Review David Rappaport

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David Stephen Rappaport (23 November 1951 – 2 May 1990) was an English actor, one of the best known dwarf actors in television and film, known for his roles in the films Time Bandits and The Bride, and television series such as L.A. Law, The Wizard and Captain Planet and the Planeteers. He was reported to be 3' 11" (1.19 m) in height, although he told newspapers different heights, ranging from 3' 6" (1.07 m) up to 4 feet (1.22 m).


Career

David Rappaport first came to public notability in children's television, appearing alongside Sylvester McCoy as an O-Man in the 1979 BBC children's series Jigsaw. Rappaport and McCoy had previously appeared together in Illuminatus! at the Science Fiction Theatre of Liverpool (founded by Ken Campbell and Chris Langham in 1976). The pair also appeared in the anarchic Ken Campbell Road Show. Rappaport was with the Road Show in 1979 when it featured in the Secret Policeman's Ball. While McCoy appeared as an escapologist, Campbell introduced Rappaport to the audience as: "Not the smallest man in the world, but fucking close...".

In the early 1980s Rappaport played the character of "Shades" on the anarchic Saturday morning kids TV shows Tiswas and The Saturday Show. One of Rappaport's most popular roles was as Randall, the leader of the gang of dwarves in the Terry Gilliam film Time Bandits in 1981. During the mid-80s Rappaport played in the HTV production of Robin of Sherwood (released as Robin Hood in the US) with Jason Connery as Robin. The show was filmed in Bristol, where Rappaport had a home. During this time he also made himself at home aboard Ki Longfellow-Stanshall and Vivian Stanshall's ship moored in the Bristol docks, the Old Profanity Showboat where he often appeared on stage. Rappaport appeared in 1985's The Bride as a circus dwarf who befriends Frankenstein's monster (played by 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Clancy Brown). From 1986–87, Rappaport played the lead role of Simon McKay in the CBS television series The Wizard. Rappaport also made guest appearances on such shows as The Goodies, The Young Ones, and L.A. Law. Rappaport was the voice of Dr. Blight's computer, MAL, on Captain Planet and the Planeteers; he was replaced by Tim Curry after his first four appearances due to his passing 4 months before the series aired. He also played Mr. Belvedere's cousin on an episode of Mr. Belvedere entitled "Duel" Season 5 Episode 6.

Final years, death and legacy

Rappaport struggled with depression later in his life. Just before his death, he had been cast and began filming for the role of Kivas Fajo in the Star Trek: The Next Generationepisode "The Most Toys". During filming, Rappaport attempted suicide, and the scenes he had completed were later discarded when actor Saul Rubinek was hurriedly brought in by producers to replace him and complete the episode. The scenes of Rappaport as Kivas Fajo were included on the Season 3 Blu-ray Disc release of Star Trek: The Next Generation.[4]

On 2 May 1990, he committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest in Laurel Canyon Park in the San Fernando Valley in California.[5]


Two of the creators of the US television series The Wizard, Michael Berk and Douglas Schwartz, went on to produce Baywatch, the lifeguard drama. In this show's fifth season is an episode entitled "Short Sighted" which originally aired on 31 October 1994. Part of this episode concerns a junior lifeguard named Carter McKay (Nicholas Banko), whose father is named Simon McKay (Ed Gale) in namesake tribute to David's character on The Wizard.[7] Carter is ashamed of his father's height and claims his father cannot attend an upcoming father/son tournament, but when his father appears and rescues a little girl from drowning (and is awarded a medal of valor for his heroic actions), Carter realizes he should be proud of his father.[8]

On Stage
  • "Sleep Fast, They've Landed (Everybody Wants a Frozen Donkey for Christmas)" (1971/1972) – Yellow
  • "Stonehenge Follies"
  • "Illuminatus!" (1975–1977) – Markoff Chaney
  • "Portland Bill Street Theatre"
  • "Interplay"
  • "Volpone" (1977) – Nano
  • "The Warp"
  • "Little Brother Is Watching You" – Himself
  • "Secret Policeman's Ball 1979" – as a member of the Ken Campbell Road Show.
  • "Dr. Faustus" (1980) – Beelzebub, Dick, Pope Adrian, etc.
  • "Cinderella" (1980)
  • "Exit The King" (1983) – The Doctor
  • "LULU" (1985) – Schigolch
Filmography


 
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