Billy Rhodes

Clarence Herbert Bliss, born February 1, 1895, in Lynn, Massachusetts, was an American stage and film character actor with dwarfism who performed professionally under the name "Little Billy" Rhodes. He remained active in Hollywood from the 1920s through the 1960s before his death in Los Angeles, California, on July 24, 1967.

Rhodes grew up in difficult financial circumstances, and as a child he sold newspapers to contribute to the family's income. His interest in the theater developed early, and at the age of nine he came under the management of a showman named Jerry Grady, who would guide his career going forward. Rhodes began performing in vaudeville and on Broadway during the 1910s, and his Broadway work continued into the following decade, including an appearance in the 1921 musical Tangerine.

Around 1926, Rhodes transitioned into film work in Hollywood. His screen credits span several decades and include a wide range of productions. Among his notable film appearances were The Terror of Tiny Town in 1938, a western marketed as featuring an all-little-person cast, and The Wizard of Oz in 1939, in which he played the Barrister. Additional film credits include Marie Antoinette, You Nazty Spy, Kiss the Boys Goodbye, and Skimpy in the Navy, among many others dating back to Oh, Baby! in 1926.

In the early 1940s, Rhodes led an organization called the International Midget League. Reflecting on his career, he stated that he never considered his stature a professional handicap, but rather an asset that contributed to a level of success he believed would not have been achievable otherwise.