 and 1984. It was originally planned that popular wrestler Big Daddy would star and that it would be called "Big...
. One of his most popular roles was as Randall, the leader of the gang of dwarves in the Terry Gilliam
Terry Gilliam
Terrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...
film Time Bandits
Time Bandits
Time Bandits is a 1981 British fantasy film produced and directed by Terry Gilliam.Terry Gilliam wrote the screenplay with fellow Monty Python alumnus Michael Palin, who appears with Shelley Duvall in the small, recurring roles of Vincent and Pansy. The film is one of the most famous of more than...
in 1981. During the mid-80s he played in the HTV production of Robin of Sherwood
Robin of Sherwood
Robin of Sherwood , was a British television series, based on the legend of Robin Hood. Created by Richard Carpenter, it was produced by HTV in association with Goldcrest, and ran from 1984 to 1986 on the ITV network. In America it was retitled Robin Hood and shown on the premium cable TV channel...
(released as Robin Hood in the US) with Jason Connery
Jason Connery
Jason Joseph Connery is an English actor.-Early life:Connery grew up in London. He attended Millfield School, a co-educational independent school in Somerset, England, and later at the independent Gordonstoun School in Scotland. He was later accepted into the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School...
as Robin. The show was filmed in Bristol where David had a home. During this time he also made himself at home aboard Ki Longfellow-Stanshall
Ki Longfellow
Ki Longfellow is an American novelist, playwright, theatrical producer, theater director and entrepreneur. In Britain, as the widow of Vivian Stanshall, she is well known as the guardian of his artistic heritage, but elsewhere she is best known for her own work, especially the novel The Secret...
and Vivian Stanshall
Vivian Stanshall
Vivian Stanshall was an English singer-songwriter, painter, musician, author, poet and wit, best known for his work with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, for his surreal exploration of the British upper classes in Sir Henry at Rawlinson End, and for narrating Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells.-The great...
's ship moored in the Bristol docks, the Old Profanity Showboat where he appeared on stage as much as allowed. He also made a notable turn starring opposite Clancy Brown
Clancy Brown
Clarence J. "Clancy" Brown III is an American actor and voice actor. He is known for his roles in live action as The Kurgan in the cult classic film Highlander, Byron Hadley in the award-winning The Shawshank Redemption, Brother Justin Crowe in HBO's critically acclaimed Carnivàle, and Career...
and Sting in The Bride
The Bride (film)
The Bride is an adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, released in 1985 and directed by Franc Roddam. The film stars Sting as Baron Charles Frankenstein and Jennifer Beals as Eva, a woman he creates in the same fashion as his infamous monster....
in 1985. From 1986-7, he played the lead role of Simon McKay in the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television series The Wizard
The Wizard (TV series)
The Wizard is a live-action, family friendly, action/adventure series created by Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz, and Paul B. Radin...
. He also made notable guest appearances on such shows as The Goodies
The Goodies
The Goodies are a trio of British comedians who created, wrote, and starred in a surreal British television comedy series called The Goodies during the 1970s and early 1980s combining sketches and situation comedy.-Honours:All three Goodies now have OBEs...
, The Young Ones, and L.A. Law
L.A. Law
L.A. Law is a US television legal drama that ran on NBC from September 15, 1986 to May 19, 1994. L.A. Law reflected the social and cultural ideologies of the 1980s and early 1990s and many of the cases featured on the show dealt with hot topic issues such as abortion, racism, gay rights,...
. He was also the voice of Dr. Blight's computer, MAL, on Captain Planet and the Planeteers
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
Captain Planet is the title character of the series. In the beginning of the series, Gaia assembles a modern-day team of "Planeteers" from several nations...
(replaced by Tim Curry
Tim Curry
Timothy James "Tim" Curry is a British actor, singer, composer and voice actor, known for his work in a diverse range of theatre, film and television productions. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California....
after his death).
In 1989 Rappaport was best man at the wedding of Hazel O'Connor
Hazel O'Connor
Hazel O'Connor is an English singer-songwriter and actress. She is the daughter of a soldier from Galway who settled in England after World War II to work in a car plant...
and artist Kurt Bippert, which took place on Venice Beach, California.
Death
Rappaport struggled with depressionDepression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
later in his life. On May 2, 1990, he committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
by shooting himself in the chest in Laurel Canyon Park in the San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. His body was returned to the United Kingdom and buried in a Jewish cemetery
Jewish cemetery
A Jewish cemetery is a cemetery where members of the Jewish faith are buried in keeping with Jewish tradition....
in Waltham Abbey
Waltham Abbey, Essex
Waltham Abbey is a market town of about 20,400 people in the south west of the county of Essex, in the East of England region. It is about 24 km north of London on the Greenwich Meridian and lies between the River Lea in the west and Epping Forest in the east. It takes its name from The Abbey...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
.
Just before his death, he had been cast and began filming for the role of Kivas Fajo in the Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
episode "The Most Toys
The Most Toys (TNG episode)
"The Most Toys" is a 1990 episode from the science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation.-Overview:The episode involves Lieutenant Commander Data being kidnapped by an obsessive collector, who leads the Enterprise crew to believe that Data was killed in a shuttlecraft...
". Scenes he had completed were later discarded, when actor Saul Rubinek
Saul Rubinek
Saul Rubinek is a Canadian actor, director, producer and playwright, known for his work in TV, film and the stage.-Early life:...
was hurriedly brought in by producers to replace Rappaport and complete the episode. Rappaport's death and the accident that left Jack Purvis
Jack Purvis (actor)
Jack Purvis was a British film actor. Purvis was a dwarf, and thus was mainly cast in roles requiring actors of short stature...
, his co-star, a quadriplegic were the main reasons why Terry Gilliam
Terry Gilliam
Terrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...
decided to shelve the intended sequel to Time Bandits
Time Bandits
Time Bandits is a 1981 British fantasy film produced and directed by Terry Gilliam.Terry Gilliam wrote the screenplay with fellow Monty Python alumnus Michael Palin, who appears with Shelley Duvall in the small, recurring roles of Vincent and Pansy. The film is one of the most famous of more than...
, as their characters were two of the most heavily featured in the film.
Baywatch Tribute
Two of the creators of David Rappaport's US television series The WizardThe Wizard (TV series)
The Wizard is a live-action, family friendly, action/adventure series created by Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz, and Paul B. Radin...
, Michael Berk
Michael Berk
Michael Berk is an American television screenwriter and series creator who, along with Douglas Schwartz, worked as a writer on the television series Manimal, and multiple made for television movies...
and Douglas Schwartz
Douglas Schwartz
Douglas Schwartz is an American television screenwriter and series creator who, along with Michael Berk, worked as a writer on the television series Manimal, and multiple made for television movies...
, went on to produce Baywatch
Baywatch
Baywatch is an American action drama series about the Los Angeles County Lifeguards who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles County, California, starring David Hasselhoff. The show ran in its original title and format from 1989 to 1999, sans the 1990-1991 season, of which it was not in production...
, the lifeguard-based drama. In this show's fifth season is an episode entitled "Short Sighted" which originally aired on October 31, 1994. Part of this episode concerns a junior lifeguard named Carter McKay (Nicholas Banko), whose father is named Simon McKay (Ed Gale) in namesake tribute to David's character on The Wizard. Carter is ashamed of his father's height and claims his father can't attend an upcoming father/son tournament, but when his father shows up and rescues a little girl from drowning (and is awarded a medal of valor for his heroic actions), Carter realises he should be proud of his dad.
This episode is dedicated "to the loving memory of David Rappaport."
Stageography
- "Sleep Fast, They've Landed (Everybody Wants a Frozen Donkey for Christmas)" (1971/1972) - Yellow
- "Stonehenge Follies"
- "Illuminatus!" (1975–1977) - Markoff Chaney
- "Portland Bill Street Theatre"
- "Interplay"
- "Volpone" (1977) - Nano
- "The Warp"
- "Little Brother Is Watching You" - Himself
- "Dr. Faustus" (1980) - Beelzebub, Dick, Pope Adrian, etc.
- "Cinderella" (1980)
- "Exit The King" (1983) - The Doctor
- "LULU" (1985) - Schigolch
Filmography
- Turkish DelightTurkish Delight (film)Turkish Delight is a 1973 Dutch film directed by Paul Verhoeven and filmed by Jan de Bont. The film is a love story of an artist and a young woman, starring Rutger Hauer and Monique van de Ven. The story is based on the novel Turks fruit by Jan Wolkers...
(1973) - Dwarf - Mysteries (1978) – Grogard
- CubaCuba (film)Cuba is a 1979 drama film directed by Richard Lester and starring Sean Connery, set during the build-up to the 1959 Cuban Revolution.Connery stars as a British mercenary who travels to Cuba, which is on the brink of revolution with the authority of dictator Fulgencio Batista collapsing every day...
(1979) – Jesus - Black Jack (1979)
- Time BanditsTime BanditsTime Bandits is a 1981 British fantasy film produced and directed by Terry Gilliam.Terry Gilliam wrote the screenplay with fellow Monty Python alumnus Michael Palin, who appears with Shelley Duvall in the small, recurring roles of Vincent and Pansy. The film is one of the most famous of more than...
(1981) – Randall - Sword of the Valiant (1984) – Sage
- Unfair Exchanges (1984) – Arthur
- The BrideThe Bride (film)The Bride is an adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, released in 1985 and directed by Franc Roddam. The film stars Sting as Baron Charles Frankenstein and Jennifer Beals as Eva, a woman he creates in the same fashion as his infamous monster....
(1985) – Rinaldo - Luigi's Ladies (1989) – Luigi