Mihaly “Michu” Meszaros, who played the titular wisecracking alien on the ’80s sitcom “Alf,” has died. He was 76.
Meszaros reportedly fell into a coma last week, and had been grappling with health issues since suffering a stroke eight years ago.
According to TMZ, the actor was found unresponsive in his bathroom by his longtime manager, Dennis Varga.
Born in 1939 in Hungary, Michu stood just 2 feet, 9 inches tall. He performed in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in the 1970s, billed as the “smallest man in the world.” During his tenure with the circus, Meszaros performed for presidents Jimmy
Meszaros, however, is perhaps best known for portraying the title character in the NBC sitcom “Alf.” Meszaros would wear a full-body costume when head-to-toe shots of the alien were required, and a half-costume for upper-body shots, due to the heat of the full-body suit.
“Alf,” about a furry alien who lives with an earth family after crashing into their garage, also starred Max Wright, Anne Schedeen, Andrea Elson and Benji Gregory.
The actor’s credits also included 1988’s “Big Top Pee-wee,” “Dear John” and “Warlock: The Armageddon.”
A GoFundMe page was recently launched to raise money for medical and funeral expenses.