Martin Klebba

Martin Klebba (born June 23, 1969) is an American actor and stunt performer. He has a form of dwarfism called acromicric dysplasia; he is 4 feet 1 inch (1.24 m).[1] Klebba is best known for his role as Marty in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

Martin Klebba
Klebba in 2007
Born (1969-06-23) June 23, 1969 (age 55)
EducationAthens High School
Occupations
Years active1983–present
Height4 ft 1 in (124 cm)
SpouseMichelle Dilgard
Children2

Personal life

Klebba was born and grew up in Troy, Michigan, graduating from Athens High School.[2]

Klebba runs a nonprofit foundation called Coalition for Dwarf Advocacy, which gives 100% of its donations to the cause of helping little people.[3]

Career

Early career

Klebba was an occasional guest on The Howard Stern Show in the 1990s and early 2000s, and was given the nickname "Marty the Midget".[4]

Film

Martin Klebba has acted in various productions, most notably the Pirates of the Caribbean series as Marty, a dwarf pirate member of Captain Jack Sparrow's crew in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. The character was originally named "Dirk," but someone, possibly director Gore Verbinski, preferred the actor's real name instead.[5] Klebba reprised his role in the sequels Dead Man's Chest, At World's End, and Dead Men Tell No Tales. On the role, Klebba was quoted in saying he's a normal guy who fell into the franchise, one stunt turned into four out of five movies.[6]

In 2003, Klebba played the ring announcer in the Cradle 2 the Grave. In 2009, Klebba played the role of "Count Le Petite" in All's Faire in Love, a romantic comedy set at a Renaissance fair. He has also been in low budget horror/comedy films Feast II: Sloppy Seconds & Feast III: The Happy Finish as "Thunder."

He has numerous stunt credits as well including Hancock, Zombieland, Bedtime Stories, Evan Almighty, Meet the Spartans, Epic Movie, and Van Helsing. Wearing motion capture pajamas, "Marty" stood in for the Dimorphodon who grapples with Chris Pratt in Jurassic World.

Television

Klebba starred as Friday, one of the seven dwarfs, in the 2001 made-for-TV film Snow White: The Fairest of Them All. In 2003, Klebba starred as Hank Dingo in the Comedy Central made-for-TV movie Knee High P.I.. He also made an appearance as a demon in the Charmed, season 6 episode Witch Wars (2004). He has also appeared in iCarly and Drake & Josh as Nug Nug.

Klebba made many appearances as Randall Winston in the television series Scrubs. He starred in the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode "The Chick Chop Flick Shop" (2007) as Dickie Jones, and in the CSI: NY episode "Uncertainty Rules" (2010) as Calvin Moore. Also in 2010, Klebba guest starred as Hibachi in Pair of Kings, a Disney TV series. He played Todd Moore in the Bones (TV series) season 5 episode "Dwarf in the Dirt"' (2010).

Klebba has also been featured on the TLC reality show, Little People, Big World, with his good friend Amy Roloff. He will be featured in one episode of VH-1's I'm Married to a... in which his average sized wife talks about being married to a little person.

In 2011, Klebba appeared on The Cape as a series regular named "Rollo". He also appeared once again in Mirror Mirror (2012), which starred Julia Roberts, Armie Hammer, and Lily Collins.

Filmography

Film

YearFilmRoleNotes
2001Planet of the ApesMonkey Grinder's PetUncredited role
Corky RomanoMini Bouncer
How HighParty Guest
2002Run Ronnie RunMusic Video Doorman
Big Fat LiarKissing BanditUncredited role
Death to SmoochyRhinette / Krinkle Kid #3
Men in Black IIFamily Child Alien
Austin Powers in GoldmemberDancerUncredited role
Blood ShotSecret WeaponShort film
2003National SecuritySecurity GuardUncredited role
Cradle 2 the GraveFight Announcer
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black PearlMarty
El MatadorMe Too
A Light in the ForestBoar
Looney Tunes: Back in ActionDancing Yosemite Sam
The Haunted MansionPickwickUncredited role
2004Van HelsingDwerger
2005AmericanoMatador
2006Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's ChestMarty
2007Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's EndMarty
Cougar ClubShort Boss ManUncredited role
The Santa TrapSpecial Ops Elf
2008HancockPrisonerUncredited role
Feast II: Sloppy SecondsThunderDirect-to-video
2009Feast III: The Happy FinishThunder
American High SchoolPrincipal Mann
2010A Short FilmCowboyShort film
2011Night of the Little DeadLittle Dead
In the GrayProducer only
2012Project XDwarf PartygoerCredited as Angry Little Person
Mirror MirrorButcher
2013Movie 43Killer Chaun
Oz the Great and PowerfulNikko
Blood ShotMarud
2014The Hungover GamesFruito
The Bag ManGuano
Left BehindMelvin Weir
2015Jurassic WorldDimorphodon
Ted 2Chucky
2016Range 15Zombie Klebba
All Hallows EveBarnaby
2017EloiseMental Patient
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No TalesMarty
2019Viy 2: Journey to ChinaCaptain
2024The Electric StateTBAPost-production
2025Snow WhiteGrumpy

Television

YearFilmRoleNotes
2001Snow White: The Fairest of Them AllFridayTelevision film
2011Pair of KingsHibachi3 episodes
2021Pacific Rim: The BlackSpyder (voice)Recurring role (season 1)

References