Felix Silla, Actor Behind Twiki and Cousin Itt, Has Died
Felix Silla, the actor whose small stature opened the door to pop culture immortality, has died at the age of 84.
Standing just 3′ 11″, Silla was able to portray some iconic characters, including Cousin Itt on “The Addams Family” and Twiki on “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.”
Silla died Friday in Las Vegas from pancreatic cancer. His friend Gil Gerard, who played Buck Rogers on the 1979-81 NBC series, posted about his illness earlier today. “It is with a heavy heart that I tell you all that my dear friend of over forty years, Felix Silla, is dying of pancreatic cancer. I spoke briefly with him and his family last night and they tell me that he’s going into hospice care today. Prayers,” he posted Friday morning.
A few hours later, however, Gerard reported his passing. “Felix died just a few hours ago and the only good I can draw from his passing is that he didn’t suffer any longer. I will miss him terribly,” Gerard said.
Among Silla’s other roles were as an Ewok in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and as an Emperor Penquin in Batman Returns.
