Shortest Male Actors in Hollywood, Ranked
Being short in Hollywood has never meant thinking small. Many of the industry’s most memorable scene-stealers are also among its most vertically modest, proving that stature on screen comes from presence, timing, and sheer charisma. From blockbuster icons to beloved character actors, these performers turned supposed casting “limitations” into superpowers.
Ranked here from the tallest of the “short” to the very shortest, this list celebrates 20 male actors who consistently tower in talent. Heights are included for context, but the real measure is the impact they make whenever the camera starts rolling.
Tom Cruise
Height: 5’7″ (170 cm). Tom Cruise’s high-velocity intensity made him an indelible action lead in franchises like ‘Mission: Impossible’, while earlier roles showcased versatile charm and dramatic focus. He marries physical commitment with a steely, laser-guided presence.
Across genres—from courtroom drama to sci-fi spectacle—he’s known for relentless work ethic and stunt-forward bravado. Shorter than many action stars, he redefined what a modern blockbuster hero can look like.
Ben Stiller
Height: 5’7″ (170 cm). Ben Stiller blends earnestness and absurdity in hits like ‘Zoolander’ and ‘Meet the Parents’, wringing laughs from micro-reactions and perfectly timed slow burns. His comedic precision turns social discomfort into comic fireworks.
Behind the camera, he’s a sharp director capable of tonal balance, as seen in projects like ‘Tropic Thunder’ and the acclaimed series ‘Severance’. That dual craft keeps him essential on both sides of the lens.
Elijah Wood
Height: 5’6″ (168 cm). Elijah Wood anchored epic fantasy with open-hearted sincerity in ‘The Lord of the Rings’, grounding mythic stakes in human-scale emotion. His expressive eyes and quiet resolve carry enormous narrative weight.
Post-franchise, Wood has favored eclectic, sometimes eerie projects, leaning into genre-bending indies and offbeat television. It’s a smart path that spotlights his curiosity and range.
Dustin Hoffman
Height: 5’6″ (168 cm). Dustin Hoffman’s seismic impact began with ‘The Graduate’ and broadened through character-driven showcases like ‘Rain Man’. He specializes in ordinary men with extraordinary inner lives.
Hoffman’s meticulous approach—listening hard, reacting honestly—helped usher in a new American acting naturalism. Shorter than many leading men, he nonetheless redefined what a leading man could be.
Jack Black
Height: 5’6″ (168 cm). Jack Black projects joyful, full-throttle charisma in comedies like ‘School of Rock’ and adventures like ‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’. His musicality and physical comedy make even small moments feel volcanic.
He flips effortlessly between lovable goofball and surprisingly tender everyman. That mix keeps him a reliable engine for crowd-pleasing stories.
Aziz Ansari
Height: 5’6″ (168 cm). Aziz Ansari parlayed scene-stealing sitcom work in ‘Parks and Recreation’ into thoughtful, personal storytelling with ‘Master of None’. His humor often springs from precise observation and cultural nuance.
On screen, he tempers quick wit with vulnerability, creating characters who feel both arch and authentic. It’s a modern comedic voice built on specificity.
Daniel Radcliffe
Height: 5’5″ (165 cm). Daniel Radcliffe launched as a global phenomenon with ‘Harry Potter’, then made daring post-franchise choices in projects like ‘Swiss Army Man’ and ‘Miracle Workers’. He delights in the offbeat.
Radcliffe’s knack for physical comedy and oddball sincerity creates unexpectedly moving performances. He’s built a career on refusing the obvious next step.
Josh Hutcherson
Height: 5’5″ (165 cm). Josh Hutcherson anchored ‘The Hunger Games’ with understated steadiness, offering a counterpoint to franchise bombast. He excels at grounding fantastical stakes in palpable emotion.
Beyond blockbuster terrain, Hutcherson has explored quirky indie comedies and thrillers. That willingness to zig where others zag keeps him compelling through each new phase.
Ken Jeong
Height: 5’5″ (165 cm). Ken Jeong broke through with fearless, high-commitment turns in ‘The Hangover’ and sharpened his sitcom chops on ‘Community’. His medical background lends a unique, cerebral twist to even the broadest comedy.
Jeong’s timing thrives on surprise—he can pivot from deadpan to delirious in a heartbeat. That unpredictability keeps scenes lively and audiences guessing.
Jason Alexander
Height: 5’5″ (165 cm). Jason Alexander’s masterclass in neurotic bravado on ‘Seinfeld’ delivered some of television’s most quotable meltdowns. He weaponizes pause, posture, and petty grievance into comedic art.
Stage-honed precision informs his screen work, allowing him to shade buffoonery with pathos. It’s the rare combination that makes even outrageous behavior feel human.
Michael J. Fox
Height: 5’4″ (163 cm). Michael J. Fox’s star-making burst in ‘Back to the Future’ fused awkwardness and heroism into a single, irresistible lead. His comedic instincts are pure rocket fuel.
Later, Fox delivered poignant, self-aware performances that embraced vulnerability without begging for sympathy. His resilience and advocacy have magnified an already monumental legacy.
Seth Green
Height: 5’4″ (163 cm). Seth Green’s career spans live action and voice work, from ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ to ‘Robot Chicken’, where he helped pioneer a distinct stop-motion sketch voice. His pop-culture literacy is a creative engine.
On screen, Green leans into sardonic charm; off screen, he builds worlds. That duality—performer and architect—has made him a quiet fixture of genre storytelling.
Joe Pesci
Height: 5’4″ (163 cm). Joe Pesci can pivot from volcanic menace in ‘Goodfellas’ to melancholy humor in ‘The Irishman’ without losing an ounce of authenticity. He compresses intensity into every glance.
Pesci’s compact frame becomes part of the shock—dangerous, unpredictable, and often very funny. Few actors do more with stillness and a raised eyebrow.
Kevin Hart
Height: 5’2″ (157 cm). Kevin Hart’s kinetic storytelling powers ensemble adventures like ‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’, while his stand-up instincts sharpen punchlines on set. He radiates hustle and crowd-pleasing energy.
In more dramatic turns, Hart reins in the volume without losing his spark, hinting at range beyond pure comedy. His work ethic keeps him at the center of mainstream hits.
Elliot Page
Height: 5’1″ (155 cm). Elliot Page broke through with razor-sharp wit and vulnerability in ‘Juno’, then brought cerebral intensity to ensemble spectacles like ‘Inception’. He’s equally at home in intimate indie drama and mind-bending genre.
On television, ‘The Umbrella Academy’ showcases Page’s quiet command—measured, interior, and emotionally exact. His career is a study in choosing roles that challenge and expand expectations.
Leslie Jordan
Height: 4’11” (150 cm). Leslie Jordan’s tart one-liners on ‘Will & Grace’ were tiny comedic thunderclaps—sharp, surprising, unforgettable. He blended Southern charm with impish mischief, making every entrance count.
In anthologies like ‘American Horror Story’, Jordan leaned into camp and menace with equal ease. His warmth, both on screen and in public life, turned him into a beloved figure far beyond sitcom walls.
Danny DeVito
Height: 4’10” (147 cm). Danny DeVito’s comic ferocity made ‘Taxi’ a classic, and he’s kept that chaotic magic alive on ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’. He can turn a throwaway line into a gut laugh, then pivot to heartfelt in a blink.
As a director and producer, DeVito has championed offbeat stories and oddball heroes. His blend of menace, sweetness, and absolute fearlessness makes him one of Hollywood’s most enduring personalities.
Peter Dinklage
Height: 4’5″ (135 cm). Peter Dinklage’s layered performance in ‘Game of Thrones’ redefined what prestige television could ask of a single actor: political chess, moral ambiguity, and gallows humor, often within the same scene. He made quiet strategy feel thunderous.
Beyond fantasy, Dinklage is adept at indie dramedy and sharp satire, bringing dry wit to projects like ‘The Station Agent’ and ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’. His choices consistently resist one-note roles.
Warwick Davis
Height: 3’6″ (107 cm). Warwick Davis became a fantasy mainstay thanks to starring roles in ‘Willow’ and memorable appearances across the ‘Star Wars’ saga. His clarity of intention and athletic physicality give his characters an adventurous spark.
Off camera, Davis has been a vocal advocate for inclusive casting and better roles for performers with dwarfism. His career tracks a shift from narrow stereotypes to leading parts with heart, humor, and agency.
Tony Cox
Height: 3’6″ (107 cm). Tony Cox’s deadpan bite anchored dark comedies like ‘Bad Santa’, where he balanced caustic wit with con-artist charm. He’s equally nimble in broad farce and pointed satire, a rare combination that keeps scenes lively.
Cox often elevates material by underplaying the punchline and letting the moment breathe. That control—knowing when to jab and when to glide—turns supporting roles into audience favorites.
Verne Troyer
Height: 2’8″ (81 cm). Verne Troyer’s mischievous grin and laser-focused physical comedy made him instantly iconic as Mini-Me in ‘Austin Powers’. With almost no dialogue, he still stole entire sequences through expressive movement and razor-sharp reactions.
Beyond the gag, Troyer demonstrated impressive timing across sketch appearances and cameos, leaning into slapstick while keeping performances warm and human. His legacy endures as a reminder that a few well-placed beats can be funnier than pages of dialogue.
Think we missed someone whose small stature makes a giant impression—share your picks and the roles that sold you in the comments.