Michu Meszaros

Mihaly “Michu” Meszaros, the former circus performer who played the eponymous character on the hit ‘80s sitcom “Alf,” died June 12 in Los Angeles, California, according to multiple news sources. He was 76.

Meszaros had been hospitalized for several days last week after he was found unresponsive in the bathroom at his home, and he had slipped into a coma while at the hospital, according to Meszaros’ manager, Dennis Varga.

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Meszaros was born Meszaros Mihaly Oct. 1, 1939, in Budapest, Hungary. Standing less than a yard tall – 33 inches to be exact – Mezaros first performed in the Liebel Family Circus and toured Eastern Europe. In 1973, the owner of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Irwin Feld, signed him to a contract that brought him to live and work in the U.S.

Meszaros performed with the Ringling Bros. as the “smallest man in the world.” He also trained and performed a popular act with poodles. The dogs stood taller than their trainer as they walked on their hind legs, much to the delight of the children in the crowd. Meszaros performed with the circus until he turned to acting during the 1980s.

On “Alf,” which aired from 1986 until 1990, Meszaros was seen only in shots that showed the alien Alf walking across a room. He was billed as one of Alf’s assistants.

In 1992, Meszaros appeared in one of pop superstar Michael Jackson’s 1992 Pepsi commercial.

He also appeared in several films including “Big Top Pee-wee” (1988), “Waxwork” (1988), “Look Who’s Talking” (1989), and “Freaked” (1993).