Malcolm Dixon

Malcolm Dixon (September 1953 – 9 April 2020) was an English actor best known as "Strutter" in the 1981 movie Time Bandits. 

He had many roles which took advantage of his 4'1" height, such as ewoks and dwarfs. Before becoming an actor, Dixon worked in Jim Henson's Creature Shop.

Life and career

Malcolm Dixon was born in September 1953, the youngest of seven brothers and the only child with dwarfism. He was raised in Crook, Durham, England. His parents died when he was young and he outlived all his brothers.

Dixon worked on his parents' poultry farm and as a floral artist. He was discovered by a talent agent who was keen on Dixon's talents with ice skates at the Durham Ice Rink. He then worked in an ice show at Empire Pool, Wembley. His stature and physical abilities landed him work with Jim Henson's Creature Shop, where he worked in multiple movies and television shows until becoming an independent actor, most notably starring in Time Bandits and also in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as an Oompa-Loompa (an uncredited role). He was also featured in many music videos for artists such as David Bowie, Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet.

Dixon was married to Anita Dixon and had two children.

Theatre

His main leading role in theatre was as Bilbo Baggins in an adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit at the Fortune Theatre in London, England, from 1986 to 1989. From 2000 to 2020, he was a regular in panto productions of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. His other theatre roles included:

• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at Phoenix Arts Center, Leicester, England
• Peter Pan at The Palladium
• Sleeping Beauty on Ice in 1968 at Empire Pool, Wembley