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| Al Minew |
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born:
29 August 1896 Poughkeepsie, New York, United States of America |
died:
04 January 1951 Oakland, California, United States of America (age 54) |
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American dwarf actor who worked in films for 16 years, as well as in theatre, vaudeville, circuses (with Al G. Barnes for 3 years), and carnivals. A 1940 newspaper article mentions he doubled for Joe Cobb in the "Our Gang" comedies, and that at the time of the article (near Christmas), he was working as a Santa Claus at a Sears Roebuck store in Stockton, California, where he and his family were residing at the time. He also held jobs as a photo engraver (WWI draft reg. card, 1920 Census), a WPA job as a janitor (1940 Census), and as an offset press operator at a "US Army port of embarkation" (1950 Census). In 1939, he married Anna Olive Jensen (1910-1983), another little person who also worked in films. On Halloween day, 1940, they welcomed a daughter, Edwina Mariann Minew (m. Nelson), who weighed 6 pounds and 2 ounces; at the time of the 1940 article (when Edwina was only six weeks old), it was believed that she would grow to be normal-sized. Al's brothers, Edwin (1895-1949) and Frank (1903-1976), were of normal height (both a bit under 6 feet tall); another brother, Percy (1900-1901), died at just 1 year and 5 months old. Per Robert Demoss of The Lucky Corner website, the Roach studio payroll ledgers during the production of Free Wheeling spelled his last name "Mineaux." This was most likely a misspelling or guessed spelling by whoever entered the info into the ledger. A 1926 Standard Casting Directory ad spells his last name the regular way: Minew; as does (per TLC) the Roach payroll ledger during the production of Election Day, and a brief mention amidst a list of others in a 1934 Billboard article. His older brother Edwin did later adopt the alternate spelling of "Mineu." |
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Real name: Alfred George Minew Height: 4'0" |
Films listed on this page: complete Hal Roach filmography. |
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