famous short men

Brock April 24, 2013

Men of Modest Height: Jonathan Taylor Thomas

Jonathan Taylor Thomas – 5’5″

If you’re anywhere around my age, you probably remember some of the classic 90s TV shows – Fresh Prince, Family Matters and one of my favorites, Home Improvement. If you didn’t watch this one, you at least heard the girls at school wooing over JTT (a.k.a. Jonathan Taylor Thomas) and his awesome haircut.

This child star/writer/director peaked in popularity when he was chosen for the voice of Simba in Disney’s The Lion King. He was successful enough to walk away from acting and pursue higher education, a bold and respectable move for anyone, let alone a teenager. Do you think you could leave the fame and fortune behind?

Who knows, maybe we’ll see JTT return to the screen soon!

For more in the Men of Modest Height series, click here.

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Brock September 20, 2012

Men of Modest Height: Bob Costas

Bob Costas – 5’7″

Even if you don’t know who Bob Costas is, I bet you would recognize his voice. Especially since he just hosted the 2012 Summer Olympic Games for NBC Sports. Costas is one of (if not the) most sportscasters in America. Maybe even the world.

He has always looked extremely young, due to the combination of his small stature and baby face. When he first joined NBC at age 28, he was told that he looked like a 14-year-old. Recently, Conan O’Brien asked him why he doesn’t age normally.

Even though being small and boyish probably bothered Costas when he was young, I bet he’s glad that he’s retained his youthful appearance to this day. I’m actually the same way. I’ve always looked very young, and it bothered me for a while (you know, getting carded everywhere I went).

I’m totally cool with it now. Actually, I kind of treasure it and look forward to being a 40-year-old who looks 10 years younger than my peers.

Costas didn’t let this or anything else hold him back. He rose to the top of the sportscasting world and became an award-winning commentator for pro baseball, basketball, hockey and more. He’s also been on The Simpsons, various late night shows, video games…you name it.

I didn’t realize that he was only 5’7″ until I saw him on Conan recently. As you know, Conan is a giant of a man, and the contrast between the two was initially shocking. Of course, the conversation that followed was one of the most thoughtful, respectful interviews I’ve seen on any late night show in a long time. You could tell that Conan has a lot of respect for Costas.

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Brock July 26, 2012

Men of Modest Height: Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg 5’7″

shirt | pants | tie | belt

Rapper, underwear model, producer, director and Oscar-nominated actor, Mark Wahlberg has done it all. He rose from a life of crime and violence as the youngest of nine children is a working class Irish family. After spending a few weeks in jail for assault, he turned his life around and began rapping (luckily, his brother Donnie was a member of New Kids On The Block) and body building.

Whether he’s golfing with movie execs and famous athletes on Entourage, walking the red carpet with his supermodel wife, or just playing with his kids at the beach, Walhberg always dresses for the occasion. He’s always had a unique sense of personal style, even if it’s changed over the years (and it has, a lot).

I never realized Wahlberg was only 5’7″ until recently. Did you?

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Brock June 5, 2012

Famous Short Men, Part 2: Rockstars

This is part two of our Famous Short Men series. If you missed the part one, click here to check it out. In this post, we’re going to talk about five of the shortest rockstars of all time.

Like actors, rockstars often look bigger in their music videos and on stage. In reality, many of the best musicians and entertainers are men of modest height. Without further adieu, here are our five favorite short-stature rockstars:

Roger Daltrey

Roger Daltrey - 5'7"

Let’s start with a classic. Roger Daltrey is a legend. He is a singer, songwriter, actor, musician and founder of one of the best rock bands of all time, The Who.

Although he wasn’t the most prominent songwriter in the band, he did write a handful of hit songs for The Who, as well as several other groups.

He also created the deity-esqe persona that influenced some of the biggest rock-n-roll front men of his generation (and those to follow).

At just 5’7″ tall, Daltrey supposedly ran the show – on stage and off. He wouldn’t shy away from confrontation, and he readily got his point across with his fists.

He was confident on stage and is known for his signature move of swinging the microphone around his head. Daltrey was the lifeblood of one of the best rock bands of our time.

Prince

Prince - 5'2"

First of all, if you are universally known by one name – nay, one syllable – you know you’ve made it. Prince is a musical genius who has produced 10 platinum albums and 30 hit singles over the course of his career.

Although he is usually seen as a flamboyant, tight pants wearing front man, he is actually an extremely gifted mulch-instrumentalist who has won seven Grammy Awards. By this, I mean that he ridiculous at guitar, bass, drums and a bunch of other instruments.

In fact, especially in the early days of his career, the recorded and produced all of his own stuff. He would simply play every instrument for every song (all of which he wrote, by the way).

Oh, and did I mention he is a ladies man? He’s dated fashion models (Kim Basinger), pop stars (Madonna), and actresses (Carmen Electra). Most of them were several inches taller than him.

John Mellencamp

John Mellencamp - 5'7"

Best known for his all-American brand of pop/rock, John “Cougar” Mellencamp is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee who has received critical acclaim for his early work as well as his latest album (and most of the stuff in between).

Mellencamp captured the voice of small town America. He wrote about regular people trying to make it in the real world, which was a breath of fresh air amongst all of the glam rock and bubble gum pop.

He stays true to his roots, too. Mellencamp lives on a lake in Indiana, and his vacation homes are in Georgia and South Carolina, not the Caribbean and the Hamptons.

Being 5’7″ didn’t stop Johnny Cougar from marrying supermodel Elaine Irwin (5’11″), releasing over 20 hit songs, being nominated for 13 Grammy Awards, and co-founding Farm Aid.

Bob Marley

Bob Marley - 5'8"

No matter where you’re from or what kind of music you listen to, you know who Bob Marley is. You can probably even name (and sing) a handful of his songs:

“I Shot the Sheriff”, “No Woman, No Cry”, “Stir It Up”, “Jammin”, “Redemption Song”, and so on.

Marley was a Jamaican singer, songwriter and guitarist. He was the lead singer of his band, Bob Marley & The Wailers.

Although hardcore reggae people will probably take issue with this, Marley was basically responsible for the genre’s popularity in the U.S. The compilation album Legend that was released after his death sold over 25 million copies.

Bob Marley died from cancer when he was just 36 years old. A Rastafarian and generally spiritual man, his last words were to his son Ziggy:

“Money can’t buy life.”

Marley may have only been 5’8″ tall, but had the spirit and presence of a lion.

Bono

Bono - 5'7"

Like Prince, Paul David Hewson is internationally known by his stage name, Bono. This singer, humanitarian, writer, activist and philanthropist is the only person in the world to be nominated for a Grammy, Oscar, Golden Globe and Nobel Peace Prize. That’s like the Triple Crown of life.

Oh, and he was granted honorary knighthood by the Queen of England.

Although Bono has been made fun of for his accolades and activism, the fact is he is an amazing person. He’s played a ton of benefit concerts, organized multiple charities and non-profit campaigns, met with decision-making politicians like Bush and Obama, and written all of the lyrics for one of the most successful rock and roll acts of our time.

I hope this list of short rockstars has inspired (or at least entertained) you. These guys all knew that it’s not about your height. It’s about what you do with it. Personally, my new goal is to join Prince and Bono by being known only as “Brock”. Knighthood would be cool too.

If you missed part one of this series, check it out – Famous Short Men, Part 1: Actors.

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Brock May 31, 2012

Famous Short Men, Part 1: Actors

Most people know that Hollywood is full of short people. You can’t tell how tall someone is on screen. There are all sorts of tricks to make people appear taller on camera (like surrounding them by other short people, for example). Let’s look at some of the most successful and influential actors and under 5’9″ tall:

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise – 5’7″

Love him or hate him, Tom Cruise is one of the most legendary actors of our time. From Rain Man to the epic Mission: Impossible franchise, there isn’t a genre in which he hasn’t delivered a captivating (even Oscar-worthy) performance.

At a humble 5’7”, Tom Cruise is somehow larger than life. I think his success is do in part to the intensity that he brings to the screen. This energy seems to be an inherent part of his character, but you can tell that he works hard too.

After all, he does a lot of his own stunts, which is pretty badass. Of course, he does occasionally partner with a stunt double.

For example, in that opening scene of Mission: Impossible 2 he had some help from legendary rock climber Ron Kauk, who is only an inch or so taller.

Elijah Wood

Elijah Wood – 5’6″

Short and slender, Wood made a name for himself at a young age when he appeared (briefly) in Back to the Future Part II. Shortly thereafter, he established himself as an emotional, versatile actor through his roles in Radio Flyer, The Good Son, and The War (which, by the way, is an amazing movie that didn’t get nearly enough attention at the box office).

In 2001, when Wood was 20 years old, he catapulted to super-stardom after portraying the lovable Frodo in the first installment of what would become one of the most epic film trilogies of all time.

Since LOTR, Wood has been in some awesome movies. After all, he has enough money to do whatever he wants, so he doesn’t exactly have to chase the blockbusters anymore. If you want to see the grittier side of Elijah Wood, check out Green Street Hooligans, the brutal tale of soccer gang rivalries in England.

Wood is also a funny dude. If you don’t believe me, check out his new show Wilfred. Fair warning: you’ll either love it or hate it.

Woody Allen

An award-winning author, comedian, actor, writer, director and musician, Woody Allen is one of the most talented entertainers and creative minds of the century. He stands five feet and five inches tall and weighs less than 150 pounds, so he’s a pretty small guy.

Woody Allen – 5’5″

Allen has said a lot of quotable things, but one of my favorite lines of his is:

“Eighty percent of success is showing up.”

It’s so true. Just show up. Make sure you’re on time and looking sharp, and you will get far. But don’t take my word for it. Take Woody’s. After all, he has won four Oscars, two Golden globes and nine BAFTAs.

Al Pacino

Al Pacino – 5’7″

What comes to mind when you think of Al Pacino? Is it the fact that he’s 5’7″ tall? Or do you picture a pissed-off, blood-covered Tony Montana letting loose with a machine gun? Yeah…me too.

Al Pacino has played some of the most hardcore characters in some of the most dramatic films ever made. The crazy thing is, he actually has a lot in common with these characters that he portrayed so masterfully.

Pacino grew up in a broken family in the bad part of NYC. He was drinking and smoking at a very young age, and he apparently didn’t shy away from a fight. He dropped out of high school at age 17 and worked odd jobs to finance his acting lessons.

So, even as a little kid in the ghetto, he didn’t let his size hold him back. He worked hard and fought (literally) his way to success. Let Al Pacino be an example of how a short man – or any man – can overcome the odds and achieve great things.

Ben Stiller

Ben Stiller – 5’8″

Ben Stiller is a hilarious actor and director. He parents were both established comedians, so it was pretty much inevitable that he was going to be a funny man.

He got his big break with There’s Something About Mary in 1998, and it was all uphill from there.

Stiller is only 5’8″ tall, but he stays in great shape. He’s been side by side with Tom Cruise in a few short spoofs, and he definitely holds his own when it comes to “jackedness”.

Ben’s willingness to use slap-stick, self-deprecating style of humor has worked out well for him. About his commitment to acting and making people laugh, he has said:

“I’m always willing to endure humiliation on behalf of my characters.”

Being a shorter man, I think this sort of “roll with the punches” mentality goes a long way. You should expect someone, at some point, to make fun of you. Whether it’s about your height or something else. Your power comes from how you react, and Ben Stiller has mastered that.

Michael J. Fox

Michael J. Fox – 5’4″

Fox is cool for a lot of reasons. First and foremost, he rode a hoverboard in Back to the Future Part II, a scene which, to this day, makes me resentful that we don’t have real hoverboards yet.

Second, he became a heartthrob actor, producer, activist and philanthropist despite being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease more than two decades ago.

These days, Michael J. Fox puts a lot of energy in to his foundation for Parkinson’s research, although he still does some acting (like unexpected and often hilarious appearances on Saturday Night Live, Rescue Me and Curb Your Enthusiasm).

Most people, however, will remember Fox for his starring roles in the classic films like Teen Wolf, Back to the Future, Doc Hollywood and Stuart Little.

Richard Dreyfuss

Richard Dreyfuss – 5’5″

Some people love him for Jaws, some respect him for Mr. Holland’s Opus, and others just want to watch What About Bob on repeat. Regardless, most of us generally agree that Richard Dreyfuss is an outstanding actor.

At 5’5″ he is one of the shortest actors on our list. This didn’t stop him from winning an Oscar for Best Actor, along with a Golden Globe and BAFTA Award.

Dreyfuss is also a political activist, public speaker, author and academic. He has battled bipolar disorder for a long time, but he clearly didn’t let this or any other physical or mental conditions stop him.

Obviously, these are just a handful of the famous short actors we’ve grown to love over the years. Perhaps I’ll add more to the list or write another post featuring some younger and up-and-coming actors.

Until then, I hope this list inspires you to get out there and do great things.

Want more? Check out part two of this series – Famous Short Men, Part 2: Rockstars.

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Brock May 27, 2012

The Shortest U.S. Presidents

3 Short Presidents and What You Can Learn from Them

You’ve probably heard the “statistic” about the role of height in presidential elections. It goes something like this:

“Since the advent of the televised debate, the taller of two major-party presidential candidates usually wins the election.”

Despite the tenacity of this bit of folk wisdom, it’s actually not true (as evidenced by this scatter chart, which is borrowed from the official Wikipedia page for presidential height).

U.S. Presidential Election Heights 1798-2004

When you look at the actual statistics, it turns out that the taller candidate has won 53% of all U.S. elections. The overall average height of U.S. presidents is roughly 5’9″, which is also the average height of American males.

Of course, there have been extremes. Good old Abe Lincoln was 6’4″, a giant in his day. On the other end of the spectrum, there have been a few short presidents. Like these three gentlemen:

Ulysses S. Grant

Ulysses S. Grant – 5’8″

Standing at just five feet and eight inches tall, Ulysses S. Grant was a true American. He served two terms as the 18th president of the United States, right after defeating Robert E. Lee’s Confederate Army and winning the Civil War for the north.

He also helped destroy the Ku Klux Klan by passing laws that criminalized their terrorist tactics and arresting hundred of members.

Grant was a quiet, humble, thoughtful man. He achieved success through hard work and temperance. About his character and disposition, one of Grant’s military aids had this to say:

“Grant was a man of slim figure, slightly stooped, five feet eight inches in height, weighing only a hundred and thirty five pounds, and of a modesty of mien and gentleness of manner which seemed to fit him more for the court than for the camp … his voice was exceedingly musical, and one of the clearest in sound and most distinct in utterance that I have ever heard.”

Grant was also a badass military man, as evidenced by this quote from one of his enemies in the Confederate Army:

“There is one West Pointer, I think in Missouri, little known, and whom I hope the northern people will not find out. I mean Sam Grant. I knew him well at the Academy and in Mexico. I should fear him more than any of their officers I have yet heard of. He is not a man of genius, but he is clear-headed, quick and daring.”

I hope that, somewhere, one of my enemies is saying something like this about me.

James Madison

James Madison – 5’4″

A political theorist and all around statesman, James Madison was the fourth president of the U.S. His accomplishments include:

Helping draft the Constitution
Authoring the the Bill of Rights
Supervising the Louisiana Purchase

At 5’4″ he was the shortest U.S. president of all time by two inches. Clearly, this didn’t stop him from getting things done.

Unlike Grant, Madison was not a military man. His was a delicate man, and his immune system was far too fragile for combat.

Rather, Madison was an intellectual. He loved to learn about philosophy, politics, math, science, Latin, Greek and even Hebrew. He was ivy-league educated and a master speaker and debater. He said lots of smart things like:

“As a man is said to have a right to his property, he may be equally said to have a property in his rights.”

Next time you use your height as an excuse for anything, think of all the things James Madison did with five feet and four inches.

John Adams

John Adams – 5’7″

John Adams (the original…not his son, Quincy) was George Washington’s vice president for two terms before being elected as the second president of the United States of America. Though he himself only served one term (He lost to his friend, Thomas Jefferson, in 1801.), he was an extremely influential Founding Father of the country.

Like his contemporaries, he was highly educated in the areas of law, diplomacy, philosophy and politics. Often overshadowed by his more popular peers, Adams deserves our respect for his role on the Revolution and contributions to the American political system.

If there was a highlight reel of Adams’ presidency, it would include such things as:

Building mass amounts of war ships
Fighting with France
Passing game-changing laws
Making peace with France
Giving epic speeches

At 5’7″ tall, John Adams was one of the shortest U.S. presidents ever. Like Madison and Grant, however, he didn’t let his height get in the way of achieving great things and influencing a ton of people.

These three presidents are great examples of men who didn’t let any obstacles – even their height – get in the way of their goals. They were constantly improving themselves by studying and working hard, and they literally changed the world through their actions and beliefs.

Let these men be examples for what men of any height can accomplish if they put their mind to it.

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Men of Modest Height: Jonathan Taylor Thomas

Men of Modest Height: Bob Costas

Men of Modest Height: Mark Wahlberg