Celebrity
‘ALF’ star dead at 76: Michu Meszaros was in circus, ‘Big Top Pee-wee,’ MJ ads
ALF TV
ALF (Alien Life Form) was a character on NBC’s “ALF” from 1986 to 1990, and briefly returned for “ALF’s Hit Talk Show” on TV Land in 2004.
“ALF” star Mahlay “Michu” Meszaros is dead, his manager Dennis Varga announced Monday. He was 76.
TMZ reports Meszaros had been rushed to an L.A. hospital last week after being found unresponsive at his home and was still in a coma Sunday. Varga said he had “strict instructions not to take him off life support,” but Meszaros had health problems since suffering a stroke 8 years ago.
Michu Meszaros appeared in “Big Top Pee-wee” as a circus performer.
Meszaros, the self-proclaimed “smallest man on Earth,” was the 2-foot-9 actor who played the furry “alien life form” on the ’80s TV series “ALF.” He wore the costume for action shots, while puppeteer Paul Fusco provided the voice.
The Hungary native got his start in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in the ’70s, later finding U.S. fame and eventually becoming friends with Michael Jackson. The two appeared in Pepsi commercials together and Meszaros reportedly knew MJ’s kids and appeared at Neverland Ranch frequently.
Meszaros also appeared in “Big Top Pee-wee” opposite Paul Reubens as a circus performer, and had a role in 1993’s “Freaked” with Alex Winter and Randy Quaid. Variety reports his credits also include episodes of “Dear John,” “H.R. Pufnstuf” and the John Travolta movie “Look Who’s Talking.”
